Name: Air Fryer Dino Nuggets
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 9 min
Ingredients: 1 package frozen dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets (about 24 nuggets); Cooking spray (optional); Ketchup for serving (optional); Ranch dressing for serving (optional)

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We love how quick and easy it is to make this air fryer dino nuggets recipe. Just pop them in, and in less than 10 minutes you’ll have perfectly cooked nuggets that are much better than using the microwave.

We love making all kinds of frozen foods in our air fryer, like tater tots, french fries, and mozzarella sticks. But these dino nuggets are always the biggest hit with the kids! They’re so much fun to eat, and they turn out perfectly crispy every single time.

Instruction Notes

🔹Frozen Dino Nuggets: You can use any brand of dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets you like!

🔹Cooking Spray: A little spritz of cooking spray helps make the nuggets extra crispy! You can skip this if you like, but we think it makes them even better.

How to Make Air Fryer Dino Nuggets

🔹You can start with your favorite frozen dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets straight from the freezer. No need to thaw!

🔹Next, place the dino nuggets in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Don’t stack them; they need space to get crispy!

🔹Air fry at 400°F for 8 minutes, giving the basket a shake halfway through cooking.

🔹Let them cool for 1-2 minutes before serving. We love to serve these with ketchup, ranch, or honey mustard for dipping!

Air Fryer Temperatures:

🔹400°F – Our recommended temperature for the crispiest nuggets.
🔹375°F – Works well too, but might need an extra minute.
🔹350°F – Will take longer but still turns out good.

Recipe Tips!

🔹No need to thaw the nuggets first; they go right from the freezer to the air fryer!
🔹Shake the basket halfway through cooking to help them cook evenly and get that perfect golden-brown color!
🔹Every air fryer cooks a little differently, so you might need to adjust the time by a minute or two.

Recipe Variations

Feel free to switch up this easy air fryer dino nuggets recipe with these fun ideas!

🔹Try Different Dipping Sauces

We love using regular ketchup, but you can make meal time extra fun with:

BBQ sauce
Honey mustard
Ranch dressing
Sweet and sour sauce
Pizza sauce (kids love dunking their dino nuggets in this!)

🔹Make it a Fun Meal

Turn these dino nuggets into an exciting dinosaur-themed lunch or dinner! Create a prehistoric scene on the plate using:

Green broccoli “trees”
Mashed potato “mountains”
Carrot stick “logs”
Mac and cheese “lava”
Green peas for “bushes”

🔹Mix and Match

You can cook other frozen foods right along with your dino nuggets:

French fries
Tater tots
Sweet potato fries
Waffle fries
Onion rings

🔹Make a Dino Nugget Meal Prep

These nuggets are great for meal prep! You can:

Cook a big batch ahead of time.
Pack them in lunch boxes (they’re good cold too!).
Reheat them in the air fryer for just 2-3 minutes to make them crispy again.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve air fryer dino nuggets with a variety of side dishes! Here are some suggestions:

🔹Dipping Sauces: Kids love to dip their dinosaur nuggets! You can try ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, and ranch dressing all taste yummy with these nuggets!

🔹Kid-Friendly Sides: Try serving with air fryer french fries, tater tots, or mac and cheese. For a healthier option, apple slices or grapes make delicious sides too.

🔹Veggie Options: Sneak in some veggies by serving dino nuggets with carrot sticks, steamed broccoli “trees,” or corn on the cob.

🔹Make it a Meal: Turn these nuggets into a complete dinner by adding a simple side salad for grown-ups.

FAQs

Q1: Are air fryer dino nuggets healthier than deep-fried ones?

Yes! Air fryer dino nuggets have fewer calories and less fat than deep-fried versions since they use little to no oil.

Q2: Can I use different brands of dinosaur-shaped nuggets?

Absolutely! Any brand of frozen dinosaur nuggets will work in the air fryer. Just keep in mind that different brands might vary slightly in thickness, so you may need to adjust cooking time by a minute or two.

Q3: Do I need to spray the dino nuggets with oil?

It’s not necessary since most frozen nuggets already have oil in the coating, but a light spray can make them extra crispy. If you do use cooking spray, just a quick spritz is all you need.

Q4: Can I cook other foods at the same time as dino nuggets?

Yes, you can cook other similar frozen foods alongside your dino nuggets if they require the same temperature and cooking time. Foods like frozen french fries, tater tots, or mozzarella sticks work well together.

Q5: Can I make homemade dinosaur nuggets in the air fryer?

Yes! If you have dinosaur-shaped cookie cutters, you can make homemade chicken nuggets by cutting chicken breast into shapes, breading them, and air frying at 375°F for about 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.