How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer

Air fryer frozen chicken nuggets are super easy and cook in a matter of minutes! No need to defrost! Pair these up with the perfect dipping sauce for the perfect snack or meal that your whole family will love.

How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer

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The moment I bought my air fryer, my cooking life went from tedious to exciting and effortless. With the air fryer, I can make a ton of dishes all with the click of a button!

Serve these babies up with some Air Fryer Frozen French Fries or Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots and some Roasted Asparagus (must have the veggie too!) and you are in business!

For dessert, you better serve some vanilla ice cream topped with a sliced Air Fryer Banana!

With some of the fancy air fryers, you can dehydrate, fry, bake, grill, roast and more with this simple kitchen appliance. And not to mention easy cleaning, the air fryer has it all!

I also love using my air fryer to reheat food. Not having to heat the whole kitchen when you fire up the oven makes this so much easier. Check out how to reheat ribs in air fryer for a quick and easy dinner.

Frozen chicken nuggets are definitely one of my favorites to cook in the air fryer. Don’t even bother defrosting because your air fryer does all the work for you! You can also make Tyson chicken fries air fryer for a quick snack or dinner.

Air fryer crispy chicken nuggets have been my favorite comfort food and I have to admit that it’s on my table several times a week. If you want to go totally kid-centric, try these Dino Nuggets Air Fryer style! Kids love them!

These air fryer nuggets are great with my homemade Bang Bang Sauce, Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wing Sauce or with some Chili Crisp mixed with a little mayonnaise for some extra heat! 

Easy frozen are fryer recipes are my go-to when I am in a hurry. No defrosting needed, pop in the air fryer and you are good to go!

Some of my favorites are: Frozen Garlic Bread in Air Fryer, Frozen Burgers in the Air Fryer, Air Fryer Corn Dogs and Air Fryer Frozen Egg Rolls.

I also enjoy these air fryer frozen chicken nuggets served on top of my Mediterranean Chickpea Salad to add some extra protein to my salad. You can make a bunch of these and not have to worry about unnecessary calories and unhealthy fats like deep fried chicken nuggets.

With air fryer frozen chicken nuggets in the Ninja Foodi dual basket air fryer, you can cook these chicken nuggets along with your favorite side dish at the same time. Talk about convenience!

Why this recipe works

  • Everybody loves them! Chicken nuggets are a classic comfort food loved by both kids and adults. Air fryer frozen chicken nuggets are crunchy, crispy and perfect for the entire family!
  • Super quick and easy to make! Air frying frozen chicken nuggets has never been more simple and delicious. Plus easy clean-up makes for a pretty good deal.
  • A healthy chicken nuggets recipe thanks to the air fryer. Preparing your frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer cuts down on calories and fat that deep-fried fast food restaurants provide.

Ingredients

How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer

  • Frozen Chicken Nuggets: This recipe works well with any brand of frozen chicken nuggets. Some great chicken nugget brand options are Tyson, Perdue, Banquet, Bell & Evans, Applegate, Weaver, Earth’s Best, Trader Joe’s, Fast Fixin’, Pilgrim’s and Quorn.
  • Cooking Spray: Using cooking spray is optional. However, this will help avoid the frozen chicken nuggets from sticking to the fryer basket.

How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in air fryer

How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer

  1. Lightly spray air fryer basket with air fryer safe cooking spray.
  2. Place frozen chicken nuggets in fryer basket. Do not overfill basket. 
  3. On 400°, cook for approximately 8-10 minutes.
  4. If additional cook time is needed, cook air fryer frozen chicken nuggets for an additional 1-2 minute (check each time) until you reach your desired level of crispness as needed.

Frozen chicken nugget air frying tips

Shake your fryer basket. If cooking air fryer frozen chicken nuggets in a large batch, shake halfway through cooking so it cooks evenly on all sides.

No need to defrost frozen nuggets. The air fryer allows you to cook frozen food instantly.

Add a few more minutes to your cooking time if the nuggets aren’t crispy enough after 8-10 minutes.

Keep leftovers in an airtight container inside your fridge. They stay for up to 2-3 days when stored properly.

Reheat the nuggets in your air fryer! The air fryer crisps it up straight from your fridge. Just like new!

How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer

Chicken Nugget Dipping Sauce Ideas

Tired of the usual condiments? Want to try something new? Here are a few homemade dipping sauces to spice up your chicken nugget game and get those flavors going!

My Top Picks!

My absolute favorite dipping sauces for air fryer appetizers are my homemade Bang Bang Sauce and Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wing Sauce. If you love spicy, definitely check out this Chili Crisp and mix with a little mayonnaise for a sauce that packs some extra heat! 

