Air fryer frozen chicken nuggets are one of the easiest meals you can make when you need something quick, crispy, and delicious. Skip the oven because the air fryer cooks nuggets faster while giving them a perfectly crunchy outside and a hot, juicy center.
Whether you're making lunch for the kids, a quick weeknight dinner, or an easy snack, frozen chicken nuggets come out consistently crispy in just minutes. There's no need to thaw them first, and cleanup is minimal.
The best part is that this recipe works with almost any brand of frozen chicken nuggets, including Tyson, Perdue, Banquet, Great Value, Kirkwood, and more.
If you’re looking for more ways to cook chicken in the air fryer - Air Fryer Chicken Recipes or these air fryer chicken recipes - Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas, Air Fryer Chicken Patties, and Air Fryer Chicken Breast!
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Why This Works
- Cooks frozen nuggets straight from the freezer with no thawing required.
- Crispy exterior without using extra oil.
- Ready in less than 15 minutes.
- Works with most brands of frozen chicken nuggets.
- Great for quick lunches, dinners, or after-school snacks.
- Easy enough for beginners to make successfully every time.
Ingredients Needed
Frozen Chicken Nuggets
Use your favorite brand of fully cooked frozen chicken nuggets. Traditional breaded nuggets, whole white meat nuggets, and even gluten-free varieties all cook well in the air fryer. There is no need to add oil since the breading already contains enough fat to crisp up nicely.
Dipping Sauces for Chicken Nuggets
Serve your nuggets with ketchup, ranch dressing, honey mustard, barbecue sauce, buffalo sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce.
How to Make Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer
Step 1: Place the frozen chicken nuggets in a single layer in the bottom of your air fryer basket. Close it.
Step 2: Set your air fryer to 400 degrees and cook the chicken nuggets for 8 to 10 minutes.
Pro Tips for Frozen Chicken Nuggets
- Do not overcrowd the basket. Leaving space between the nuggets allows the hot air to circulate and creates crispier results.
- Flip the nuggets halfway through cooking for even browning on both sides.
- Every air fryer cooks a little differently, so check them during the last few minutes.
- For larger family meals, cook in batches instead of piling the nuggets on top of each other.
- If you're cooking dinosaur-shaped nuggets or extra-large nuggets, they may need an additional minute or two.
Storage
Store leftover chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, place the refrigerated nuggets back into the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3 to 4 minutes until heated through and crispy again.
Freezing leftovers is generally not recommended since the nuggets have already been frozen once before cooking. While they are safe to freeze again if handled properly, the texture may become softer after reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Chicken nuggets pair well with many easy side dishes for a complete meal.
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
- Sweet potato fries
- Air Fryer Cajun Tater Tots
- Ina Garten Mac and Cheese recipe
- Fresh fruit
- Steamed broccoli
- Carrot sticks and celery
- Side salad
- Coleslaw
- Corn on the cob
You can also slice the cooked nuggets and use them in wraps, salads, or grain bowls for a quick lunch.
Recipe FAQs
Air fry them at 400 degrees F for the crispiest results.
No. Cook the nuggets directly from frozen for the best texture.
Most frozen chicken nuggets cook in about 8 to 10 minutes. Larger nuggets may take up to 12 minutes.
Always store leftovers in clean, food-grade containers. The type of container doesn’t really matter. Use zip lock, glass, plastic, whatever! Make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container before putting it in the freezer or fridge.
Yes. Tyson, Perdue, Great Value, Banquet, Kirkwood, Applegate, and many other brands all work well. You may need to adjust the cooking time slightly depending on their size.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try:
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Frozen Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer Time
- Prep Time: 10min
- Cook Time: 10min
- Total Time: 20min
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Easy
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Description
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets - a healthier take out option of everyone's favorite Mcdonald's Chicken Nuggets! These chicken nuggets are air fried instead of deep fried in a lot of extra fat and oil.
Ingredients
- 1 bag of frozen chicken nuggets (any brand)
Instructions
-
Set your air fryer to 400 degrees and cook them for 8 to 10 minutes.
Place the frozen chicken nuggets in a single layer in the bottom of your air fryer basket. Close it.
Notes
myWW points: Blue 5; Green 7; Purple 5
Please Note: Some air fryers require preheating and some do not. Check your manual that came with the air fryer.
Nutrition
- Calories: 73
- Sodium: 125
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 17
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 0
Jenna says
I can't see what you are doing, sorry.
KOB says
Isn't this 4 points? I calculated it on the app.