We taste-tested 10 frozen chicken nugget brands — these 3 were surprise hits
Which bites were delicious and which were fowl (er, foul)? Our home and food editor tried a bunch so you don't have to.
You don't need kids at home to know that frozen chicken nuggets are the ultimate pinch-hitter on weekdays when you don't have the time (or will) to cook a full meal. High in protein and big on crunch, the best frozen chicken nuggets have a delectable golden crust that rivals what you'd find at your favorite fast food joint.
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I spent years as an editor at Food Network Magazine, and I've tried nuggs every way imaginable, from gourmet chef-made versions served with champagne to vegan options. For this test, I focused on classic frozen nuggets — no popcorn chicken, no tenders. I rounded up 10 nationally available brands and cooked them using the only acceptable appliance for making the best frozen chicken nuggets at home: an air fryer (more on this below). I scored each brand on breading, chicken texture, taste and overall enjoyment. Frankly, I was surprised by the brand that topped the list. Hint: Tyson's not on there!
Best frozen chicken nuggets for 2026
Jessica Dodell-Feder/Yahoo
Pilgrim's has some very lofty plans for the humble nugget. "We're not reinventing chicken — we're unhinging it," the brand proclaims. I'm not sure what unhinged chicken tastes like, but I will say this is one scrumptious bite. Flavor-wise, these nuggets earned a five out of five, better than anything else I tested. The breading is well seasoned with a peppery kick. It tastes very savory, I'm guessing due to the paprika and MSG listed in the ingredients.
The chicken itself was juicy, though a bit soft. And while I liked the flavor of the breading, the texture wasn't quite as crunchy as I'd hoped, even after a trip through the air fryer. Even so, these are probably the closest thing at the grocery store to fast food nuggs — they even left a slick of grease on my plate. So yeah, they're not the healthiest, but they sure are delicious.
- Best tasting of all the nuggets I tried
- Tender chicken
- Generous breading without overwhelming the chicken
- A bit greasy
Jessica Dodell-Feder/Yahoo
These bites feel distinctly grown-up, about as far from dino nuggies as you can get. They're made with minimal ingredients (for nuggets, at least) including boneless, skinless chicken breast; spices; canola oil; wheat flour; nonfat dry milk; and dried egg whites. Best of all, they seem to contain actual chunks of chicken rather than the spongy mass you often find hiding inside nuggets.
In the flavor department, they scored high, thanks to an abundance of spices including paprika and celery seed. They have a true chicken flavor, almost like roast chicken. And sure, they're not as sophisticated, but I'd have zero problem serving these at dinner. They're on the small side, almost more like a side than a main, but they have a pleasant crunch despite the lighter-than-usual breading.
- Closest to actual chunks of chicken
- Nice crunch despite lighter breading
- Lower in calories than most others I tried
- Nuggets are small — you'd have to eat a lot if you served them as a main dish
Jessica Dodell-Feder/Yahoo
I had to ask a salesperson at Trader Joe's to grab these nuggets from the back for me, and he immediately started raving about them. "They're one of the best things we sell — even people who aren't gluten-free love them," he told me. He was right on the money. The rice flour-based breading had a light texture and an incredible crunch.
The chicken itself was firm and juicy, like an actual chunk of chicken, similar to the Just Bare bites above. Though these nuggets weren't as flavorful as my top pick, I could detect some seasoning. They'd make an excellent vehicle for ketchup, barbecue sauce or ranch, and you definitely don't have to eat a GF diet to enjoy them. That said, if you're concerned about the health factor of nuggets, you'll be happy to know that these were the lowest in calories and sodium of my top picks.
- Light, exceptionally crispy breading
- Gluten-free (but don't taste like they're missing anything)
- Lowest calories of the top picks
- On the blander side
How I tested frozen chicken nuggets
I started by researching the most popular frozen chicken nugget brands that are available nationwide. I focused on nuggets, not popcorn chicken or tenders, for a more even comparison. I also omitted nuggets marketed specifically to kids (think: funny shapes or nuggets "hiding" a serving of vegetables). What I did include: gluten-free nuggets and some that are marketed as lightly breaded or healthier than usual.
An inside look at some of the nuggets. This is hard-hitting journalism, folks.
