A bag of frozen chicken nuggets is a convenient thing to have on hand. They’re especially handy for quick and easy weeknight dinners or afternoon snacks. Microwaving chicken nuggets takes almost no time, but the texture turns rubbery and soggy. Cooking chicken nuggets in the oven creates crispy nuggets, but you have to wait for the oven to preheat while it warms up the entire kitchen.
The solution? The air fryer, obviously! Once you try air-fryer chicken nuggets, you’ll never go back to cooking them in the microwave or oven. If you’re new to air frying, here’s how an air fryer works, and here’s how to find the best air fryer for your cooking style.
Best Frozen Chicken Nuggets for Cooking in the Air Fryer
Our Test Kitchen pros sampled many brands to find the best frozen chicken nuggets. Their top picks were Banquet, Just Bare, Tyson Naturals and Perdue. So if you’re not sure which bag to grab in the freezer aisle, we suggest starting there.
How to Make the Best Air-Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Air-fryer chicken nuggets can be cooked from frozen and do not need to be thawed. Additionally, regardless if you have an oven-style air fryer or basket-model air fryer, the instructions are the same. No preheating is necessary and no oil needed! Just grab your bag of frozen chicken nuggets and get cooking.
Directions
Step 1: Place the chicken nuggets in the air fryer
Arrange the frozen nuggets in a single layer on the air-fryer basket. For even cooking and to ensure a crunchy exterior, don’t overcrowd the air fryer.
Editor’s Tip: Use an air-fryer liner for easy cleanup.
Step 2: Cook the nuggets
Set the air fryer to 400°F and cook for 8-10 minutes. If cooking in multiple batches, the air fryer will already be warm, so nuggets may cook a bit quicker. You can flip the nuggets halfway through, but it’s not required.
Editor’s Tip: If you prefer extra crispy nuggets, increase the air fryer’s cooking time by 1 to 2 minutes.
Step 3: Serve!
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Remove the chicken nuggets from the air fryer and place them on a plate. Serve the crispy air-fryer chicken nuggets hot with an assortment of your favorite dipping sauces.
Tips for Making Air-Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Can I make frozen veggie chicken nuggets in the air fryer?
Yes! Vegetarian, or even vegan, frozen chicken nuggets work just as well in the air fryer. Unless otherwise stated in the brand’s cooking instructions, you can cook your favorite veggie chicken nuggets using the same instructions as above.
What’s the best dipping sauce for air-fryer chicken nuggets?
Ketchup and barbecue are a classic dipping sauce that pair well with chicken nuggets. But, if you want to try something different, you could whip up a copycat Popeye’s Mardi Gras mustard (which also pairs well with air-fried chicken tenders), or mix together equal parts sriracha and mayo for a spicy sauce option.
What do I serve with air-fryer chicken nuggets?
Make a full-rounded meal by pairing the air-fryer chicken nuggets with a side salad, fries or a vegetable side dish.
Try Our Other Air-Fryer Chicken Recipes
Air-Fryer Chicken TendersCrushed cheese crackers, panko bread crumbs, potato sticks and bacon take these chicken strips to the next level. If you don't have sour cream or potato sticks, try making
buttermilk chicken tenders and adapting them with the air-fryer cooking methods.
Air-Fryer Chicken ThighsBelieve it or not, you only need a tablespoon of olive oil to achieve crispy skin. And with this recipe, you don't even need to flip the chicken to brown it evenly.
Air-Fryer Chicken CutletCook a batch of chicken cutlets in advance, then eat them for weeknight dinners for the next three to four days. You can also
freeze cooked chicken in freezer-safe bags for up to four months.
General Tso’s Chicken Sandwich with Broccoli SlawWhile you could easily use store-bought sauce in a pinch, you won't regret whipping up this six-ingredient sauce made with honey, ginger, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, red pepper flakes and garlic.
Air-Fryer Chicken WingsTo ensure the crispiest wings possible, pat them dry before you apply any oil and don't overcrowd the basket. This way, the hot air can circulate properly throughout the air fryer.
Air-Fryer Chicken Taco PocketsThanks to store-bought crescent rolls and rotisserie chicken, dinner can be on the table in only 25 minutes. Serve with
guacamole and sour cream.
Air-Fryer Lemon Chicken ThighsThis classic feels fancy enough for date night, but it's quick and easy enough for any night of the week. While this recipe calls for thyme and rosemary, use any herbs you have on hand, like sage, oregano or even dried Italian seasoning.
Game-Day Thai Chicken MeatballsWhether you serve them with toothpicks during the holidays, on a snack plate for game day or on a piece of crusty bread for an everyday snack, these Thai-inspired meatballs are total winners. Serve with extra-sweet chili sauce for dipping.
Asparagus-Stuffed Air-Fryer Chicken RollsAsparagus-stuffed chicken rolls look fancy, but the air fryer makes them so easy. In only 35 minutes, these gorgeous roulades will be on the table and ready to eat. They're great for company or a romantic date night in.
