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How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer

Are you wondering how to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer? In this guide we tell you exact instructions for air frying frozen chicken nuggets that will have you never putting them in the over again.

Chicken nuggets are a favorite in our household and they are so versatile that you can serve chicken nuggets with almost anything.

But the reason I love them is because I can have them cooked in less than 15 minutes which makes them one of the best after school dinners around.

But before we get onto the instructions here are some of the questions we had when we started air frying frozen chicken nuggets.

FAQS about air frying frozen chicken nuggets

Frozen Chicken Nuggets on Marble Background
How to Cook Frozen Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer

Is it safe to air fry frozen chicken nuggets?

Yes it is completely safe to air fry frozen chicken nuggets providing you cook them well and for long enough. Always check the temperature of food from the air fryer before serving.

Are chicken nuggets good in air fryer?

Cooked Chicken Nuggets  on Plate
How to Cook Frozen Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer

Air fried chicken nuggets have fast become a favorite in our house. I love them as they are cooked so quickly, and my kids love how crispy the nuggets get when cooked this way.

Is it better to air fry or bake chicken nuggets?

In our opinion, although both baking and air frying chicken nuggets is good, air frying is best. The reason for this is because the are healthier, quick to cook and you can get a really great crispy outside on them.

What is the best brand of frozen chicken nuggets to air fry?

When it comes to brand of chicken nuggets, we actually haven’t found a brand that doesn’t air fry well. Therefore just go ahead with whatever is your preferred nugget brand.

So whether you like Perdue Chicken Nuggets, Banquet nuggets, Tyson Chicken Nuggets or another brand you will be able to cook them all in the air fryer.

Does this work for air frying chicken tenders and chicken goujons?

As well as nuggets we love air frying chicken tenders, chicken goujons and dinosaur nuggets. Although the instructions are the same the cooking times do differ. For this reason we have written dedicated air fryer guides for these also:

  • How to cook dinosaur nuggets in the air fryer
  • How to cook frozen chicken goujons in the air fryer
  • How to cook frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer

Does this work for air frying homemade chicken nuggets?

You can absolutely air fry homemade chicken nuggets however due to the precook process and the oil content in store bought chicken nuggets the time required is different and oil will need to be added to the air fryer basket.

What to Serve with Chicken Nuggets

Chicken nuggets and ketchup on a plate
What to Serve with Chicken Nuggets

As we said above, chicken nuggets are super versatile. We have plenty of serving suggestions for chicken nuggets here. But the classic has to be to serve them with French fries, beans and of course the condiment of your choice but you can never go wrong with a classic Ketchup dip.

Storage

Once frozen chicken nuggets have been cooked in the air fryer they must be consumed immediately and can not be reheated or refrozen.

What You’ll Need

  • Chicken Nuggets
  • An Air Fryer

Instructions

Cooking frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer is super easy. All you have to do is place the required amount of frozen nuggets into the air fryer basket.

Frozen Checken Nuggets in Air Fryer
How to Cook Frozen Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer

Don’t be tempted to oil the basket when cooking frozen chicken nuggets. Store bought chicken nuggets already have oil in them so you will find that they become extra greasy and lose crisp if you put additional oil in.

Pop into the air fryer at 400°F/205°C for 10 to 12 minutes.

Frozen Chicken Nuggets Cooked in Air Fryer
Cooking Frozen Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer

For extra and a more even crisp you can turn the nuggets at the 8 minute mark.

How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer recipe

Yield: 1

How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer

Chicken Nuggets on a white plate.

In this guide we will tell you how to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer that have the perfect crisp!

Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes

Ingredients

  • Chicken Nuggets

Instructions

  1. Place desired number of frozen chicken nuggets into the air fryer basket. Be sure to spread the nuggets evenly in the basket with no overlap or stacking. No oil is required.
  2. Air Fry at 400°F/205°C for 10 minutes or until fully cooked and crispy.
  3. For extra crisp on both side, turn nuggets at 8 minute mark.

Notes

  • Never overcrowd the basket or stack the nuggets. This will result in improper and uneven cooking and nuggets will lack crispiness.
  • If you are using store bought frozen nuggets then no oil is required in the air fryer. Oil is already present and adding additional will result in greasy chicken nuggets.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

6

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 49Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 95mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 3g

More Great Recipes featuring Chicken Nuggets

One of the things we love about chicken nuggets that have been cooked in the air fryer is how many other recipes they can feature in.

Some of our favorite meals that include chicken nuggets include:

  • Chicken Nugget Katsu
  • Chicken Nugget Milanese and
  • Sweet and Sour Chicken Nuggets.

Have you air fried frozen chicken nuggets? Tell us any tips you have in the comment below!

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