Air fryer timesBreaded chicken in the air fryer

Frozen breaded chicken fillets, goujons and nuggets cook evenly in an air fryer and stay crisp. Convert the oven instructions on the box, then turn the pieces halfway.

Your oven recipe

80–250 °C

Minutes, or h:mm — e.g. 30 or 1:05

Oven type

What are you cooking? Optional

Basket load

Air fryer settings

Updates live

Temperature

180 °C

20° lower

Total time

19

6 min quicker

Cooking timeline

StartShake at 10 min19 min

  1. Preheat the air fryer for 2–3 minutes.
  2. Cook for 10 min, then shake or turn.
  3. Cook until done — check from 17 min.

Tips

  • Preheat your air fryer for 2–3 minutes for best results.
  • Do not overcrowd the basket. Air needs to flow.
  • Shake or turn halfway through to ensure even crisping.
  • Ensure internal temperature reaches 74 °C (165 °F).
  • Always check doneness for your specific food. Appliances vary.

Appliances vary. Always check food is piping hot and cooked through before serving.

Typical packet instructions, converted

FoodOvenAir fryer
Breaded chicken fillets200 °C25 min180 °C 19 min
Chicken goujons200 °C20 min180 °C 15 min
Chicken nuggets200 °C15 min180 °C 12 min

For a medium basket load. Packets vary, so use the numbers on yours in the converter above, see the full conversion chart, or read how the converter works.

Tips for breaded chicken

  • Lay pieces flat in one layer with a little space between them.
  • Turn pieces halfway rather than shaking, so the coating stays on.
  • Cook from frozen unless the packet says to defrost.
  • Cut into the thickest piece to check: it should be piping hot, with no pink meat and juices that run clear.

Breaded chicken: air fryer FAQs

How long do frozen breaded chicken fillets take in an air fryer?

A packet that says 200 °C for 25 minutes becomes 180 °C for about 19 min in an air fryer. Turn them halfway and check the thickest one is cooked through.

How long do chicken nuggets and goujons take in an air fryer?

Nuggets at 200 °C for 15 minutes take 180 °C for about 12 min in an air fryer. Goujons at 200 °C for 20 minutes take 180 °C for about 15 min.

How do I know breaded chicken is cooked?

Cut into the thickest piece. It should be piping hot all the way through, with no pink meat and juices that run clear. If not, cook it for a few more minutes and check again.