Dino Buddies Air Fryer (Dino Nuggets)

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Everyone loves Dino Nuggets, especially crisped up to the perfect golden brown! Learn how to make them quickly and easily with this simple dino buddies air fryer recipe.

Any parent can tell you that sometimes despite best intentions, we need a fast and easy recipe for the kids. Whether you’re exhausted after a long day of work or your afternoons and evenings are jam packed with practices and other commitments, the air fryer is one of our family’s secret weapons.

Not only does it help me create amazing meals, but I discovered it can also turn the most ordinary of frozen food into a delicious dish. My kids love frozen food sometimes, like pancakes, frozen burritos, pizza rolls and bagel bites, but especially dino nuggets. Regular regular chicken nuggets are of course always tasty, but these fun shaped chicken nuggets make them giggle every time and are a great quick meal!

You can find dino nuggets in the frozen section of most grocery stores. The brand doesn’t really matter from what we’ve found; they all taste very similar! The Tyson Dino Nuggets are the “name brand,” but our family loves our local grocery store’s store brand too.

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Can I put dino nuggets in the air fryer?

YES! I discovered that a lot of frozen foods taste much better cooked in the air fryer instead of the microwave or oven. You’re also able to cut down on the cook time by using the air fryer, and also not heat up the house in the same way the conventional oven does.

By popping chicken nuggets in the air fryer I discovered that they taste even better! Turns out the same way I can easily make nuggets is the same way to prepare this dino buddies air fryer recipe too.

If your kids are like mine, air fryer dino nuggets will quickly become one of their favorites, too!

How to Cook Dino Nuggets in Air Fryer

You’re going to love how crazy simple this recipe is!

First, spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and preheat your air fryer to 400°F.

Lay the nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer and cook for 9-10 minutes, shaking halfway through cooking.

Need to make a bunch? You can absolutely add more than a single layer of nuggets to the air fryer, but keep in mind that you want to be sure that hot air is circulating in order to fully cook the nuggets.

Don’t forget to shake the basket or flip the nuggets with a spatula halfway through! Otherwise one side will be crispier than the other.

Serve with your child’s favorite dipping sauce. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.

How long do I cook yummy dino buddies in the air fryer for?

Cooking frozen dino nuggets in the air fryer only takes about 10 minutes! Cooking time can vary slightly depending on the type of air fryer you have. We usually cook ours for 8-10 minutes. Anything longer than 10 minutes and the dino chicken nuggets will get too crispy (especially if you have picky eaters).

Cook time can also vary based on the brand and size of the nuggets. If the dino buddies are larger (like the Tyson chicken nuggets), you might find that 10 minutes is perfect. Experiment with your air fryer to find the perfect crispiness for your family.

Air frying is the best way to make this simple dinner or quick snack in less time than using the oven takes.

What to serve with dino nuggets

For a complete meal, these air fryer dino nuggets are great to pair with a variety of foods, like tater tots, sweet potato fries, French fries, fruit, steamed veggies and more. Don’t forget the dipping sauces! My kids love to use ketchup and honey mustard with this easy dinner. BBQ sauce and ranch also taste great.

Be sure to also check out Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet (free printable) and the super yummy Air Fryer Tyson Chicken Breast Tenderloins too!

Easy Frozen Dino Nuggets Recipe

Air fry dino nuggets are healthier option than a traditional deep fryer, and are perfect for busy weeknights. Plus, the fun shapes of dinosaur chicken nuggets are always so fun to serve! You can easily whip up a plate of these crispy nuggets in just 10 minutes, and if you’re worried about any artificial ingredients there are now brands out there without added hormones, only using real chicken and natural ingredients.

I hope you and your family love this dino nuggets air fryer recipe.

Did you try this recipe? Let me know with a comment and rating! 🤩 Your 5 star ratings and sweet comments help to support our family business, and help other readers as they create their dishes, too! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @funfamilymeals if you try this!