How Long Does It Take To Air Fry Chicken Nuggets?

When you picture the perfect chicken nugget, you're probably expecting it to be crispy, moist, and golden. If it doesn't meet this criteria, you're sure to be disappointed — doubly so for soggy, undercooked specimens.

Frozen chicken nuggets are best cooked at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 to 12 minutes, depending on your model and preferred level of crispiness. Air fryers cook food around 20% faster than an oven, so you won't have to wait long for your tasty nuggets to be ready. However, it's still important that you double-check that your nuggets are thoroughly cooked before eating them. The color should be golden brown, and they should reach an internal temperature of 165 Fahrenheit to be safe (per the USDA). You can check the temperature using a food thermometer — place it into the thickest part of the nugget to get an accurate reading. If it hasn't yet reached 165 degrees, cook them for a couple of minutes longer and check again.

Don't double-stack your chicken. You should always arrange your nuggets in a single layer to prevent the simple mistake that leads to soggy breading. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you should be able to fit between 10 to 15 nuggets in the basket. When served with fries and a sauce of your choosing, this makes a quick and delicious meal. We recommend a ranch dressing with hints of lavender for a tasty twist.

If you're making chicken nuggets from scratch, then you should know that your choice of flour can make all of the difference in how your nuggets turn out. Many people opt for all-purpose flour out of convenience and reliability, but did you know that there's a better alternative? Rice flour!

Rice flour absorbs less fat during frying, which results in a crispier and better-tasting nugget. But what if you don't have rice flour at home? The next best thing is to use cereal as an alternative coating, which makes them extra crunchy.  There are a few flour alternatives that work well, including cornflakes, Rice Krispies, oats, and shredded coconut. With so many options, it's worth experimenting with flavor and texture to see what combinations work for you.

One of the best tips for achieving crispy homemade nuggets is to toss them in the egg and milk before you dredge them in breadcrumbs. Once you've tossed them in your coating of choice, you may want to do a double-dredge to give your nugs an extra crispy exterior. Then, there's not much difference in cooking time compared to premade nuggets; you'll want to set the temperature at 400 Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes, which should result in beautifully crisp pieces of chicken. Just make sure the chicken has hit that 165-degree mark, the same as you would with a frozen, premade variety.