How Long to Cook Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer? (Recipe)

How Long to Cook Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer? (Recipe)

Today I will show you how to make homemade chicken nuggets in Air Fryer and how long does it take to cook them!

Making air-fried chicken nuggets is pretty simple, and they will always turn out great. The air fryer ensures that you get the crispy texture on the outside, and the inside will be tender. Even though air fryer chicken nuggets are great for quick dinner, it is important to know how long you let them sit in the air fryer.

You do not want them to overcook or burn as they cook; this is why timing is important. This article will guide you on how long you should make the air fryer chicken nuggets. You will also learn the best way to do it, so keep reading!

What is the Best Temperature to Cook Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer?

Chicken nuggets in Air Fryer cooking time and temperature

Air fryer chicken nuggets make a pretty great nice, and simple snack. The only thing you should now do is look for a good dip to accompany the chicken nugget. Using the air fryer helps maintain the crispiness that you, of course, require when having it.

When making these nuggets, they will be straight out of the freezer. Meaning you need to ensure that the temperature you cook them is ideal. Normally, the cooking temperature for chicken nuggets applies to all of them, whether they are from the freezer or not.

The only thing that you may need to adjust is the cooking time. Also, you need to ensure that the chicken nuggets cook until they reach a certain internal temperature. Only when the internal temperature is right can you conclude that they are ready.

When making them, you should first preheat the air fryer at 400 ªF. Doing so ensures the hot air circulates all through it. So once you place the chicken nuggets, they will start cooking right away.

Once the chicken nuggets start to cook, ensure they cook at 400 degrees. They should do so for about 10 minutes. After this, you should flip them to the other side and allow them to cook at the same temperature for some more minutes.

How Long Does it Take to Cook Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer?

How Long Does it Take to Cook Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer

Making chicken nuggets from the air fryer should not take much of your time.

It all starts by preheating the air fryer for like five minutes so that by the time you add In the chicken nuggets, they start cooking immediately. How long it will take will depend on various things, such as the type of air fryer you are using and the kind of chicken nuggets.

Of course, if the chicken nuggets are thick, expect that they will take longer to get ready. If the chicken nuggets are large, they can take 10 to 12 minutes t cook. At this point, you will first need to cook them on one side for about 8 minutes and at 400 ºF.

Once this cooking time elapses, you remove the air fryer basket and shake the chicken nuggets. Doing so helps to flip them to the other side, but you can also turn them manually. Once you turn them to the side, allow them to cook for another 2 to 4 minutes.

If the chicken nuggets are smaller and thinner, they will be ready for eating within 6 to 8 minutes. As usual, halfway through the cooking, ensure you flip them to the other side so that it can cook too.

What Do I Need to Air Fry Chicken Nuggets?

Chicken breast for this recipe

You require several things to come up with the chicken nuggets. Of course, the main ingredient for this recipe has to be chicken breast. You will need to cut it up into small cubes before mixing them with the rest of the ingredients.

You will also require flour, bread crumbs, parmesan, which are important for coating the chicken nuggets. Some of the seasonings you need include salt, pepper, garlic, dried parsley, and paprika to add some flavor to it. Finally, you require some olive oil or use butter instead.

How Long to Cook Chicken Nuggets in Air Fryer? (Recipe)

How to Cook Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer

Making chicken nuggets is pretty easy; ensure you have all the ingredients at hand. The air fryer will ensure they turn out crispy, and it is a much healthier cooking option. Also, the process should take you less than 20 minutes. 
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Resting Time 3 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients
  

  • Chicken breast
  • Flour
  • Panko
  • Grated parmesan
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Olive oil or butter
  • Garlic
  • Dried parsley
  • Paprika

Instructions
 

Step 1: Cut the Chicken Breast

  • Begin by removing any fat from your chicken breast. Then cut it into small cubes of like 1 inch each.

Step 2: Mix the ingredients

  • Mix the flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Then in another bowl, mix the oil and your minced garlic. If you do not have olive oil, you can melt some butter and mix it with the garlic.
  • Also, take another bowl and mix panko, parmesan, paprika, and parsley together. 

Step 3: Place the chicken tenders in these mixtures

  • Place the chicken tenders in the flour mixture and coat all the sides. Then go ahead and place the chicken in the bowl with an oil or butter mixture.
  • Finish by placing them in the bowl with panko and the rest of the ingredients. Coat all the parts of the chicken well.

Step 4: Preheat the Air Fryer

  • As you prepare the ingredients, preheat the air fryer. You want to ensure that they start cooking once you add the chicken nuggets. It would help if you preheated it to 400.

Step 5: Prepare the air fryer basket

  • Before placing the chicken tenders, ensure you spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. 

Step 6: Place the chicken

  • Place the chicken cubes in the basket. Be sure to arrange them in a single layer to cook fast and evenly.
  • If the number of chicken tenders is a lot, you can cook them in batches rather than cook them all at once.

Step 7: Allow them to Cook

  • The chicken tenders will cook well at 400 ºF. They should cook for about 8 minutes, and after this, you can flip them to the other side. Allow them to cook for 2 to 4 minutes more on this other side.

Step 8: Remove from air fryer and serve

  • Check whether the chicken nuggets are well cooked.
  • They should be crispy when ready, but you can also check their internal temperature to be sure. Once ready, serve them with a dipping sauce of your choice.
Keyword How Long to Cook Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer

How Do I know When the Chicken Nuggets are Done?

One easy way to know when the chicken nuggets are done is by looking at them. They will turn golden brown when ready. Also, the outside will be pretty crispy, meaning they are perfectly done.

The other common way to know they are ready is by checking the internal temperature. You will need a meat thermometer for this. The ideal internal temperature that the chicken nuggets need to reach is 165 ºF.

How Can I Improve this Recipe?

If you want the chicken nuggets to turn out great, ensure that you use a small amount of oil or butter when making them. Less oil helps in making the chunks crispier. Also, preheating the oven helps in making the outside crispy.

You can make the chicken nuggets better if not overlapping them in the air fryer basket. You do not want them to stick together or get mushy. Overlapping them may also make them not cook well.

Final Words

Making chicken nuggets in the air fryer is pretty simple and quick. You need to use the right ingredients and coat the chicken cubes well. Within 10 or 12 minutes, you should have your chicken nuggets ready.

So, do you already know how to prepare chicken nuggets in Air Fryer? Please, feel free to share and comment our recipe below!

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Candy Seideman has been cooking for most of her life. In fact she is referred to as "The Chef" by most of her close family not only because she attended culinary school and was an actual chef, but also because she has a passion for cooking for friends and family.