Homemade Chicken Nuggets
on Sep 02, 2014, Updated Aug 22, 2024
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Homemade Chicken Nuggets is a recipe that people of all ages will delight in. You know exactly what ingredients are going into them, they are more cost-effective, and they are moist and delicious. If your kids like fast food, they will love these chicken nuggets!
This recipe for make-ahead and stash-in-the-freezer chicken nuggets is a total game-changer on the chicken nugget scene. It’s a great dinner option on busy nights or if a babysitter needs to feed the kids while you are on a hot date! So easy and healthy.
For a full make-ahead meal, make an easy potato salad and a homemade coleslaw along with getting the nuggets in the freezer during a weekend meal prep session. Now you have a super easy and healthy meal for a busy weeknight!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Homemade chicken nuggets make a great lunch, dinner, or snack. You can also use the leftovers for the lunchbox the next day.
- Prepping the nuggets ahead provides an easy, faster-than-fast-food meal, and they are freezer-friendly, too.
- Once your family tastes these juicy and flavorful homemade nuggets, they’ll never want store-bought or fast-food chicken nuggets again!
Recipe Ingredients
- Worcestershire sauce
- Boneless, skinless chicken – most people prefer white breast meat, but dark meat from boneless, skinless thighs will also work
- All-purpose flour
- Onion powder
- Granulated garlic – garlic powder can be substituted, but you will need to use less
- Eggs
- Bread crumbs – make your own or use store-bought regular or Panko breadcrumbs
- Vegetable oil – a neutral oil with a high-smoke point is needed for frying the nuggets
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Step 1. Cut the meat into nugget-sized pieces and soak in brine 30 minutes. Dry off the meat.
Step 2. Bread the meat by dipping into flour mixture first, then egg wash, and coating with bread crumbs last.
Step 3. Set aside nuggets as they’re breaded, and heat the oil in a pan.
Step 4. Cook the nuggets in batches so they aren’t overcrowded in the pan. Drain on paper towels.
Recipe FAQs
Don’t brine for more than 30 minutes, or the chicken will be too salty.
I’m calling this recipe healthy because it is SO MUCH BETTER for you than traditional store-bought chicken nuggets. Frying isn’t bad, it’s a very traditional cooking method. If vegetable oil isn’t your thing cook them in avocado or coconut oil.
If properly stored in an airtight freezer bag, they can be kept frozen for 1 month. Do not thaw before reheating.
Expert Tips
- Thoroughly pat dry the brined chicken with a paper towel. This is a crucial step in making the breading coat stick.
- Cook the coated chicken in the skillet until golden brown on each side (about 3 minutes per side).
- Here are my pro tips to ensure juicy nuggets—cut the chicken into larger pieces (more chicken finger and less nugget) and soak them in a quick 30-minute brine. It adds so much flavor and moisture to the chicken. Even Chick-fil-A brines their chicken!
How to Cook Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer
The air fryer is a great option when making homemade chicken nuggets. Be sure to spread the nuggets out so they aren’t touching and cook evenly. If you go the air fryer route, you will probably need to cook them in batches to make sure they aren’t overcrowded.
What to Serve With Chicken Nuggets
In order to eat chicken nuggets you need a dip! I serve them with ketchup, BBQ sauce, homemade Ranch dressing or fry sauce. Complete this meal by making…
These tasty nuggets also make a fabulous salad addition. Try it on a bacon ranch salad, an Asian chicken salad, or a chicken bacon ranch pasta salad. All of these can be made ahead and would be perfect to take to a potluck, too!
More Easy Chicken Recipes to Consider
Pasta Dishes
Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Baked Pasta
Soups, Stews & Chowders
White Chicken Chili
Chicken Recipes
Kung Pow Chicken
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Freezer Friendly Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken , (Cut into strips that are 3/4 inch wide)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups bread crumbs, (store bought, homemade, or Panko)
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
Instructions
To Prep:
- Add 2 cups of cold water to a large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and Worcestershire and stir to dissolve. Submerge chicken in brine, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry with paper towels.
- Combine the flour, onion powder, granulated garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper in a shallow dish.
- Beat the eggs in a second shallow dish.
- Add the bread crumbs to a third shallow dish.
- Working with a piece at a time, toss the chicken in the flour, then dip it in the eggs, then coat with the bread crumbs. Transfer to a large plate.
- Heat 1/4 cup of oil in a 12-inch skillet (cast iron works great here) and heat over medium-high heat until the oil is shimmering. Cook one third of the coated chicken in the skillet until golden brown on each side (about 3 minutes per side) until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and place it on a wire rack sitting inside a baking sheet to cool. Wipe out the pan and repeat with the remaining chicken, 1/3 at a time (so you’ll cook a total of 3 batch of chicken nuggets).
- Serve right away or you can make these ahead of time in large batches and keep them in the freezer so you always have frozen chicken nuggets on hand!
To Freeze and reheat:
- Let the chicken cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
- Transfer the cooled chicken nuggets to a freezer zipper-lock bag and seal. Freeze up to 1 month. Do no thaw before reheating.
To Finish and Serve:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degree. Bake nuggets on a wire rack, set on a rimmed baking sheet until crisp and heated through, about 30 minutes. Flip the chicken half way through cooking time. Serve hot.
Notes
- America’s Test Kitchen’s original recipe called for all-purpose flour (I used whole wheat), and Panko bread crumbs (I used homemade whole wheat), so use what you think is best. I rarely substitute things in their recipes, but did this time because that is what I had on hand.
- Don’t brine for over 30 minutes, or your chicken will be too salty.
- I’m calling this recipe healthy because it is SO MUCH BETTER for you than traditional store-bought chicken nuggets. Frying isn’t bad, it’s a very traditional cooking method. If vegetable oil isn’t your thing, cook them in avocado oil.
- Homemade Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs: Dry 6-8 pieces of your favorite homemade wheat bread in a 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes, until the bread feels dry. Tear the bread into large pieces and process in a blender or food processor until you have bread crumbs. Easy!
I’ve made homemade chicken nuggets before… but I’ve never tried PREmaking them. What is wrong with my brain?! I must try this this weekend… 🙂
These look yummy and way better than store bought nuggets!
I just received the latest issue of Cooks Country yesterday and saved the order form for The Make Ahead Cook. I would love to receive a FREE copy! I too love the knowledge gained from all of the ATK recipes and I truly enjoy your blog! ~ Blessings to you and yours ~ TamiP
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I hate to cook so much………I’m hoping this book could make things a little easier for me? I don’t think I’m ever going to win this fight for health without cooking more of my meals at home 🙁
This sounds like a great cookbook and ATK is usually pretty good with their cookbooks.
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