How to make your Dino Frozen Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer with this quick and easy recipe! The best way to eat frozen chicken nuggets is to air fry them. They are hot and crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.
Why This Recipe is the Best
Nobody loves eating chicken nuggets from the microwave. They are soggy and wet! When you use the air fryer to eat chicken nuggets, they get a tasty, crispy outside. My kids love it when I make nuggets in the air fryer for an after-school snack or lunch.
We love the air fryer! Try these other recipes like our Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks, Air Fryer Bagel Bites, and Air Fryer Pizza Rolls.
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Key Ingredients
All you need for this recipe is your favorite frozen chicken nuggets!
- Frozen chicken nuggets - we used Tyson chicken nuggets (regular, dinosaur, and gluten-free) and Great Value chicken nuggets to test this recipe. You can use any kind you want!
How to Air Fry Chicken Nuggets
Use these process shots to help get the results you want. The pictures can help with texture and be a visual guide for the best results.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Place frozen (dino) chicken nuggets (Do NOT thaw) in a single layer in the basket of your air fryer. A small amount of overlap is okay.
- Place the basket in the air fryer and cook for 6 minutes. Flip or shake nuggets. Note: if they seem to be cooking faster than anticipated, reduce additional cooking time.
- Cook for 4-10 more minutes, until the nuggets just start to split and are starting to turn golden. For extra crispy, continue cooking an additional 1-3 minutes, but be warned, they will split more the longer they are cooked.
- Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy! Try some of our variations below for gourmet nugget ideas!
Hint: Serve these up with some yummy sauces like Chick-fil-A sauce or yummy Homemade Wingstop Ranch, and of course, a classic BBQ sauce.
Common Mistakes
It's important to get the time and temp right. If you use too high a temperature, the nuggets will be done on the outside, but not the inside. If you cook them at too low a temperature, it will take too long to make them crispy, and they will dry out a bit. Follow our no-fail directions for best results!
Top Tip
The Chicken Nuggets only need to be heated until they are hot, then they are just cooked until the desired crispness is reached. For crispy nuggets, heat longer. But beware, they might split open (which may or may not be a problem for you).
Not all Air Fryers are created equal! These were specifically made in a NINJA foodi. Feel free to experiment if you don't have the exact results you want.
Recipe
Frozen Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 chicken nuggets frozen
- 1 spray cooking oil optional, to prevent sticking
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400*F. Spray the air fryer basket with a light coat of cooking spray, if desired.
- Place chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. A small amount of overlapping is okay. No need to use any oil in this recipe.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, checking on the nuggets and flipping around minute 6. Not all air fryers are the same. Cook shorter or longer if needed. For extra crispy nuggets cook an additional 2 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Not all air fryers are the same! Make sure to check your nuggets around minute 6. Reduce the cooking time if they are cooking more quickly than anticipated.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat in the air fryer at 400*F for 3-5 minutes.
- For yummy gourmet variations such as spicy, cajun, sweet chili Thai and more, check out our variations section above!
- Be careful not abandon your chicken nuggets in the air fryer- if they stay in too long they can explode and make a big mess.
Nutrition
Dino Chicken Nuggets
We recipe tested this with the Dino Chicken Nuggets made by Tyson, and they worked perfectly! They are such a great and fun option for kids.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 360°F
Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat using the same directions as in the recipe.
Variations
Chicken nuggets aren't just for kids! Check out some of our fun variations below to make them more appetizing for adults!
- Spicy - There are a few different ways to get spicy chicken nuggets- you can simply buy spicy ones - OR- toss in a mixture of 1 Tablespoon olive oil and ½ teaspoon (or more for spicier) red pepper flakes before air frying. These will be yummy and extra crispy. You may also sprinkle red pepper flakes on top after they have cooked, or stir some into your dipping sauce.
- Deluxe/ Italian - toss in a mixture of 1 Tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon parsley, ¼ teaspoon oregano, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, and 2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese before cooking for a fun deluxe version!
- Cheesy - toss the nuggets in 1 Tablespoon olive oil and 2 Tablespoons of your favorite grated cheese (mozzarella and parmesan are our favorites) before cooking for cheesy goodness.
- Thai Chili, Buffalo, Cajun, Chipotle, Honey Garlic- drizzle preferred sauce over top of nuggets immediately after cooking.
- Gluten Free - most chicken nuggets are made with gluten! However, gluten-free chicken nuggets are easy to find. Simply make with gluten-free.
FAQ
Set Air Fryer to 400°F. Do not use oil. A small amount of overlap is okay, but place the nuggets in a single layer in the basket. Air fry 5-6 minutes, shake or flip, then 5-6 minutes more.
No oil necessary. Place frozen chicken Dino nuggets in a single layer (a little overlap is okay). Cook at 400°F for 6 minutes. Flip or shake, then cook 4-6 more minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on the air fryer.
Air Fry for 9-12 minutes at 400°F, shaking or flipping the nuggets around the halfway mark. Cook an additional 2 minutes for extra crispy. All air fryers are not created equal, so check periodically for doneness.
To reheat Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Cook for 3 minutes, then flip and cook for 1-3 more minutes, until desired doneness is achieved.
Nicole says
We loved these frozen dino chicken nuggets in the air fryer. So much better than microwaving and baking. They are so hot and crispy. We tried them spicy and it was even yummier.