The young singer was apparently held up by traffic, the Us magazine reported.
"We are coming to you live and on time. Keep that energy going for three of your four judges who are here tonight," host Ryan Seacrest said while keeping the crowd busy.
Other judges Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey and Keith Urban were ready but Minaj was absent.
"I hear she's seven minutes out and there's some congestion on the 405. She should be here momentarily," Seacrest said.
Minaj was late by fifteen minutes and arrived during the first commercial break.