Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets Recipe

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Learn how to make air fryer frozen chicken nuggets quickly and deliciously in a matter of minutes! They come out perfectly crispy every single time.

Plate stacked with air fryer chicken nuggets sitting next to a small bowl of ketchup.

Why This Recipe Works

Plopping chicken strips or nuggets onto a plate and throwing them into the microwave works, right? It gets the job done, but does it produce the most quality form of the little nugget that you can possibly get? Nope! Often when I go this route, I pull a soggy chicken nugget back out and feeling sorry for whomever I am serving it to.

If you own an air fryer and if you have children who consume massive amounts of chicken like I do, you’ve gotta try this method! It is the best way to cook nuggets and there is no possible way to achieve better results with such an unassuming food.

This is such an easy way to produce the most perfectly crispy chicken nuggets with tender meat, all evenly cooked through. Throw frozen nuggets into your air fryer, push a few buttons and a few minutes later dinner for the kids is done with very little effort. Even better than restaurant chicken nuggets!

Recipe Ingredients

Frozen chicken nuggets – Ok folks, this is the only ingredient necessary, making this the easiest kid meal to prepare in the world. And you don’t even need to thaw them first! Any variety will work great. Pull straight from the freezer!

How To Make Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets

Step 1

Place chicken nuggets (do not defrost! pull straight from freezer!) in a single layer to the air fryer basket or inner pot of a pressure air fryer. Cook at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.

Frozen chicken nuggets in a single layer inside an air fryer.

Cook at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.

Step 2

When cooking time is up, use tongs or a spatula to remove them from the air fryer.

Pair of tongs flipping nuggets in an air fryer.

Serve along with ketchup or other dipping sauces.

Recipe Notes

For best results, spray basket with cooking spray or olive oil before cooking. The less oil used, the healthier the end result will be.
Any variety of nuggets works great for this recipe, but if you are looking for a healthier chicken nugget read the nutritional information before purchasing.
For crispy nuggets, cook for an additional 5 minutes after flipping. You will be able to gauge how fast they’re cooking when you peek in to flip them.
Pop leftover chicken nuggets in the fridge (stored in a ziploc bag) and reheat the next day in the microwave or in the air fryer for just a couple minutes.
Vegetarian nuggets work great, too!
The unique varieties bring different sizes, which is just fine. Ensure that you have them lined up in a single layer so that none are overlapping.

FAQ About Chicken Nuggets

Are chicken nuggets healthy?

The chicken inside chicken nuggets offers protein and vitamins., but the breaded, outer part of the nugget is where the fat and calories typically come in. Fast food nuggets are more unhealthy than store-bought. When purchasing them from the grocery store, read the nutritional labels to get the healthiest variety. Check the different brands and purchase a variety with white meat chicken and a low-fat breading. Or enjoy veggie nuggets as a replacement!

Are chicken nuggets gluten free?

Many varieties of chicken nuggets (both fast-food and store-bought) contain gluten. Read labels and ask before ordering when looking for a gluten-free variety.

Are chicken nuggets keto?

Most chicken nuggets contain a high amount of carbs, making it a food that does not typically adhere to the keto diet.

What chicken nuggets are made of?

Chicken nuggets consist of a small piece of boneless chicken meat which is then breaded or battered, then either baked, deep-fried or cooked by other means until the meat is cooked through.

One air fryer chicken nugget dipped into a small bowl of ketchup.

Favorite Sauces for Dipping Nuggets

Not just a good seasoned sour cream recipe, but the best ever! This recipe gives Champps a run for their money! This is my personal favorite dipping sauce for fries and nuggets.
This is one of those sauces that I won’t pick up in a jar – homemade Alfredo Sauce takes better than anything I can find in the store aisles and it’s super easy to make!
Arby’s Sauce is perfect for those beef sandwiches you make yourself and then want a delicious homemade sauce to go on it!
This marinara dipping sauce recipe is the best! Skip store-bought and make this perfect dipping sauce for bread sticks or to add to your next pasta dish. Made in just a few minutes, this will become your new favorite easy sauce.
This Asian-inspired sauce is a replica of that famous Ginger Sauce Benihana copycat recipe you love so much. Goes great with steak, veggies, rice or fish!
Teriyaki sauce with honey is easy to make at home with just a few ingredients and it’s done in a few minutes! Add it to stir fry, your next Asian-inspired salad, pork or chicken wings.
This is the best homemade bbq sauce with ketchup you’ll find! It is sweet, spicy and packed with bold, delicious flavors. Great for grilled foods!

More Air Fryer Recipes

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