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Easy Homemade Chicken Nuggets Recipe

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3.9 from 14 reviews

These Easy Homemade Chicken Nuggets deliver a crispy, flavorful bite that beats any store-bought option. Made from finely minced chicken breast, seasoned perfectly, breaded, and fried to golden perfection, this recipe lets you control every ingredient for a fresh, tasty result. Perfect for family dinners, snacks, or meal prepping, these nuggets are simple to make and sure to please all ages.

Ingredients

For the Nuggets

  • 1 - 1¼ pounds chicken breast
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • ¼ cup water

For the Breading

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup plain breadcrumbs

For Frying

  • 3 - 4 cups vegetable oil or more as needed

Instructions

  1. Process Chicken: Add the chicken breasts to a food processor and pulse until finely minced, creating a uniform ground chicken base for the nuggets.
  2. Mix Seasoning: Add onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, paprika, salt, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and water to the minced chicken in the food processor. Process until the mixture is smooth and thoroughly combined.
  3. Shape Nuggets: Using about 1½ tablespoons of the chicken mixture per nugget, shape into small rectangular pieces and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  4. Freeze Nuggets: Place the shaped nuggets in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up, which helps maintain their shape during frying.
  5. Heat Oil: While nuggets are freezing, heat vegetable oil to 350°F in a deep fryer or a heavy-bottomed skillet, ensuring it's hot enough for frying but not smoking.
  6. Coat Nuggets: Dredge each frozen nugget in all-purpose flour, then dip into beaten eggs, and finally coat thoroughly with plain breadcrumbs, preparing them for frying.
  7. Fry Nuggets: Fry the nuggets in batches in the hot oil for 6 to 8 minutes. Turn halfway through cooking if necessary to ensure even golden-brown crust and an internal temperature of 165°F.
  8. Drain and Serve: Remove nuggets from oil with a spider strainer and place them on a wire rack or paper towel-lined tray to drain excess oil. Let cool for a minute or two before serving with your favorite dipping sauces.

Notes

  • Storage: Store fully cooked nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cool completely before storing to prevent sogginess, and separate layers with parchment paper if stacking.
  • Reheating: Reheat using an air fryer at 375°F for 4-6 minutes (refrigerated) or 8-10 minutes (frozen), flip halfway through. Oven reheating can be done at 400°F for 10-15 minutes until hot and crisp.
  • Freezing: Flash-freeze cooked nuggets in a single layer before storing in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Uncooked, breaded nuggets can be frozen the same way. Cook directly from frozen when ready.
  • Tips: Avoid overcrowding in the fryer to promote crispiness, lightly spray nuggets with oil before air frying or baking for extra crunch, and always cook to an internal temp of 165°F for safety.
  • Alternate Cooking Methods: Nuggets can also be air fried, oven baked, pan-fried, or deep-fried based on preference with adjusted times accordingly.
  • Leftovers: Use cold or reheated nuggets in wraps, salads, or make nugget parmesan with marinara and mozzarella cheese.
  • Cooking Times: Smaller nuggets cook faster, so adjust the cooking time accordingly to avoid overcooking.
  • Flavor Variations: Customize seasonings to your taste for different flavor profiles.

Find it online: https://glowcooks.com/easy-homemade-chicken-nuggets-recipe/