Wondering How Long to Air Fry Chicken Nuggets? We’ve Got the Answer

For the uninitiated, air fryers are basically countertop convection ovens that cook foods by circulating electric heat with high-powered fans. This dry, full-coverage heat makes for impeccably crispy results, minus the intimidating frying, messy oil and extra calories.

When baked in a standard oven, chicken nuggets take at least 20 minutes to prepare. But with this handy appliance, you’ll likely only need to air fry them for about 6 to 10 minutes on one side and 4 to 6 minutes on the other side at 400°F, depending on the size of the nuggets and your model of air fryer.

If you’re starting with frozen chicken nuggets, all you need to do is place them in a single layer into the air fryer basket and cook. If you’re making them from scratch, you’ll want to coat them in seasoned flour, dip them in egg or oil and roll them in whatever breadcrumbs or outer coating you’d like. (Might we suggest potato chips? Crushed Goldfish? Shredded coconut?) Then, you’ll want to spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil and cook the nuggets.

Here are some pro tips for cooking chicken nuggets (or anything, really) in the 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. The whole point of an air fryer is that it can prepare “fried” foods without much grease. You don’t need more than a quick spritz of oil on the air fryer tray or basket to get the job done. (Also, use a higher smoke point oil—like vegetable oil—if possible, to minimize smokiness as they cook.) If you’re starting with frozen chicken nuggets instead of homemade, you can skip the oil completely.
• Cook the nuggets in a single layer. If they’re overlapping or touching, those spots won’t have full access to the hot air being circulated in the air fryer, so they’ll turn out mushy and stuck together. If your basket is small and you’re cooking for a crowd, it’s best to fry the chicken nuggets in batches. You’ll also want to flip the nuggets halfway through cooking to ensure even crisping.
• If going by package instructions, reduce the temp by 25°F. Since convection ovens cook with a more intense heat than standard ovens, you can likely lower the recipe’s temp and keep the cooking time the same if you’re going by instructions meant for a standard oven. The air is much hotter in the air fryer, so the nuggets will crisp faster; lowering the temp a bit will keep them from drying out or burning.