Description
Make easy, crispy chicken nuggets at home using chicken breast or ground chicken. This recipe focuses on achieving a satisfying crunch without deep frying.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or ground chicken
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1.5 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- Cooking spray or 1 tablespoon olive oil (for baking)
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized nugget shapes, about 1 inch thick. If using ground chicken, form the mixture into small, uniform nugget shapes.
- Set up a standard breading station with three shallow dishes. Place flour in the first dish. Place beaten eggs in the second dish. Mix panko breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in the third dish.
- Dredge each chicken piece first in the flour, shaking off excess. Then dip it completely in the egg mixture. Finally, press it firmly into the seasoned panko mixture to coat thoroughly.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray the nuggets with cooking spray or drizzle with oil.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the coating is golden brown and crispy. For extra crispiness, finish under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching closely.
Notes
- For air fryer cooking, place nuggets in a single layer in the basket and cook at 380°F (195°C) for 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through.
- You can freeze uncooked, breaded nuggets on a tray before transferring them to a freezer bag for quick future meals.
- Use ground chicken for a softer, more uniform texture similar to fast-food style nuggets.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 nuggets
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 95