These Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets are easy to make with very little oil. They’re perfect if you want crispy chicken nuggets without deep frying. Learn how to cook frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer with this easy recipe.
Why Air Fry Chicken Nuggets:
- Better than baked: most frozen chicken nuggets packaging recommends baking chicken nuggets in a standard oven. In my experience, this results in soggy breading. By making frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer, you get golden brown crispy nuggets without deep frying (making this a healthier option too!).
- Easy recipe: this recipe takes less than 20 minutes and simply requires you to take your chicken nuggets out of the freezer and add them to the air fryer basket.
- Works with different brands of chicken nuggets: use this recipe if you want to make Dino nuggets in an air fryer, Tyson chicken nuggets, Applegate chicken nuggets and more.
- Cooks from frozen: the best thing about this recipe is that you don’t even need to thaw anything out. Just take your favorite brand of chicken nuggets from the freezer and cook them!
Ingredients Needed
You just need two simple ingredients to make crispy air fryer nuggets from frozen. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Frozen Chicken Nuggets: I’m using frozen chicken nuggets that I picked up from my grocery store. I tested this air fryer recipe with Applegate chicken nuggets as well as Bell & Evans chicken nuggets because those are my favorites. But, this would also work with other popular brands like Earth’s Best, Impossible Nuggets, Banquet chicken nuggets, Perdue nuggets, or even Dino Nuggets. Do not thaw your chicken nuggets.
- Cooking Spray: I use avocado oil spray, but olive oil spray also works in this recipe.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of the post to get the exact amounts and cook times.
How to Make Frozen Nuggets in an Air Fryer
Making air fried frozen chicken nuggets is easy. Here are the simple steps:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the chicken nuggets in a single layer to your air fryer basket.
- Spray the chicken nuggets generously with oil – this helps with crisping and browning.
- Air fry the chicken nuggets at 400 degrees for 7 minutes. Flip the nuggets and spray them with more oil.
- Air fry the chicken nuggets again for 6-8 more minutes, depending on your desired browning and crisping.
Top Cooking Tips & FAQs
- Cook from frozen: frozen chicken nuggets do not need to come to room temperature before cooking them. Simply take them out of the freezer and add them to your air fryer basket
- Adjust the cooking time: different air fryer models have different cooking power and functions. While chicken nuggets can have a cook time of as little as 10-12 minutes, you should always cook them until they are crisp enough for you. You should also adjust the cooking time depending on the size of the chicken nuggets since smaller nuggets will need less time.
Storage & Leftovers
Store your leftover chicken nuggets in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
You can reheat them in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes if needed the next time you eat them.
For best results, cook frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer for 13-15 minutes at 400°F. You can cook them longer for a crispier result, depending on your personal preferences.
To air fry frozen tenders, preheat your air fryer to 400°F and then cook for 12-15 minutes.
If your air fryer nuggets are soggy, cook them longer. This has happened to me when there were too many chicken nuggets in the air fryer at a time and the hot air could not circulate as well.
Yes, frozen chicken nuggets are typically pre-cooked before being frozen. However, always check the packaging or label to confirm. Some say that there is raw chicken. In this case, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time to ensure an instant-read thermometer says that the chicken has an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Chicken Nugget Dipping Sauces
Chicken nuggets are meant to be served up with dips. Here are some of the best dipping sauce recipes:
What to Serve With Crispy Chicken Nuggets
Make your air fryer chicken nuggets a complete meal with these side dishes:
More Frozen Air-Fried Chicken Recipes
Here are a few more air fryer recipes that you might enjoy if you want to make a quick meal:
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 12 Chicken Nuggets Frozen, do not thaw. I added as many as could fit into my air fryer basket in a single layer with a little space in between
- Avocado oil spray or oil in a spray mister
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 400 degrees.
- Add the chicken nuggets in a single layer to your air fryer basket.
- Spray the chicken tenders generously with oil – this helps with crisping and browning.
- Air fry at 400 degrees for 7 minutes.
- Flip the chicken nuggets and spray them generously with oil again.
- Air fry at 400 degrees for 5-7 more minutes.