Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets with Crispy Fries and Salad
Golden, crunchy chicken nuggets and fries straight from the air fryer, served with a fresh, lightly dressed salad. A fast, high-protein plate that comes together in one basket.
- Total
- 20 min
- Prep 5 · Cook 15
- Serves
- 1
- Difficulty
- Easy
You'll practice: Roasting · Seasoning in layers
- Savory
- Quick
- Air fryer
Instructions
-
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C for 3 minutes.
~3 min
-
Spread the 150 g frozen fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry from frozen at 200°C for 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the fries are golden at the edges and crisp.
~8 min
A single layer lets hot air circulate around each fry, so they crisp instead of steaming; shaking re-exposes pale sides.
Shake the basket rather than stirring with a utensil so the fries keep their shape and crisp evenly.
Roasting Arrange food in a single layer with space between pieces so hot air reaches all sides; overcrowding steams instead of crisping.
-
While step 2 cooks
While the fries cook, put the 60 g salad in a mixing bowl and toss with 1 tsp olive oil, 0.25 tsp salt and 0.125 tsp black pepper until every leaf is lightly coated.
~2 min
Tossing now coats every leaf evenly and lets the salt and acid lightly soften the greens before serving.
Seasoning in layers Dress salad just before serving and toss until every leaf glistens; adding oil before salt helps the seasoning cling evenly.
-
Push the fries to one side of the basket and add the 6 frozen chicken nuggets in a single layer. Air fry from frozen at 200°C for 7 minutes, turning the nuggets once, until they are golden and reach 74°C/165°F in the centre.
~7 min
Nuggets need less time than fries, so adding them later prevents overcooking while the fries finish crisping.
Fries and nuggets cook at different speeds, so give the fries a head start and add the nuggets later; this keeps the fries crisp without drying out the nuggets.
Roasting Arrange food in a single layer with space between pieces so hot air reaches all sides; overcrowding steams instead of crisping.
-
Transfer the nuggets and fries to a plate and serve with the dressed salad on the side.
~1 min