Honey Mustard Sauce

This dipping sauce is simple yet amazing! Using only three ingredients, you can make this dipping sauce to give your chicken nuggets that rich sweet and sour flavor.

What’s even better is you probably have these ingredients in your pantry so grab that honey, mayonnaise, and mustard, and start making this dip right now!

Avocado-Cilantro Dip

This healthy dip is perfect for a low-carb diet while still packing creamy goodness and healthy nutrients. Just grab some avocados, cilantro, lemon juice, and garlic then mix them in a blender to get that smooth and creamy texture.

Spicy Soy Sauce

This versatile Asian dipping sauce is great with any dish! Simply combine soy sauce, honey and chili flakes to create this amazing dipping sauce.

Mustard and Barbeque Dip

Chicken with barbeque sauces always go well together. To make this dipping sauce, simply mix your honey mustard ingredients with barbeque sauce and you’re good to go on this delicious dip.

Garlic Aioli

With just garlic, lemon juice, and mayo, you can create this simple yet amazing dipping sauce for your chicken nuggets! This dip also goes well with most fried dishes and appetizers such as buffalo chicken wings and fried chicken!

What to serve with chicken nuggets

You may enjoy chicken nuggets without fancy sauces or dips but if you want to enjoy these with a good side dish, then here are some chicken nuggets side ideas for you:

French Fries: Fries are perfect for this crunchy air fryer chicken nuggets recipe. You can even cook your fries in the air fryer too! Frozen Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer are a great option.

Mac and Cheese or Risotto: A classic mac and cheese or risotto side is great if you want to enjoy a hefty pasta or rice meal with these crunchy nuggets. This Instant Pot Risotto is super easy and can cook side by side with your air fryer chicken nuggets!

Vegetables: Definitely a healthy option, fresh vegetables such as Roasted Asparagus would be great paired with chicken nuggets.

Mashed potatoes: Mashed potatoes go well with all kinds of dishes and chicken nuggets are one of them. Check out these Whole30 Mashed Potatoes for an easy and healthy option.

FAQ and expert tips

Do I need to defrost chicken nuggets before air frying?

No, you don’t need to. In fact, it’s better if you don’t because the air fryer cooks it perfectly even when frozen.

Where do I buy chicken nuggets?

Frozen chicken nugget packs are sold nationwide. These can be found in the freezer aisle of any grocery store.

What are chicken nuggets made of?

Chicken nuggets are usually cut out from the breast part of white chicken meat. Some varieties ground up chicken meat before cutting them into bite-sized pieces.

Can chicken nuggets be reheated?

Yes, these can be reheated using your air fryer. Simply preheat your air fryer to 400°F for about 3 minutes before reheating the chicken nuggets. Check your nuggets after about 2-3 minutes.

How to air fry Tyson chicken nuggets?

Air fry your Tyson chicken nuggets for about 8-10 minutes on 400 degrees.

How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer

Looking for other easy air fryer recipes?

  • Air Fryer Potato Skins
  • Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks
  • Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders
  • Air Fryer Frozen Pizza Rolls

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How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer

  • 16 oz frozen chicken nuggets
  • air fryer safe cooking spray (optional)

  • Lightly spray air fryer basket with air fryer safe cooking spray.

  • Place frozen chicken nuggets in fryer basket. Do not overfill basket. 

  • On 400°, cook for approximately 8-10 minutes.

  • If additional cook time is needed, cook for an additional 1-2 minute (check each time) until you reach your desired level of crispness as needed.

Chicken Nugget Dipping Sauce Ideas: 

  • Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wing Sauce (which is really great for dipping everything from chicken wings, to pizza, to tater tots!).
  • Bang Bang Sauce: a sweet and spicy mayonnaise based dipping sauce.
  • Chili Crisp: a delicious Asian sauce packed with spicy umami flavor!

Frozen Chicken Nugget Brands: 

This recipe works well with any brand of frozen chicken nuggets. Some amazing chicken nugget brand options are Tyson, Perdue, Banquet, Bell & Evans, Applegate, Weaver, Earth’s Best, Trader Joe’s, Fast Fixin’, Pilgrim’s and Quorn.

Calories: 107kcal | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 75mg | Vitamin A: 71IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

How long do I cook chicken nuggets in an air fryer?

Cooking chicken nuggets in an air fryer is really easy. Add the chicken nuggets to the air fryer basket in a single layer, and cook at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken nuggets halfway through the cook time.

How do you make crispy frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer?

Place the frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket and spread out into a single even layer. No oil spray is needed. Air Fry at 400°F/205°C for 8 minutes. Flip the nuggets over and then continue to cook at 400°F/205°C for another 2-4 minutes or until heated through and crispy.