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    Home » Recipes » How to make Dino nuggets in the air fryer

    Published: May 26, 2021 . Updated: February 3, 2022 by Air Fryer Yum . This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our full disclosure here. 4 Comments

    How to make Dino nuggets in the air fryer

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    Frozen Dino nuggets in air fryer! Yes please! These are a perfect snack recipe for kids when you don’t have enough time on hand to make it from scratch. The exterior of these Dino nuggets crisp up perfectly in the air fryer. No more sogginess and the different fun shapes and sizes of the dinosaurs make it an easy choice for picky eaters.

    Frozen Dinosaur Chicken nuggets in Air fryer.

    We put these Dino nuggets on a rotation with the regular chicken nuggets because we love to mix things up so no one gets bored at meal time. My 5 year old is a picky eater and easily gets bored with food. These fun dinosaur shaped nuggets are one of the ways we get her to eat nuggets.

    Air fried chicken nuggets are better than reheating in the microwave and takes less time than making it in the oven. As soon as you try making it in the air fryer, you won’t be making it any other way, trust me!

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    Why reheating frozen Dino nuggets in air fryer is so good

    There are many ways to reheat Dino nuggets. The air fryer is just one of them. You can reheat in the microwave, oven or deep fryer. However my favorite way is by far the air fryer and for good reason.

    • It crisps up nicely. No more soggy chicken nuggets which is what you get in the microwave.
    • Saves you time. The oven may give the same results with the air fryer but not in the same time. The oven tends to cook at a higher temp in additional 2-3 minutes.
    • Reheating by the deep fry method means additional calories. Most frozen chicken nugget brands are already cooked but need to reheated. Which means they have been deep fried. Reheating with this method adds more oil to the Nuggets.

    Related: kid friendly air fryer recipes, Best frozen foods for air fryer.

    Dino Nuggets brands

    • Yummy Dino buddies (regular and whole wheat) They also have the vegan version.
    • Perdue farms
    • Tyson fully cooked fun nuggets
    • John Soules foods brand
    • Golden platter foods gluten free nuggets
    • Wellshire Chicken Dino bites

    What you need to make these fun shaped nuggets

    • Your favorite brand of Dino nuggets
    • Dipping sauce ( Ketchup, barbecue sauce or fry sauce)
    • Air fryer
    • Kitchen tongs

    How to cook Dino nuggets in air fryer.

    Place the chicken nuggets in the air fryer basket. No need to spray the basket or nuggets with oil.

    Set the temperature to 400°F / 204°C and air fry for 8 to 10 mins

    How long to cook Dino chicken nuggets in the air fryer

    Wondering how long to air fry dino nuggets?These Dino chicken nuggets are flatter than regular chicken nuggets therefore they tend to cook faster by about 2 minutes.

    I air fry the frozen regular shaped nuggets for 10 to 12 mins while this cooks for 8 to 10 mins. The length of time can also be affected by the wattage of your air fryer and how many nuggets are being cooked in it.

    How do you serve it

    Serve these with your favorite dipping sauce along side some fries make a complete meal. This is how my kids love to enjoy it while trying to figure out the dinosaur they just had.

    Best sides for chicken nuggets

    Besides fries, chicken Nuggets can be served with whatever side you like. Simply treat it as a protein source and build on that. You can serve with the following

    • Potato wedges
    • Cubed potatoes
    • Cauliflower steak
    • Air fryer Broccoli
    • Sautéed veggies
    • Glazed carrots and lots more

    Tips

    • No need to preheat the air fryer. However subsequent batches may cook a minute faster since the air fryer got preheated while cooking the first batch
    • Cook from frozen, no need to thaw.
    • Do not overcrowd the basket and remember to shake the basket or flip the nuggets half way through cooking time.

    Your Frequently Asked Questions answered.

    Why are Dino chicken nuggets so good?

    These taste amazing and are well loved by kids and adults alike. The fun shapes also make these appealing to the eyes.

    Are dino nuggets real chicken, what are they made of?

    According to the packaging, they are made from real chicken. Specifically from boneless, skinless chicken breasts with some rib meat. However the plant based variety is made from soy protein concentrate and other things.

    Are Costco Dinosaur nuggets healthy?

    These nuggets are said to be healthy. They are made from boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are free from antibiotics and hormones. No preservatives or artificial ingredients added. Should you eat it everyday? No, I don’t think so. Everything should be done in moderation.

    How many calories in Dino nuggets?

    The nutrition info is provided in the recipe card at the end of this page, feel free to check it out, The number of calories per serving for these Dinosaur nuggets is 190 cal.

    Other Minimal Prep Air fryer recipes

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    Check out all our >>>Air fryer Recipes!

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    Happy Air frying!


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    Are you a Dino nuggets fan? I found these merch that might interest you.

    • Never too old for chicken nuggets T-Shirt
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    Air Fryer Dino Nuggets

    Air Fryer Yum
    Frozen chicken nuggets are a perfect snack for kids when you don’t have enough time on hand to make it from scratch. These Dino nuggets crisp up perfectly in the air fryer and the different shapes and sizes of the dinosaurs make it an easy choice for picky eaters.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 1 min
    Cook Time 8 mins
    Course Appetizer, Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 190 kcal

    Equipment

    • Air fryer

    Ingredients
      

    • 20 pieces frozen dino nuggets
    • ¼ cup ketchup, barbecue sauce, fry sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.

    Instructions
     

    • Place frozen nuggets in air fryer basket in a single layer.
    • Set temperature to 400°F / 204°C and bake for 8 to 10 mins. Shake basket or flip nuggets half way through cooking time to ensure even cooking.
    • Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

    Notes

    1. Air fryers cook differently based on manufacturer or wattage. Be sure to read your manual and don't be afraid to check often while cooking if it's your first time using your gadget.
    2. Do not overcrowd the basket. Be sure to flip the nuggets or shake the basket half way through the cooking time.
    3. No need to spray oil. The nuggets will still crisp up because they are precooked nuggets.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 5piecesCalories: 190kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 10gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1.5gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 380mgFiber: 1g

    NUTRITION DISCLAIMER

    Nutritional information is an estimate and may change based on products used. Please read full nutrition disclaimer here.

    Keyword air fryer chicken nuggets, dino nuggets
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kelly says

      June 03, 2021 at 6:03 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for sharing this. My kids love Tyson Dino nuggets. I have been reheating them in the microwave until today. They loved it they said it reminded them of McDonald’s lol.

      Reply
      • Air fryer yum says

        June 08, 2021 at 8:33 am

        You are welcome Kelly! Glad your kids loved it. My kids do too. It’s just so much better in the air fryer than in the microwave.

        Reply
    2. Jane says

      October 14, 2022 at 9:28 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect time and temperature, but I had to scroll for 35 years before I found that information!

      Reply
      • Air Fryer Yum says

        October 18, 2022 at 1:09 am

        Hey Jane!

        I would have to agree that 35 years is a long time to scroll through. You might’ve have missed the jump to recipe button at the top. The number of years would have drastically reduced if you used it 😉 hope it helps next time. Thank you so much for stopping by. Enjoy!

        Reply

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