Description
A simple, kid-approved recipe for crispy baked chicken nuggets made with basic pantry staples. These nuggets are baked, not fried, for a healthier, fuss-free snack or light meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450g) chicken breasts, cut into nugget-sized pieces
- 1 ½ cups (150g) breadcrumbs (plain, Italian seasoned, or panko)
- ¼ cup (25g) Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 large eggs
- Splash of water (about 1 tablespoon)
- Olive oil or cooking spray for drizzling or spraying
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts into 1 to 1 ½ inch bite-sized nuggets and pat dry with a paper towel.
- In one bowl, beat the eggs with a splash of water. In another bowl, mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Dip each chicken piece into the egg wash, then dredge in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to coat well.
- Place coated nuggets on a wire rack set over a baking sheet or directly on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Drizzle lightly with olive oil or spray generously with cooking spray.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for 15 minutes. If not using a wire rack, flip nuggets and bake an additional 5 minutes until golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Let nuggets cool for a couple of minutes before serving with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
Pat chicken dry before breading to help coating stick and crisp. Use a wire rack for even crispiness or flip halfway through baking if not using a rack. Do not overcrowd the pan. Drizzle or spray olive oil before baking for best crunch. Double-coat for extra crunch by dipping nuggets twice in egg and breadcrumbs. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat in oven at 375°F for 10 minutes to maintain crispiness. Freeze baked nuggets for up to 2 months; reheat from frozen at 400°F for 15-20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 4-5 nuggets pe
- Calories: 320
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Protein: 35
Keywords: chicken nuggets, baked chicken nuggets, crispy chicken nuggets, kid-friendly snack, easy chicken recipe, homemade chicken nuggets, after school snack