The air fryer makes a quick and easy job of cooking frozen chicken tenders, strips, and nuggets. Every time, they get golden brown on the outside and juicy on the inside. You won’t go back after trying it!
My air fryer has become one of my most used kitchen appliances. You can cook healthy food in an air fryer, and it’s also very easy to clean up. An air fryer heats up quickly and cooks food very quickly.
But sometimes when Im too busy to cook from scratch, Ill take a little help from the grocery store. There are a lot of healthy options out there these days, which is great because I like convenience foods when my kids are hungry and ready to eat.
Did you know that its really easy to make frozen chicken tenders, strips or nuggets in the air fryer? No more waiting for the oven to heat up! The air fryer heats up and cooks much faster than the oven.
And the chicken comes out perfectly crispy, juicy, and delicious every time! Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are the perfect quick, family-friendly, weeknight dinner or snack. [feast_advanced_jump_to]
Chicken nuggets are a universally loved food, enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Their crispy outer coating encasing tender chicken makes them an irresistible snack or meal. While traditionally fried, chicken nuggets can also be made in an air fryer for a healthier cooking method.
When using an air fryer it’s important to understand how long to cook chicken nuggets to achieve the perfect balance of crispy outside and moist interior. This complete guide will provide tips cooking times, and advice to help you make delicious air fried chicken nuggets every time.
Why Cook Chicken Nuggets in an Air Fryer?
Air fryers have grown tremendously in popularity in recent years due to their ability to create that coveted fried food taste and texture without all the excess oil and calories of traditional frying. Here are some of the benefits of cooking chicken nuggets in an air fryer:
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Lower fat and calories Air frying uses little to no oil, resulting in chicken nuggets that have significantly less fat and calories compared to deep frying. This makes it a healthier cooking method
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Crispy exterior: The hot air circulation of an air fryer produces a crispy, crunchy outer breading on the nuggets that mimics deep frying.
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Convenience: Air fryers require only minimal preparation and make cooking chicken nuggets fast and easy.
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Versatility: Chicken nuggets can be cooked from frozen or homemade in an air fryer with great results.
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Safety: With no hot oil splattering, air frying chicken nuggets is safer and less messy than deep frying.
For these reasons, air fryers provide an excellent way to enjoy chicken nuggets when you’re craving that satisfying crunch and flavor.
Factors That Affect Chicken Nuggets Cooking Time
The best amount of time to cook something in an air fryer depends on many things, such as:
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Air fryer wattage: Lower-wattage air fryers (under 1200W) will require longer cook times than higher-wattage models.
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Amount of nuggets: The more chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket, the longer the cook time.
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Nugget size and shape: Larger, thicker nuggets take longer to cook through than smaller, thinner ones. Irregular shapes also increase cook time.
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Frozen or thawed: Frozen nuggets take longer to heat through completely.
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Nugget coating: Thicker breading requires more time to become crispy. Homemade nuggets may cook faster than heavily breaded store-bought ones.
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Personal taste preference: Some people prefer their nuggets cooked longer for extra crispiness.
Taking these factors into account will help determine the ideal air fryer cook time for your specific batch of chicken nuggets.
Recommended Chicken Nugget Cook Times
Cook times for air-fried chicken nuggets depend on the things listed above, but here are some general rules to follow:
For Frozen Nuggets:
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Smaller nuggets (under 1 oz): 8-12 minutes at 370°F (preheat air fryer first)
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Average nuggets (1-2 oz): 10-14 minutes at 370°F
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Larger nuggets (over 2 oz): 12-16 minutes at 370°F
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Extra crisp: Add 2-3 minutes. Shake basket halfway through.
For Homemade Nuggets:
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Battered nuggets: 8-12 minutes at 360°F
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Breaded nuggets: 10-15 minutes at 360°F
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Nugget shapes/bites: Cook 5 minutes less than whole nuggets
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Extra crisp: Add 2-4 minutes if desired
These cooking times are based on an average air fryer wattage of 1200 to 1400W and flipping or shaking the nuggets in the middle of cooking. Before taking nuggets out of the air fryer, always make sure they are done.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Follow these handy tips for ensuring your air fried chicken nuggets turn out crispy, fully cooked, and delicious every time:
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Preheat properly: Always preheat your air fryer 5 minutes before cooking. This allows it to fully heat up to the proper temperature.
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Put nonstick cooking spray on the fryer basket just enough so the nuggets don’t stick.
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Don’t overcrowd: Leave space between nuggets for air circulation. Cook in batches for even cooking.
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Flip halfway: Shake basket or flip nuggets over halfway through cook time for even browning.
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Keep cooked nuggets warm: When cooking batches, keep first batches warm in a low oven until other batches are done.
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Use a meat thermometer: Check temperature of a few center nuggets to confirm they reached 165°F internally.
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Let rest briefly: Let cooked nuggets rest in the basket 1-2 minutes before removing to set coating.
Follow these tips and recommended cook times for perfectly air fried chicken nuggets every time. Adjust cook times as needed based on your specific nugget type, air fryer wattage, and desired level of crispiness. Enjoy your healthy, crunchy chicken nugget snack or meal straight from the air fryer.
Rule of thumb to convert oven to air fryer cooking time
The above cooking instructions are a general guideline for cooking frozen chicken tenders and nuggets. You can also read the oven cooking instructions on the product packaging and adjust the cook time and temperature for the air fryer. To do that, follow this general rule of thumb:
If you want to change a regular oven recipe to an air fryer recipe, a good general rule of thumb is to lower the temperature by about 10 degrees Celsius and the cooking time by about 10 minutes.
So for example, if a bag of chicken tenders calls for a cooking temperature of 375°F in the oven, set your air fryer for 350°F. If the oven says 15 minutes, the air fryer will cook your food in about 12 minutes. However, I recommend that you start checking at the halfway point, at around 7-8 minutes, because some air fryers run very hot.
Adjust the temperature and cook time if your chicken is getting too dark too quickly.
- Preheat the air fryer before putting your food in.
- You don’t need to spray the basket or food with oil for frozen chicken tenders and nuggets because they already have oil in them.
- Make sure the chicken is in a single layer in the air fryer so it gets nice and crispy. Dont overcrowd the basket.
- Flip your food or shake the basket halfway through cooking. I like to do this step to make sure all sides get a nice brown color, but you don’t have to.
Cook time and temperature
The cooking time and temperature will vary depending on the product and the brand. Chicken nuggets will typically cook faster than chicken tenders/strips because they are smaller.
Also, the cook time will depend on whether the chicken is already fully cooked or not. Most products on the market are already fully cooked. However, some brands, like Bell & Evans breaded chicken tenders and nuggets, are raw. Those products will have to be cooked longer to ensure that theyre cooked to a safe minimum temperature.
I recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure that your chicken is completely cooked. Chicken should be cooked to 165°F. You can check out the USDAs Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Guide.
How to Make Frozen Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer
FAQ
How long does it take to cook nuggets in an air fryer?