Air-Fryer Nashville Hot ChickenNashville hot chicken is coated in spices and hot sauce before it's fried—or in this case, air-fried—then coated again in additional hot sauce. Include a dash of brown sugar or use up
leftover pickle juice for an added depth of flavor.
Easy Chicken Pesto Stuffed PeppersWith only six ingredients, these flavorful stuffed peppers are decidedly quicker and easier to make than many of the
stuffed pepper recipes out there. If you have any extras, one reader recommends storing them in the fridge and reheating them for lunch.
Air-Fryer Chicken ParmesanIf "
chicken parm" conjures up memories of messy dredging and frying followed by endless baking, this air-fryer version will change your life. In only 20 minutes, this simplified chicken Parmesan will be ready to eat.
Air-Fryer Crispy Curry DrumsticksYou can use frozen chicken legs to make crispy curry drumsticks. Just anticipate a longer cooking time and use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 170°F.
Air-Fryer Fiesta Chicken FingersThis chicken dish will make any night feel like a celebration. There's an extra crispy crust thanks to crushed corn chips and a richer flavor thanks to buttermilk.
Air-Fryer Chicken FajitasIf fajitas are your favorite Mexican restaurant order, you can now make them in the air fryer anytime. Serve with a
Mexican street corn bake,
black beans and more of our favorite
Mexican-inspired side dishes.
Air-Fryer Chicken Cordon BleuAfter making this showstopper, your family will be convinced you're ready to open a restaurant. It can be our secret that it took only 30 minutes to prep and cook.
Air-Fryer Chicken LegsIf there are any leftovers, you can store these drumsticks in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. You can also freeze the cooked drumsticks without sauce for up to four months, then make a new batch of sauce whenever you're ready to eat them.
Air-Fryer Almond ChickenIf you're gluten-free or looking to cut carbs, fried chicken is usually off limits. This chicken, however, is crusted with chopped, slivered almonds instead of flour (aka, it's an even tastier alternative). Find more of our favorite
gluten-free chicken recipes here.
Air-Fryer Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken NuggetsIt doesn't get more interesting than these crunchy nuggets, which are breaded with ground sweet potato chips and flour. The more dipping sauces—like
honey mustard,
barbecue sauce and
spicy ketchup—the better.
Air-Fryer Southern-Style ChickenThe secret ingredient to this irresistibly crunchy air-fried chicken recipe is crushed Ritz crackers. That's a pretty genius way to use up pantry snacks. Pair this chicken with your favorite
Southern sides like green beans and corn fritters.
Spicy Air-Fryer Chicken BreastsTo make this recipe, you'll first need to make soft bread crumbs. Tear three to four pieces of bread into pieces and place them into a food processor. Cover and pulse until crumbs form. That's it!
Air-Fryer Fajita-Stuffed ChickenOnce you've gotten the hang of making fajitas, it's time to take things up a notch. These impressive-looking stuffed fajitas are a complete meal, and they're secretly easy to pull off.
Air-Fryer Southwestern Chicken EnchiladasYes, you can cook enchiladas in the air fryer! You don't even have to preheat them. Just line the fryer basket with foil, grease the foil, then place batches of three rolled-up enchiladas in the air fryer at a time to cook.
Air-Fryer Everything Bagel Chicken StripsThere are so many
ways to use everything bagel seasoning, but these chicken strips actually use the bagel itself to create the breading. Serve with
your favorite ketchup.
Air-Fryer Lemon Feta ChickenTangy lemon and zippy feta cheese give this dish plenty of flavor with absolutely no butter or oil. The result is a protein-packed main dish with only 142 calories and 4 grams of fat per serving.
Chicken YakitoriThis Japanese-inspired chicken dish is all about the yakitori sauce, which is typically made of soy sauce, mirin, sake and sugar. Give your sauce a teriyaki twist by adding garlic, ginger or Sriracha to spice things up.
Air-Fryer Hoisin Chicken WrapsThese quick wraps are based on the
Vietnamese banh mi sandwich. They're an easy, portable choice for lunches or for a snack spread at a party.
Air-Fryer Buffalo Chicken WingsStore-bought Louisiana hot sauce and cayenne pepper give these wings quite a kick. Serve with extra hot sauce (or cooling
ranch dressing).
Air-Fryer Whole ChickenYep, you can pop an entire chicken in the air fryer. Just use a three or four pound chicken, and make sure your air fryer has a five-quart capacity. It will be all ready to eat in a little over an hour.
Air-Fryer Pecan Chicken SlidersYou'll want to slather the recipe's homemade bourbon berry jam on everything. Make it with a package of frozen unsweetened mixed berries, sugar and bourbon—and maybe save some for pancakes tomorrow morning.
Updated: Oct. 23, 2023
