Making Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer is an Easy Lunch Hack
Looking for a healthy version of your favorite snack? Here's how to make chicken nuggets in air fryer and enjoy them guilt free!
I’ll have to admit, I’m one of those people who jumped way too late on the air frying bandwagon. But once I did, there was no turning back! I was able to enjoy my favorite foods, guilt free.
And if you, like me, enjoy the crunchiness and juiciness of the holy chicken nugget, you’re gonna love making the chicken nuggets in air fryer.
Table of contents
Making the Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer
They’ll be healthier than your regular, deep fried version obviously, but what’s best is the fact that they take literally a few minutes to whip up, and can be an easy lunch hack for when you don’t want to order takeout.
Read on to discover how to make it, and some super delicious serving ideas to get you started.
Can I Make the Nuggets From Scratch?
Of course. The beauty of frozen nuggets is that they can be really convenient when you’re short of time, but if you like making foods from scratch and want to use homemade nuggets instead, you could totally do that too.
Just remember that you’ll need to freeze them before you use them for the recipe.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Nuggets!
Ready to make those nuggets? Wait! Here’s what you need to know before you do to make sure they end up perfectly crispy and crunchy as you want them to be.
- Lightly grease the base of the air fryer basket with some oil or spray with a non-stick cooking spray. This will help keep the chicken nuggets from sticking to the basket.
- Do not overcrowd the basket. Maintain a little space between each chicken nugget to ensure that they cook well from all sides. Air fry them in batches if you’re making a larger quantity.
- Dump the leftovers in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag and pop them in the refrigerator. They can stay fresh there for up to 3 days. All you need to do is air fry them once again when you want to have them, and that’s it.
- Air fried chicken nuggets can also be frozen. Store them in Ziploc bags and air fry them again to make them crispy.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
Chicken nuggets are literally one of the most versatile foods on the planet- you can have them for lunch or as a snack. Here are a few ideas to help you team them up with other foods and make the most of them.
- To enjoy them as a meal, you can sneak them into a homemade sandwich and layer them between breads, add in some coleslaw and some fresh sliced veggies (tomatoes and cucumber) and some cheese.
- If you’re planning to have them as a snack, you can get out some sauces and dips and enjoy them with the nuggets. Ranch, mustard, hot sauce, barbeque sauce, yogurt-mint dip, jalapeno cheese dip and marinara sauce are some good options.
Loved making chicken nuggets in air fryer? Looking for some more fun air fryer recipes to try out? Here are a few recipes to try your hands at!
- How to Make Pizza Rolls in Air Fryer
- Instant Pot Baked Potatoes and Twice Baked Potatoes Air Fryer
- How to Make Fried Oreos with an Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid
Frozen Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Whip up a quick lunch with these easy instructions for how to cook frozen chicken tenders or nuggets in your air fryer. This is the perfect lunchtime time-saver!
Ingredients
Supplies used to make the best Frozen Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Air Fryer
- or Air fryer lid (for your regular Instant Pot Duo)
- Air Fryer Basket
- Airtight container
- or Ziploc bags
- Kitchen Tongs
Ingredients for the easiest Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Instructions
- Spread the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket evenly so as not to overlap.
- Heat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Air fry the frozen chicken nuggets for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time. If you like chicken nuggets a little more well done, you can add 2-3 minutes to cooking time.
Notes
Suggestions on Chicken Tenders Recipe
- For a meal: make a sandwich between slices of bread, with salad, fresh vegetables, some cheese, and dressing.
- As a snack: choose the sauce of your choice and accompany it with the nuggets. Ranch, mustard, hot sauce, barbecue sauce, mint yogurt sauce, jalapeño cheese sauce, and marinara sauce are some good options.
FAQs:
- Can my dog have Chicken Nuggets? Although nuggets are not considered toxic to your canine, the amount of fat, additives, spices and salt they contain is not ideal for your dog's diet, so it would be best to avoid giving him too much of this food.
- Can my cat have Chicken Nuggets? This type of human food is very popular with cats, in addition to being non-toxic, it brings enough protein for a good diet in any cat's diet. However, its consumption must be restricted, due to the high amount of additives, spices, and salt they contain, it could alter the cat's health and cause side effects in the long term.
Recommended Products
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Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11 in 1, Electric Pressure Cooker with Air Fryer, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Slow Cook, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saute, 8 Quart, 14 One-Touch Programs -
Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid 6 in 1, No Pressure Cooking Functionality, 6 Qt, 1500 W -
Instant Pot Official Mesh Steamer Basket, Set of 2, Stainless Steel -
Food Storage Container Set - 16 Piece Airtight Plastic Storage Containers with Lids, Leak Proof Snap Lock, BPA Free, Microwave and Dishwasher Safe - FOOYOO -
Ziploc Storage Bags with New Grip 'n Seal Technology, For Food, Sandwich, Organization and More, Gallon, 30 Count, Pack of 4 (120 Total Bags) -
Kaluns Kitchen Tongs for Cooking, Non Stick Silicone Tip Stainless Steel Tongs, Set of Four 7,9, and 12 Inch Tong Plus Silicone Spatula Non-stick, Heat Resistant Serving Utensils
Nutrition Information
Yield
2Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 491Total Fat 33gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 23gCholesterol 88mgSodium 950mgCarbohydrates 24gFiber 1gSugar 0gProtein 25g
No time or temp?