Chicken nuggets are a beloved snack for both kids and adults alike. Their crispy battered exterior enveloping tender, juicy chicken has made nuggets a favorite appetizer and meal accompaniment. While deep frying yields the quintessential crunch we know and love air frying chicken nuggets has become an increasingly popular method for achieving a similar texture with a fraction of the oil and calories. However, nailing down the ideal air fryer cooking time can take some trial and error. This guide will walk through how long you should air fry chicken nuggets depending on their form – frozen or homemade – to achieve the perfect golden brown crispness.
Factors That Impact Air Fryer Chicken Nugget Cook Times
When air frying chicken nuggets. the cooking duration can vary substantially depending on several key factors
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Air Fryer Model Not all air fryers are created equal. The wattage, capacity and airflow design of your particular appliance will impact cook times. Always consult your air fryer manual for recommended settings.
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Nugget Size: The size and thickness of nuggets affects how quickly they will cook. Large, thick nuggets may need a few extra minutes compared to smaller, thinner ones.
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Quantity: Cooking a bigger batch? You’ll likely need to increase the fry time and shake or flip the nuggets partway through to ensure even browning. Work in smaller batches if needed.
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Frozen vs. Homemade: Pre-frozen nuggets eliminate thaw time but may cook faster than homemade. Breading, coatings, and thickness still vary between brands.
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Desired Crispness: Are you looking for a light golden crunch or an ultra-crispy crust? Adjust cook time up or down accordingly.Err on the side of underdone and finish with extra time if needed.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at specific air fryer recommendations for frozen and homemade nuggets.
How Long to Air Fry Frozen Chicken Nuggets
For frozen chicken nuggets from the store, the air fryer cooking time will generally be 6-12 minutes at 400°F, shaking halfway. However, always defer to any instructions on the packaging as cook times can vary significantly between brands and products. When in doubt, start with a shorter cook time and add more as needed.
Here are some tips for air frying frozen chicken nuggets:
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Ensure nuggets are spread in a single layer, not overlapping or touching.
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Spray air fryer basket lightly with oil for optimal crispness.
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For larger batches, cook in smaller amounts, redistributing halfway.
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Preheat air fryer fully before adding nuggets.
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Flip/shake nuggets about halfway through cooking.
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Brush or spray nuggets with a bit more oil after flipping for even browning.
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Check for doneness early and extend cook time in 1-2 minute intervals if needed.
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Let cooked nuggets rest 1-2 minutes out of the air fryer before serving.
The beauty of air frying frozen foods like chicken nuggets is that you skip thawing or prep time. In just 10-15 minutes, you can enjoy piping hot crisp nuggets for a quick weeknight dinner or snack.
How Long to Air Fry Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Making chicken nuggets from scratch at home lets you control the ingredients and coatings but does require a bit more hands-on prep. You’ll need to account for raw chicken cook time in addition to crisping and browning the outer layer.
For breaded homemade nuggets, the air fryer cooking time will generally be 8-14 minutes at 390°F, flipping halfway. Thicker nuggets or larger batches may take closer to 18-20 minutes.
Here are some pointers for air frying homemade chicken nuggets:
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Pound chicken breast to an even thickness before breading, around 1⁄2 inch.
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Chill breaded nuggets in fridge for 15-30 minutes before air frying.
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Use a bit of oil or cooking spray on nuggets before air frying.
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Cook at a slightly lower temp (390°F) to avoid over-browning.
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Flip nuggets at least once midway through cooking.
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Verify interior is 165°F with a meat thermometer before removing.
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Let rest 1-2 minutes out of fryer before dipping into sauce and serving.
With the right technique, you can absolutely achieve tender, juicy interior and crispy coating on homemade nuggets with your air fryer. It just requires a bit more finesse.
Pro Tips for Maximizing Air Fryer Chicken Nugget Results
To take your air fried chicken nuggets to the next level, keep these pro tips in mind:
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Always preheat air fryer fully before cooking. This helps ensure even browning.
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Use light oil or spray for optimal crispness. Brush nuggets after flipping too.
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Work in smaller batches if needed to avoid crowding.
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Flip/shake halfway through cooking for all-over crispness.
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Adjust cook times as needed based on doneness, not crispness. You can always add more time.
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Let rest 1-2 minutes after cooking before tossing in sauce or serving for best texture.
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Use sauce sparingly if planning to air fry again. Thick sauce prevents crispness. Serve extra sauce on the side.
