These chicken nuggets saved me from going broke during Max's phase where he would only eat chicken if it looked like the ones from his favorite drive-thru place. I was spending twenty bucks every few days just to get him to eat protein, and I kept thinking about all the processed junk that was going into his little body.So I decided to figure out how to make them at home. Turns out it's way simpler than I thought - just cut up chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and coat them with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs before baking.
Why You'll Love These Homemade Chicken Nuggets
These chicken nuggets fix my biggest dinner problems Max will eat them without complaining, they don't cost me a fortune like constant takeout runs, and I know exactly what's in them. No weird ingredients I can't pronounce, no preservatives that make me wonder what I'm feeding my kid.
They're easy enough that Max can help without turning my kitchen into a disaster zone, and they freeze really well so I can make a big batch on weekends and just heat them up on crazy school nights. They actually taste better after reheating in the oven than those frozen nuggets from the store that get all soggy.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love These Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- Ingredients for Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- How To Make Chicken Nuggets Step By Step
- Smart Swaps for Chicken Nuggets
- Fun Ways to Switch Up Chicken Nuggets
- Equipment For Chicken Nuggets
- Storing Your Chicken Nuggets
- Why This Recipe Works
- Top Tip
- The Secret Recipe My Cousin Will Never Share
- FAQ
- Time to Ditch the Drive-Thru
- Related
- Pairing
- Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients for Homemade Chicken Nuggets
The Chicken:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper for seasoning
The Coating Station:
- All-purpose flour
- Large eggs
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Regular breadcrumbs
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
For Extra Flavor:
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Italian seasoning
- A pinch of cayenne
Simple Tools:
- Three shallow dishes for coating
- Sharp knife for cutting chicken
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cooking spray or oil
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Chicken Nuggets Step By Step
Get Everything Ready:
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces
- Season chicken with salt and pepper
- Set up three shallow dishes: flour in one, beaten eggs in another, breadcrumb mixture in the third
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper
- Preheat oven to 425°F
The Coating Process:
- Dredge each chicken piece in flour first
- Dip in beaten egg, letting excess drip off
- Roll in breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to stick
- Place on prepared baking sheet with space between each piece
- Spray tops lightly with cooking spray
Baking:
- Bake 12-15 minutes until golden brown
- Flip halfway through if you want them extra crispy
- Internal temperature should reach 165°F
- Let cool 5 minutes before serving
Smart Swaps for Chicken Nuggets
Coating Options:
- Regular breadcrumbs → Crushed cornflakes (crunchier texture)
- Panko → Crushed crackers (Ritz work great)
- Flour → Almond flour (for low-carb)
- Breadcrumbs → Crushed pretzels (extra salty crunch)
Chicken Alternatives:
- Chicken breast → Chicken thighs (more flavor, stays juicier)
- Fresh chicken → Frozen (thaw completely first)
- Breast meat → Turkey breast
- Regular → Organic (if budget allows)
Egg Substitutes:
- Whole eggs → Just egg whites
- Beaten eggs → Buttermilk (for extra tang)
- Regular → Plant-based egg substitute
Seasoning Changes:
- Garlic powder → Fresh minced garlic
- Paprika → Smoked paprika
- Italian seasoning → Ranch seasoning mix
- Skip spicy stuff → Add more Parmesan
Fun Ways to Switch Up Chicken Nuggets
Flavor Coatings:
- Parmesan ranch (add ranch powder to breadcrumbs)
- Honey mustard (brush with honey mustard before coating)
- Buffalo style (toss in buffalo sauce after baking)
- BBQ version (mix BBQ seasoning into flour)
Different Shapes:
- Chicken strips instead of nuggets
- Mini nuggets for toddlers
- Flat "patties" that cook faster
- Fun shapes using cookie cutters (Max loves stars)
Dipping Sauce Favorites:
- Homemade ranch
- Honey mustard mix
- Ketchup (Max's go-to)
- Sweet and sour sauce
- BBQ sauce
Special Occasion Versions:
- Extra crispy (double-coat with egg and breadcrumbs)
- Spicy for adults (cayenne and hot sauce)
- Cheesy (extra Parmesan in coating)
- Herb-crusted (add fresh herbs to breadcrumbs)
Equipment For Chicken Nuggets
- Three shallow dishes (for the coating station)
- Sharp knife for cutting chicken
- Large baking sheet
- Parchment paper (saves cleanup time)
- Cooking spray or oil in a spray bottle
Storing Your Chicken Nuggets
Fresh Storage (3-4 days):
- Cool completely before putting in fridge
- Store in airtight container or zip-top bag
- Don't stack them or they get soggy on the bottom
- Reheat in oven at 350°F for 5-8 minutes
Freezer Storage (up to 3 months):
- Let them cool completely first
- Freeze on baking sheet for 2 hours
- Transfer to freezer bags once frozen solid
- Label with date so you don't forget
Reheating Tips:
- Oven works way better than microwave
- Don't thaw frozen ones - cook straight from freezer
- Add 5-10 minutes to cooking time if frozen
- They won't be quite as crispy as fresh but still good
Make-Ahead Trick:
- Bread them completely but don't bake
- Freeze on trays, then bag up
- Bake straight from frozen when you need them
- Takes about 20 minutes instead of 15
Why This Recipe Works
These chicken nuggets work because they use simple techniques that solve the main problems with homemade versions - getting crispy coating without drying out the chicken. The key is cutting the chicken into small, even pieces so they cook quickly and stay juicy inside while the coating gets golden.
