Running late for ballet or soccer practice? These air fryer dino nuggets are ready in 15 minutes and are as easy to make as 1,2,3!
Serve them up with your favorite sauces, and even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy dinner time.
Parents everywhere know that it's always a good idea to have some simple dinner ideas in your back pocket for when you are running short on time.
Table of Contents
Recipe Video
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe is a great option for when you are short on time but still want something that tastes good. Simply buy the dino nuggets from your local grocery store and keep them in your freezer for those times when you need a quick and easy dinner idea without breaking the bank.
These dino nuggets are a fun way to get your kids excited about dinner. If you've got a picky eater on your hands, these nuggets will encourage them to have some fun and enjoy dinner time instead of scrutinizing every little crumb on their plate.
If you are looking for a vegan or vegetarian option, pick up your favorite frozen cauliflower nuggets instead and keep them on hand,
Ingredients
Cooking Spray: For the air fryer basket.
Frozen Dino Nuggets: I'm using frozen Tyson fun nuggets, but feel free to use any brand you like.
If you can't find dino nuggets, regular frozen nuggets will do. You can even substitute for your favorite vegan or vegetarian option.
How to Make Air Fryer Dino Nuggets
Step One: Spray your air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray and place 20 or so nuggets in the basket, taking care not to overlap.
Step Two: Cook for 5 minutes at 400F, flip the nuggets, then continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes at 300F
Step Three: Remove from the basket and serve with your favorite dipping sauces!
Tips
- Always ensure you spray your basket with a non-stick cooking spray, especially when cooking with frozen food, to prevent food from sticking to the basket.
- While dino nuggets are super fun, any type of frozen nugget will work with this recipe.
- Always start by preheating your air fryer. This ensures that your dino nuggets cook evenly and get that perfect crispy exterior.
- Arrange the nuggets in a single layer, leaving some space between each one. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking and less crispiness.
- To get an even cook on all sides, flip your dino nuggets halfway through the cooking time. This helps them get crispy all around.
What to Serve With Dino Nuggets
Serve them with a variety of dipping sauces for your family to have some fun figuring out which is their favorite. Try serving sauces like Wingstop Ranch, Popeyes Sweet Heat Sauce, BBQ, honey garlic, Tzatziki Sauce, buffalo, blue cheese, etc.
You can also add side dishes like French Fries, Blooming Onion or Tater Tots.
Dino Nuggets FAQs
How long can air fryer dino nugget leftovers be stored?
When stored properly in an air-tight container, any leftover dino nuggets can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two days. For parents, these are easy snacks to heat up quickly in the microwave for hungry kids.
Can I make my own chicken nuggets instead of using frozen ones?
You can absolutely make your own nuggets. If you do decide to go that route, don't follow this recipe. You can try out my recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets or Instant Pot Chicken Nuggets. They are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. You can make your own dinosaurs, stars or any other shape you like.
Where can I find dino nuggets?
You can find dino nuggets in the frozen food section of your grocery store, in the same area as the frozen pizzas.
I'm making Tyson chicken nuggets in the air fryer, but feel free to use other brands \ shapes.
Can I make dino nuggets at home?
Of course 🙂 If you have some dinosaur-shaped cookie cutters on hand, you can make your own. Simply follow the video below to make the nuggets, then cook in your air fryer for 5 minutes at 400F, flip, then cook for 10 more minutes at 360F.
More Air Fryer Recipes
It can be exciting to try new recipes in your air fryer, especially when you start to get the hang of cooking with it. Here are some of my favorite air fryer recipes:
Air Fryer Ling Ling Potstickers
Air Fryer Dino Nuggets
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- 20 dino nuggets frozen
Instructions
- Spray your basket with non-stick cooking spray, then line it with dino nuggets. Take care to ensure no overlapping.
- Cook for 5 minutes at 400F, flip, then return to the air fryer for an additional 10 minutes at 300F.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauces, and enjoy 🙂
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- Always ensure you spray your basket with a non-stick cooking spray, especially when cooking with frozen food, to prevent food from sticking to the basket.
- While dino nuggets are super fun, any type of frozen nugget will work with this recipe.
- Always start by preheating your air fryer. This ensures that your dino nuggets cook evenly and get that perfect crispy exterior.
- Arrange the nuggets in a single layer, leaving some space between each one. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking and less crispiness.
- To get an even cook on all sides, flip your dino nuggets halfway through the cooking time. This helps them get crispy all around.
Wow! I CAN'T believe that the recipe is just buying frozen nuggets and preparing them on the air fryer. What an incredible disappointment.
Looking for homemade nuggets? Check out this recipe: https://www.corriecooks.com/air-fryer-chicken-nuggets/