With the right timing and a few simple tricks, you can enjoy restaurant-quality crunchy baked chicken nuggets from the comfort of your own kitchen. So grab your air fryer and whip up a batch of this tasty appetizer or meal. Just be sure not to overcrowd the basket and adjust cooking times as needed until you find your perfect crisp. Happy air frying!
How to make crispy low carb chicken nuggets
To make a fantastical batch of these low-carb chicken nuggets you’ll need canned chunk chicken, shredded mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, eggs, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and few dashes of hot sauce.
Canned chicken was a surprise ingredient for me in this recipe, but it really works wonderfully here. I actually use canned chicken fairly regularly to make batches of simple chicken salad (it’s so good with crackers for lunch!), so I have a few cans in my pantry most of the time. I also enjoy that using cooked, ready-to-use chicken really makes prepping these nuggets a snappy process. For purposes of this recipe, the chicken needs to be drained and broken down into shreds using a fork or a pastry cutter.
Once the shredded chicken is combined with all the seasonings, eggs and cheese, it must be formed into 1.5 – 2-inch shaped nuggets. I think we all know what a basic chicken nugget looks like, and I found that replicating that basic shape was very easy using my hands (please refer to the full tutorial video below for a detailed example of how to do this). Once the nuggets are shaped and ready to cook, I highly recommend using an air fryer to get them nice and crispy in just a few minutes. An air fryer is a perfect appliance for this recipe, and I explain the air fryer cooking instructions, in detail, in the recipe card below.
Although I have not made them in the oven myself, I do believe achieving good results with this recipe is possible by “oven-frying” as well. It just might take a bit more time to get them as crispy and golden by baking them that way.
The concept of using canned chicken to make chicken nuggets has apparently been out on the web for a couple of years now, but y’all know I’m always late to the trendy recipe parties. I don’t participate over on Tik Tok at all, so I’ll likely stay behind the times… forever. However, I’m sure thankful to know about this recipe now because it’s a keeper, and we truly enjoy it.
In fact, I haven’t been this excited about a chicken nugget, well, since the dawn of time for chicken nuggets in 1983 (I’m looking at you, McDonald’s…) I was there and 12 -year-old me thought those tasty McNuggets were a fascinating option over burgers. They were just SO crispy and good dunked in bbq sauce!!
These low-carb air fryer chicken nuggets give me the all the same feels as back then, but I’m happy to know exactly what’s gone into them, who’s cooking them (moi…), and I love that they’re not deep-fried in oil. I’ll be making many, many more of these for myself… and I guess I’ll share with the fam!
And, no, I won’t forget my favorite dipping sauces: pass the hot mustard and the bbq sauce please!
What’s your favorite chicken nugget dipping sauce??
Please remember sharing is caring and happy cooking, y’all! xo -M
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Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
FAQ
How long does it take to air fry chicken nuggets?
How long to cook chicken nuggets in air fryer?
Cooking chicken nuggets in an air fryer typically takes about 10 to 12 minutes at a temperature of 400°F (200°C). It’s essential to preheat the air fryer for a few minutes before adding the nuggets to ensure they cook evenly and become crispy. To achieve the best results, turn the nuggets halfway through the cooking process.
Can you cook frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer?
Cooking frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer is a breeze. Here’s how long to cook them: To ensure even cooking, it’s essential to: Preheat the air fryer for about 5 minutes before adding the nuggets. Arrange the nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Shake the basket halfway through cooking to promote even crispiness.
How do you cook Nuggets in an air fryer?
Preheat the air fryer. This is crucial to getting an even, crisp exterior. If your air fryer doesn’t have a built-in preheating function, simply set it to the temperature you want and let it warm up for about five minutes before placing the nuggets inside. Use minimal oil.
How to cook chicken nuggets in a fryer?
Arrange and Cook: Lay the nuggets in a single layer in the fryer basket and cook for 10-15 minutes. Flip them halfway through the cooking time to ensure an even golden color. To guarantee the chicken nuggets are fully cooked, you should always check their internal temperature.
How long to cook frozen chicken nuggets?
Cooking times for frozen nuggets may vary by brand and size, so be sure to check the packaging for recommended air frying times. As a general guideline, most frozen chicken nuggets take about 10 to 15 minutes at 400°F (200°C). To achieve optimal crispiness, consider flipping the nuggets halfway through the cooking time.
Do I need to thaw frozen chicken nuggets before air frying?
No, you do not need to thaw frozen chicken nuggets before air frying. They can be cooked directly from the freezer, which makes air frying an excellent option for quick and convenient meals. The cooking time will remain similar, usually around 10 to 15 minutes depending on your air fryer model.