Chicken Nuggets Recipe

5 from 51 votes

Chicken Nuggets Recipe

This homemade chicken nuggets recipe is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and a million miles away from anything frozen.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Kristyn Merkley

Equipment

Ingredients

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
2 tablespoons water
1 cup regular or panko breadcrumbs
½ cup Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic salt
vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions

Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces (about 1-1½ inches).
Place flour in a medium bowl.
Combine eggs and water in a second bowl and beat together.
In a third bowl, combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning and garlic salt and mix together.
Fill a frying pan with about 2 inches of oil and heat over medium heat to 350 degrees F.
While the oil is heating up, coat each chicken nugget with flour, then dip into the egg mixture. Finally, coat with the breadcrumb mixture.
When oil is ready, place one nugget into the oil to test. It should sizzle immediately. If it darkens too quickly without cooking on the inside, then the oil is too hot. Adjust the heat accordingly.
Fry nuggets in batches for 3-4 minutes on each side, then place on a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain before serving.

Video

Notes

Recipe Tips.

The flour coating is what helps keep the breading from falling off the nuggets.
Partially freezing the chicken breasts will help you cut clean and evenly sized pieces.
For an extra crispy crust, after the initial breading, dip the chicken back into the egg mixture and then back into the breadcrumbs.
Maintain the oil temperature at around 350-375°F. Too low, and the nuggets will be greasy; too high, and they'll burn.

Prep ahead. Coat the chicken pieces, place them in a single layer, cover them tightly with plastic wrap, and store them in the fridge for a few hours before frying.

Oven directions. Place breaded nuggets on a wire rack over an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Spray with olive oil spray and bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Flip, spray again, and cook for an additional 8 minutes. Broil for a few minutes more to brown nuggets.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months. Reheat under the broiler or air fryer until warm and crisp.

Nutrition