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    Home » Air Fryer

    Tyson Fun Nuggets in Air Fryer (Dino Nuggets)

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the disclosure.    

    Published: Mar 31, 2022 | Updated: Jul 7, 2022 | Author: Paint the Kitchen Red | 2 Comments

    JUMP TO RECIPE
    White plate with crispy golden chicken nuggets with red sauce in white bowl

    This Tyson fun nuggets air fryer recipe in shows you how to air fry dino nuggets that are perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. And you can make them in less time than it takes to bake them in the oven or deep-fry them.

    White plate with crispy golden chicken nuggets with red sauce in white bowl

    The air fryer is the best way to heat up frozen foods. I’ve already shown you how to air fry frozen sweet potato fries, frozen steak fries, hash browns, popcorn chicken, and taquitos.

    Homemade chicken nuggets are always the healthier option, but sometimes you need a few shortcuts and fast food favorite frozen chicken nuggets come to the rescue, especially on busy weeknights!

    Here I share an easy recipe to make air fryer dino nuggets. Kid-friendly Tyson fun nuggets are just like chicken nuggets but in dinosaur shapes. Regular chicken nuggets can be cooked the same way.

    These crispy chicken nuggets are perfect as a quick snack for picky eaters! Cooking these nuggets in the airfryer is so much better than deep frying them. Find out the Tyson dino nuggets air fryer time in the recipe card below.

    Here are some easy air fryer recipes you might enjoy:
    – Air fryer popcorn chicken
    – Air fryer steak fries
    – Air fryer pizza rolls

    Tips for Success


    Preheat the air fryer if the air fryer doesn’t have a built-in preheat functionality. Some air fryers preheat before starting to count down. e.g. the Instant Pot Duo Crisp and Cosori. The heating time for preheating is about 4 to 5 minutes.


    For best results, don’t thaw the dino chicken nuggets before air frying them.


    Every air fryer will vary. The first time you make this recipe, monitor the chicken nuggets and check on them 2 minutes before the cooking time is up. Adjust the recipe as needed.


    Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. To get perfect crispiness, it’s best to place the chicken pieces in a single layer, without stacking them.


    Shake the air fryer basket or turn the dino nuggets halfway through air frying.


    A great way to serve the Tyson chicken nuggets is with your favorite dipping sauce. Here are the best dipping sauces:

    • Ketchup
    • Honey mustard
    • Ranch dressing
    • Chick Fil A sauce
    • Bbq sauce
    • Fry sauce

    They also go great with air fryer french fries!

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    FAQS


    Do I need to coat the air fryer basket with oil?

    You don’t need to use any oil in this recipe.

    For how much time do you air fry frozen dino nuggets?

    The cook time is about 9 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, shaking the basket once at 5 minutes.

    Can I use the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid accessory or Duo Crisp to make this recipe?

    Yes, you can use the same timing and temperature to make these air fryer chicken nuggets using the Instant Pot air fryer lid, Duo Crisp or Pro Crisp.

    What brand of frozen chicken nuggets was used in this recipe?

    I use Tyson dino nuggets (Tyson fun nuggets) in the air fryer. There are different brands – you can use Yummy Dino Buddies or any other brand available at grocery stores. You might need to adjust the cooking time. Just keep an eye on them during the cooking process.

    What brand of air fryer was this recipe tested with?

    This recipe was tested using Cosori and Duo Crisp brands of airfryer. However, you can use any brand of air fryer including Philips or Ninja Foodi.

    What should I do if the chicken nuggets aren’t crispy?

    Air fry them for another 2 to 3 minutes.

    Can I reheat these nuggets in the air fryer?

    Yes, the chicken nuggets can be reheated by air frying them for 2 to 3 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Can I double the quantity?

    It depends on the capacity of your air fryer. You just need to make sure that they’re not packed too tight and are placed in one layer.

    If you need to air fry double the quantity, you can do it in two batches. The second batch may take less time to cook because the air fryer is hot.

    Dino Nuggets Cooking Instructions

    Tyson fun nuggets bag on wooden surface
    Tyson dino nuggets made with white meat chicken
    air fryer basket with frozen chicken nuggets, air fryer basket with cooked chicken nuggets
    Left: Frozen dinosaur nuggets Right: Air fried dinosaur chicken nuggets
    1. Keep chicken nuggets frozen until ready to use
    2. Preheat air fryer
    3. Place frozen nuggets in the air fryer basket
    4. Air fry dino nuggets

    See details in the recipe card below

    White plate with crispy golden chicken nuggets with red sauce in white bowl

    Air Fryer Frozen Dino Nuggets

    Air fryer dinosaur nuggets cook up perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. And you can make them in less time than it takes to bake them in the oven or deep-fry them. Air fryer Tyson fun nuggets are kid friendly chicken nuggets in dinosaur shapes that are an easy snack for picky eaters.
    4.41 from 5 votes
    PRINT PIN RATE
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 9 minutes
    Total Time: 14 minutes
    Servings: 5 servings (1/2 bag)
    Calories: 180
    Author: Paint the Kitchen Red
    Prevent Screen from Going Dark

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot Air Fryer or
    • Traditional Air Fryer
    • Silicone tongs

    Ingredients
      

    • 20 chicken nuggets or as many as will fit in a row *

    Instructions
     

    Air Fryer Instructions

    • Place the empty air fryer basket in the air fryer and preheat at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. **
    • Add the frozen chicken nuggets to the air fryer basket.
    • Air fry for 9 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, turning them over with tongs or shaking the basket at the 5 minute mark.
    • Transfer the chicken nuggets to a serving platter and serve with a dipping sauce.

    Notes

    • * Tyson dinosaur nuggets were used in this recipe. Nutrition information is for Tyson Fun Nuggets.
    • Regular chicken nuggets can be made using the same directions.
    • Don’t thaw the frozen dino nuggets before air frying them.
    • ** Preheat the air fryer if the air fryer doesn’t have a built-in preheat functionality.
    • Every air fryer will vary. The first time you make this recipe, monitor the nuggets and adjust the air frying time as needed.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4 pieces | Calories: 180 kcal | Carbohydrates: 10 g | Protein: 10 g | Fat: 11 g | Saturated Fat: 2.5 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3.5 g | Cholesterol: 30 mg | Sodium: 480 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 2 g
    Course Sides
    Cuisine American
    Have you made this recipe? I love seeing your photos! Tag me on Instagram @PaintTheKitchenRed or #PaintTheKitchenRed!

    Thank you for visiting Paint the Kitchen Red. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please don’t use any content without prior written permission. If you’ve made this recipe and would like to share it with your friends, please link back to this recipe. Thank you!

    I am not a certified nutritionist.  I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers.  If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons,  I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.

    If you loved this recipe, please give it a five ⭐ rating in the comment section below and please share it on social media using the social media share buttons at the top and bottom of this post. Thank you so much!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Angela

      September 24, 2022 at 5:12 pm

      2 stars
      Burnt the nuggets at this temp/time. I’m going to need to lower the temp and reduce the time.

      Reply
      • Paint the Kitchen Red

        September 25, 2022 at 1:01 am

        Angela, sorry to hear that. Air fryers do vary so I always suggest that you check on the food about 2 minutes before the cook time is up.

        Reply

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