Air fryers are all the rage these days and for a good reason! They are a healthier way to cook food, especially food like nuggets. The result is crispy and delicious as can be just as deep-fried food. More importantly, it is a better way than cooking these little snacks in the microwave. So if you’re looking for a healthier alternative to cooking chicken nuggets fresh or frozen, look no further as this is the air fryer tutorial you’ll need. Whether you choose to make your chicken nuggets from scratch or you decided to use frozen ones for convenience, both work great in an air fryer. In fact, you can be guaranteed dinner in under 30 minutes too. What matters is to properly cook the food at the proper temperature, and that the chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165F/73C As for the cooking time, it really depends on the size and thickness of your nuggets, also if you are cooking from fresh or frozen. For smaller nuggets it can cook for as little as 8 minutes at 200C/400F or up to 10 minutes for thicker ones. Fresh homemade chicken nuggets will cook between 12 -15 minutes at 200C/400F flipping halfway through the cooking time. If you are using frozen nuggets, there is no need to thaw them before cooking. They should be cooked directly from frozen for a great result. Simply place them in the air fryer basket and cook according to the recipe instructions. Related posts: air fryer dino nuggets and how to cook frozen food in the air fryer.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer
This is debatable as some people say yes and others no. I am in the camp of preheating my air fryer before cooking. I preheat for at least 3-5 minutes at 200C/400F before cooking frozen food as this ensures even cooking. Don’t forget the air fryer is essentially a mini oven and you would preheat your oven before cooking. In some cases, depending on the brand of your air fryer, you are left with no choice as your air fryer might come with automatic preheat settings like instant vortex 5.7l air fryer. However, If you choose not to preheat your air fryer, simply cook for additional minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 75C/165F
What you will need
Air fryer kitchen silicon tong meat thermometer Frozen chicken nuggets of choice.
How to cook frozen chicken nuggets in air fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 200C/400F for 3-5 minutes. Place frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket, spreading them out in a single layer. No need to spray with oil. Air fry the frozen chicken nuggets for 8-10 minutes at 200C/400F shaking the basket or flipping halfway through (optional) until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the air fryer and serve with your favorite dipping sauce. I love to serve mine with my homemade fry sauce or spicy mayo.
How to store and reheat
Leftover chicken nuggets can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for up to 2 days. Make sure it cools completely before storing it away. To reheat, simply place them on a baking sheet and warm them up in a preheated oven at 165C/325F for 3-5 minutes or until warmed to your liking. This article teaches you the best way to reheat chicken nuggets, do check it out.
Tips
Make sure to cook the chicken nuggets in a single layer, this will help them crisp up nicely and cook evenly too. That said, they can tough a little on sides but never stack them up. If your air fryer basket is not big enough then cook them in batches. Nobody likes soggy or undercooked nuggets.
what is chicken nuggets
Chicken nuggets are cubed or diced chicken breast that is seasoned then battered or breaded and deep fried or oven baked, and most recently air fried.
How long to put frozen chicken nuggets in air fryer
The time to cook chicken nuggets in the air fryer will vary according to the size and thickness of the nuggets and the wattage of the air fryer. Typically, frozen chicken nuggets will cook in the air fryer for 8-10 minutes, and it is not necessary to flip them as well.
Can I cook Tyson chicken nuggets air fryer
Yes, you can cook Tyson chicken nuggets in the air fryer or any other brand you have on hand.
What are the best frozen chicken nuggets for air fryer
There are many brands of chicken nuggets available on the market, and they all cook well in an air fryer. It is hard to say which brand is best as the dependent factor would be your location. The popular brands in the US are Tyson, Perdue, and Banquet. While in the UK, some of the more well-known brands are Birds Eye, Iceland, Aldi, and Farmfoods. Regardless of the brand, you choose to use, make sure you read the labels for nuggets made with 100% chicken and no fillers.
More air fryer recipe
Air fryer chicken cutlets Air fryer frozen chicken thighs How to reheat pizza in the air fryer Air fryer boneless chicken thighs Air fryer potatoes and sausage How to reheat fries air fryer Air fryer frozen potato croquettes Did you make this air fryer frozen chicken nuggets recipe? I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox
