There is no better way to reheat Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets than in the air fryer. In just a few minutes you can enjoy hot & crispy leftovers. When air frying nuggets to warm them up, they will taste just as good as when they were just made at the popular fast-food chain. We like to enjoy them reheated for appetizers, snacks, or lunch the next day.
As the kids get older, they tend to eat a lot lately so I find I order extra. I like to order the 30 count nuggets with the intent we have some to enjoy later. This is really handy when we want them on Sunday when Chick-fil-A is closed. Order on Saturday and get them in the air fryer to enjoy them for football games like the Super Bowl, church events, and more.
Best Dipping Sauces for Chick-fil-A
If you run out of your favorites, try some of my homemade yummy dipping sauce ideas. These easy dip recipes go well with Chick-fil-A or any of your favorite nuggets. There is spicy-sweet honey, creamy ranch, maple & mustard, and a creamy Siracha that is amazing. My kids even like to dip them in my Slow Cooker Apple Sauce.
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Ingredients
The main ingredient is obviously the leftover nuggets from your Chick-fil-A order or take-out. You can reheat them easily within 3 days of storing them in your refrigerator. Air frying them for a quick snack, lunch, or dinner is another great way to save money, time, and enjoy extras.
You can reheat a few or many nuggets at once, it is all about the size of your air fryer basket or tray. I have the tray style and can warm up about 30 Chick-fil-A nuggets in a single layer at once.
Instructions
Remove the leftover nuggets from the box or storage container you are using. They are ready to go into the air fryer immediately. Place them in a single layer on the air fryer tray or basket. Keep a bit of space between them so they can get hot & crispy on all sides.
How Long to Reheat in the Air Fryer
It does not take long to reheat Chick-fil-A nuggets. Set the air fryer to AIR FRY at 420° for 4 minutes. The high heat and quick time result in a crunchy crispy outside and hot insides. NO need to preheat - this cooking time works including the preheat stage and the 4 minutes cooking time countdown.
This time and temperature work best for reheating either grilled or breaded Chick-fil-A nuggets. Since they are roughly the same shape and size you can ever reheat both at the same time in your air fryer tray.
If you have a basket model that does not go above 400°, you can still air fry your Chick-fil-a. Set your air fryer to 380° and the time for 5 minutes. Again, no need to preheat.
There is no need to flip or rotate the nuggets while air frying. Since they are already cooked and you are just warming up the fast-food leftover nuggets, just set them and forget it. If you really must, a shake halfway through cooking can be done but is not needed.
Once the air fryer timer sounds, they are ready. Carefully remove them, using tongs, from your air fryer. Plate them and serve with your favorite dips! The nuggets will BE HOT. With this air frying recipe, the reheated Chick-fil-A chicken will come out juicy and will not dry out. ENJOY!
Can You Reheat Frozen Chick-fil-A Nuggets?
Hint: YES, you can! It is just as easy as air fryer them from the refrigerator. To reheat leftover nuggets that you froze, you just need a bit more time and a lower temperature in the air fryer. To ensure they thaw plus cook through evenly, get them in a single layer in the basket or tray.
Set the air fryer to 400° and 10 minutes. No need to preheat, just get them in. During the preheat stage and cooking time they will come out perfect. This is similar to my Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Chicken recipe.
What to Serve with Chick-fil-A Nuggets
When you have leftover fast-food chicken pieces, you may not also have fries or mac and cheese to serve with it. If you want to enjoy the leftovers as a complete meal, here are some easy ideas on what goes well with nuggets.
Storage
Leftover Chick-fil-A can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. However, I do not suggest storing nuggets that have already been reheated once. Enjoy them immediately after they are rewarmed. Discard any that have not been eaten. Nuggets that have been reheated or have been out at room temperature too long, need to be disposed of.
If your nuggets have been out for more than 2 hours, do not keep them. If they are discolored, slimy, or have a strange smell, you will now know that they have gone bad. Those need to be thrown out in the garbage for food safety reasons.
Can You Freeze Chick-fil-A Nuggets?
Leftovers freeze well. Freezing the nuggets to enjoy later is also so easy. Simply store in an air-tight container or Ziploc bag for up to 60 days. If you froze those leftover Chick-fil-A originally, they do not need to be defrosted before you air fry them. See the HINT above on how to reheat them from frozen.
Top tip - Reheating Waffle Fries too
If you love the waffle fries from Chick-fil-A you may have leftovers too. They reheat perfectly in the air fryer too. To reheat both the nuggets and the waffle fries, place them in the air fryer basket or tray together. Make sure they are in a single layer and you are not overcrowding them.
Then cook as directed in the recipe card - they both reheat at the same time and temperature. How about that for the best way for easily reheating nuggets & waffle fries!
How to Reheat Chick-fil-A Nuggets in the Air Fryer
Equipment
- Air Fyer
Ingredients
- leftover Chick-fil-A grilled or breaded nuggets
Instructions
- Set the air fryer to AIR FRY at 420° for 4 minutes. NO need to preheat.If you have a basket model that does not go above 400°, you can still air fry your Chick-fil-a. Set your air fryer to 380° and the time for 5 minutes. Again, no need to preheat.
- No need to flip or rotate the nuggets. Just let them cook.
- Once the air fryer timer sounds, they are ready. Carefully remove them, using tongs, from your air fryer.
- Plate them and serve with your favorite dips! The nuggets will BE HOT. ENJOY!
Cindy Sarnac says
I had no idea Chic fil A had a 30 count. Do you have to call and order ahead of time?
Angela says
I never have. Maybe it is store specific but I went online and I see it as an option. 5 - 8 - 12 - 30 is listed. Can't hurt to ask the next time you go.