(Jessica Dodell-Feder/Yahoo)I drove to five grocery stores in my area, scouring the freezer aisles to get a mix of brands, including Tyson, Perdue and private-label options from the likes of Target and Walmart. Once I got all the nuggs home, I numbered each brand from one to 10. (I did this taste-test on my own, and the numbering helped me conceal the brands from, well, myself.)
Then came the fun part: the eating. First, I cooked each nugget in an air fryer. If the brand included air fryer directions, I followed them; if it didn't, I referred to the recipe guide that came wth my appliance. I tasted the nuggets in random order, as another way to prevent myself from knowing which nugget came from which brand. I then scored the nuggets from 1 to 5 (with 5 being the best) on breading texture, chicken texture, taste and overall enjoyment, adding comments to each section. I averaged the scores, added them up and took all the notes into account to come up with this list.
My trusty air fryer got a serious workout during nugget testing.
(Jessica Dodell-Feder/Yahoo)Other frozen chicken nuggets I tested
Tyson Chicken Nuggets: These standbys got middle-of-the-pack scores. Though the chicken was juicy and firm, the nuggets had an odd, hard-to-place taste, almost like paste. The breading also had a doughy quality, rather than a strong crunch.
Banquet Chicken Nuggets: These were very crunchy but lacked flavor. They bummed me out with their blandness, and I ended up scoring them the lowest of all the brands I tried.
Applegate Naturals Chicken Nuggets: Applegate's gluten-free popcorn chicken is a staple in my house, so I expected a lot from these more-basic nuggets. Truthfully, I enjoy the breading on the gluten-free version more (even though I'm not GF). It's more flavorful and crisp, and it even looks better than the regular nuggets, which were pale and small.
Great Value Fully Cooked Chicken Nuggets: Walmart's in-house grocery brand didn't impress me. I found them thin, spongy and dense, like a flat-pack version of a nugget. The crust reminded me of a powdered breadcrumb, and they tasted salty with some hints of pepper. I'm in the minority though: These nuggs get 4.5 stars from 37,000 shoppers.
Just a sample of the chicken nuggets I tried over the course of several days.
(Jessica Dodell-Feder/Yahoo)Perdue Organic Simply Smart Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets: Another so-so option, but at least they're certified USDA Organic. The breading is crunchy but very light. Unfortunately, the chicken has a spongy texture — it even looks spongy.
Perdue Panko Chicken Nuggets: Perdue's more traditional offering scored the same as the organic, gluten-free one. The breading was crunchier and more enjoyable, but the chicken tasted worse, almost like canned chicken soup. These reminded me of what they used to serve in my elementary school cafeteria.
Good & Gather Chicken Breast Nuggets: I did not enjoy the flavor of the nuggets from Target's private label brand at all. Like the Tyson nuggets, they reminded me of eating paste. That said, they had an excellent crunch.
The best way to cook chicken nuggets
Many brands give multiple preparations for their frozen chicken nuggets, including baking and microwaving (ugh) — but there's really only one acceptable cooking method, and that's air frying. Because of the way an air fryer circulates heat, it's exceptional at crisping up frozen foods (and leftovers). Chicken nugget fans, you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't own this appliance. Here are a few of our top models:
The brand behind your favorite multicooker also dabbles in air fryers, and this one is just about as user-friendly as they come. With six cooking presets, you'll be on your way to roasted, baked and broiled meals with the push of a button, and at just 4 quarts, it'll take up minimal counter space.
Our top-tested air fryer, this gadget boasts substantial cooking room, minimal required maintenance and an easy-to-master learning curve, all without looking clunky. Its LED display has five cooking functions — air fry, roast, bake, broil and warm — as well as five preset options for popular foods like fries, wings, frozen snacks and vegetables. Other cool components include its interior light and see-through doors, which allow you to keep an eye on your food while it cooks, as well as a "toss reminder" that'll alert you when it's time to flip your food in the basket.
This is the air fryer I use at home, and I can't recommend it enough, especially if you prefer to cook food at high temperatures using metal or glass, not plastic. The pieces nest for easy storage, and its Max Crisp function works like a dream on frozen bites. It's basically replaced my microwave!
Already own an air fryer? The fine mesh that comprises many of the baskets makes them extremely difficult to clean. A liner can help! These fit 5- to 8-quart models, and they also come in round and rectangular shapes.
