These Easy Chicken Nuggets not only deliver on the easy part of their name, but they’re insanely delicious too! They taste just as good (if not better) than fast food or store bought frozen nuggets and are made with simple ingredients. Kid’s go crazy for these!

Easy Chicken Nuggets on serving platter.Pin
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Why I Love This Recipe

Homemade chicken nuggets are one of the most requested recipes I’ve received since I started creating family-friendly meals for Weelicious. While I’ve made Baked Chicken Nuggets before, I wanted to create a version that closely resembles the fast food nuggets everyone loves. And so, this recipe was born! Chicken nuggets and french fries are convenient and undeniably loved by kids, so naturally have I several recipes for each.

This homemade chicken nugget recipe is incredibly easy to make and offers the same crispy, delicious taste as fast food—but with healthier ingredients! It comes together in under 30 minutes using ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Plus, you can make a large batch and freeze them for later, making these nuggets not only a budget-friendly recipe but also a huge time-saver when you need a quick meal.

The Ingredients

Easy chicken nuggets ingredients.Pin
  • Chicken Breasts: The star of the show! We use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, a great protein source!
  • Old Fashioned Oats: Also known as rolled oats, this ingredient helps bind the chicken nuggets together. Plus, oats are high in fiber which adds some extra nutritional benefits.
  • Panko breadcrumbs: Panko is what gives these nuggets that irresistible crispy, crunchy exterior!
  • Grated parmesan cheese: Parmesan adds flavor to the nuggets, but if you need these to be dairy free you can omit it.
  • Seasonings: Dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and kosher salt add tons of flavor to this recipe!

Variations and Substitutions

  • Ground Chicken: If you don’t have a food processor, you can use ground chicken in this recipe. To do so, you’ll need to blend the oats into a finer consistency and then combine them with the ground chicken and remaining ingredients as instructed.
  • Seasonings: Feel free to customize the seasonings to your taste preferences!
  • Gluten Free: Use certified gluten free oats and gluten free panko to make this recipe suitable for people with gluten sensitivities.

How to Make Easy Chicken Nuggets

Easy chicken nuggets mixture in bowl.Pin

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Place the chicken chunks, oats and seasonings in a food processor until chicken is finely chopped and ingredients are combined.

Breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese combined in shallow bowl.Pin

Step 2: Place the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese in a shallow bowl or on a plate and stir to combine.

Chicken nuggets on parchment paper.Pin

Step 3: With moistened hands, roll about 1 tablespoon of chicken mixture between your palms and flatten it into a nugget shape.

Breaded chicken nuggets on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.Pin

Step 4: Gently press nuggets into bread crumbs to evenly coat them. Place nuggets on a parchment lined baking sheet. Lightly spray nuggets with cooking spray. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden.

Recipe Tip

If you want your nuggets to be even more golden brown, place under the broiler for 2 minutes after cooking.

How to Air Fry Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Making these homemade chicken nuggets in the air fryer is super easy! Simply form the nuggets as directed, spray each one with cooking spray, and place them in your air fryer basket. Cook at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Since every air fryer can vary, keep an eye on your nuggets while they cook to ensure perfect results!

How to Freeze Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Many parents keep frozen chicken nuggets on hand as a quick meal solution, but have you ever looked closely at the ingredients in your favorite brand? Are they pronounceable? Are they things you want your kids eating? I was shocked when I first checked the labels, which is why I now make extra homemade chicken nuggets to freeze. This way, I always have a batch ready for when the craving hits, and I feel good knowing exactly what’s in them!

  1. Before cooking, place the coated, raw nuggets on a parchment-lined baking sheet, freeze them for an hour.
  2. Put frozen nuggets in labeled zip-top bags and freeze for up to 4 months.
  3. When ready to eat, cook as directed, adding 1-2 minutes to the cooking time.

Tips and Tricks

  • Use Wet Hands for Shaping: Keep your hands slightly damp while shaping the nuggets to prevent the chicken mixture from sticking to your fingers.
  • Chill the Mixture: If the chicken mixture feels too soft to handle, place it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to firm up. This makes shaping the nuggets easier and helps them hold their form while cooking.
  • Coat Nuggets Evenly: To get an even coating, press the nuggets gently into the breadcrumb mixture, turning them a few times. This ensures a crispy coating all over.
Easy Chicken Nuggets served with BBQ sauce and ketchup for dipping.Pin

More Kid-Approved Chicken Recipes

Crispy on the outside, tender inside, freshly made easy chicken nuggets your kids will beg for everyday. What could be more simple, economical, nutritious and yummy than that?

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Easy Chicken Nuggets

There's no recipe more kid friendly than easy chicken nuggets. These nuggets are just as good (if not better) than fast food or store bought frozen nuggets and made with ingredients you can pronounce!
4.80 from 5 votes
Course: Appetizer, Dinner
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes

Equipment

  • Food Processor

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Place the first 6 ingredients in a food processor until chicken is finely chopped and ingredients are combined.
  • Place the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese in a shallow bowl or on a plate and stir to combine.
  • With moistened hands, roll 1 tablespoon of chicken mixture between your palms and flatten it into a “nugget” shape.
  • Gently press nuggets into bread crumbs to evenly coat them.
  • Place nuggets on parchment lined baking sheet and lightly spray nuggets with cooking spray.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden and serve. If you want your nuggets to be more golden brown, place under the broiler for 2 minutes after cooking. Air frying instructions are in the notes below!

Video

Notes

To Freeze: Before cooking, place the coated, raw nuggets on a parchment-lined baking sheet, freeze them for an hour, then put them in labeled zip-top bags and freeze for up to 4 months. When ready to eat, cook as directed, adding 2 minutes to the cooking time.
To Air Fry: Form the nuggets as instructed and spritz each one will cooking spray. Air fry at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Since every air fryer can vary, keep an eye on your nuggets while they cook to ensure perfect results!
If you don’t have a food processor, you can use ground chicken in this recipe. To do so, you’ll need to blend the oats into a finer consistency and then combine them with the ground chicken and remaining ingredients as instructed.

Nutrition

Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 527mg | Potassium: 468mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @Weelicious or tag #weelicious!

About the Author

Catherine is a mama of three. A Kentucky girl living in California. Here’s what I know: all kids can be great eaters and mealtime must be easy. I create simple, healthy recipes the whole family will love.

Comments

  1. Can’t wait to try this recipe for my picky kids! I might throw them in the air fryer for extra crispiness!

  2. How did I not know about this sooner!!!! As someone who can’t have eggs or milk this recipe is fast, kid friendly, healthy! We love this! Thanks for sharing!

  3. I made a double recipe with the following changes and they were delicious! 1 lb of each of boneless skinless organic chicken breasts and thighs, blended with all ingredients except oats (completely ommitted) in food processor. Rolled in regular breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese and baked as instructed. I sprayed the tops of the nuggets with Pam cooking spray and they were amazing! 56% cheaper than store organic nuggets! Thank you!

  4. They are just two different ways of making the recipe. 🙂 There isn’t much difference, other than I think you can add a little more mashed potato to stretch the recipe further.

4.80 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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