The three-step coating process creates layers that stick properly. The flour helps the egg adhere, the egg helps the breadcrumbs stick, and mixing panko with regular breadcrumbs gives you both crunch and coverage. Baking at 425°F is hot enough to crisp the outside fast before the inside overcooks.
Top Tip
- Max figured out our best chicken nugget trick during one of those afternoons when he was home sick from school and I was trying to keep him entertained while also getting dinner started. He was sitting at the kitchen counter "helping" me make nuggets when he started mixing different condiments together in a small bowl, just playing around while the nuggets were baking.
- He mixed ketchup with a little bit of ranch dressing and added a tiny squeeze of honey, stirring it all up with a spoon. When the nuggets came out of the oven, he dipped one in his concoction and his face just lit up. "Mom, this is way better than just ketchup!" he said. And honestly, he was right - the honey made it a little sweet, the ranch made it creamy, and the ketchup kept that familiar flavor he loved.
- Now we always make Max's special sauce when we have chicken nuggets. He's taught it to his friends when they come over, and he gets so proud when they ask for the "recipe." It's become his signature contribution to dinner, and he takes his job as chief sauce-mixer very seriously. Sometimes the simplest discoveries from a seven-year-old turn out to be the best kitchen improvements.
The Secret Recipe My Cousin Will Never Share
My cousin has been making chicken nuggets for her restaurant for almost ten years, and every time I ask her what makes them so different, she just smiles and changes the subject. But I finally figured out her trick when Max and I were visiting last summer and I caught her in the kitchen prepping for the lunch rush.
She adds a tablespoon of pickle juice to her egg wash. I know it sounds weird, but that tiny bit of tangy brine does something magical to the coating - it helps it stick better and adds this subtle flavor that you can't quite identify but makes the nuggets taste more complex.When I asked her about it, she laughed and said she started doing it by accident when she was making nuggets at home and didn't have enough eggs, so she stretched the egg wash with whatever liquid she had nearby.
FAQ
What are chicken nuggets made of?
Store-bought chicken nuggets usually contain processed chicken meat, fillers, preservatives, and various additives. Homemade chicken nuggets are just real chicken breast cut into pieces and coated with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. You control exactly what goes in them - no mystery ingredients or hard-to-pronounce chemicals.
Is chicken nugget tasty?
Homemade chicken nuggets taste way better than most store-bought or restaurant versions because you're using fresh chicken and can season them however you like. The coating gets crispy while keeping the chicken juicy inside. Plus Max's special dipping sauce makes them even better than plain ketchup.
How to make chicken nuggets step?
Cut chicken breast into bite-sized pieces, set up three dishes with flour, beaten eggs, and seasoned breadcrumbs. Coat each piece in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 425°F for 12-15 minutes until golden and cooked through.
What's the best way to cook chicken nuggets?
Baking in the oven gives you the best results - they get crispy without being greasy like fried ones. Use parchment paper so they don't stick, and don't overcrowd the pan. Spray the tops with a little oil for extra crispiness, and flip halfway through if you want.
Time to Ditch the Drive-Thru
Now you have everything you need to make chicken nuggets that'll keep Max happy and save you from spending half your grocery budget on takeout. From cutting the chicken to Max's special dipping sauce discovery, you're set up to make nuggets that taste better than anything you can buy and cost way less too.
Looking for more kid-friendly dinners? Try our Healthy Baked Feta Eggs Recipe that uses real cheese instead of powder packets. Need something even quicker? Our The Best Hot Fudge Pie Recipe works with whatever you have in the fridge. For another protein option that Max loves, our Delicious Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders Recipe can be made ahead and frozen just like these nuggets.
Share your nugget success! We love seeing kids help in the kitchen.
Rate this recipe with five stars if it saves you from another drive-thru run!
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with chicken nuggets
Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper. Set up three shallow dishes: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with a breadcrumb mixture. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Dredge each chicken piece in flour first, dip in beaten egg, then roll in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure it sticks. Place each piece on the prepared baking sheet and spray the tops lightly with cooking spray.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through to ensure even crisping. Check the internal temperature, ensuring it reaches 165°F.
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