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Homemade Chicken Nuggets

4.9 from 8 reviews

These homemade chicken nuggets are healthy, easy to make, and a guaranteed kids’ favorite. Skip the Chick-Fil-A drive-thru and serve these up with easy potato skins and stove-top macaroni and cheese for the perfect meal!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 chicken breasts (about 11 ½ lbs)
  • 12 eggs
  • 12 tsp water
  • 12 cups breadcrumbs (make your own with this easy recipe)
  • ½1 cup flour (I used all-purpose, but you can use whole wheat)
  • 12 tsp each: salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder
  • ½1 tsp each: salt and pepper
  • 24 Tbsp healthy cooking oil (coconut oil or avocado oil recommended)

Instructions

  1. Unroll a 12” section of plastic wrap and place it on the cutting board. Place one chicken breast on one end of the plastic wrap and fold the other end over. Using a meat mallet (I have this one) or very heavy spoon or rolling pin, beat the chicken until the entire piece is even in thickness all over. I aim for ½” to ¾” thick. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
  2. Cut the chicken into equal sizes, about 1 ½” in size.
  3. Preheat a cast iron skillet, or another heavy bottomed skillet to medium heat and add 2 Tbsp healthy cooking oil.
  4. In a shallow dish, crack 1 egg and add 1 tsp water, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper. Use a whisk to mix well.
  5. In another shallow dish, measure 1 cup of breadcrumbs, ½ cup flour and 1 tsp each salt, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. Mix well.
  6. Working in batches, move the cut chicken pieces into the egg mixture and coat thoroughly.
  7. Then move the chicken to the breadcrumb mixture and coat thoroughly.
  8. Add to the skillet in a single layer and cook until the sides begin to turn golden brown, about 3-5 minutes.
  9. Using tongs, flip each nugget over and cook until finished and both sides are dark golden brown, about 2-4 minutes.
  10. Remove the nuggets to a plate lined with a paper towel or napkin to allow excess oil to drain.
  11. Repeat with the remaining chicken, using additional egg, water, breadcrumbs, flour, spices and cooking oil as necessary. (If you need just a little bit more of the breadcrumbs mixture, use ½ cup breadcrumbs, ¼ cup flour, ½ tsp of each salt, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder.)
  12. Serve warm, or freeze for later.

Notes

Salt and pepper are your BFF’s for seasoning, but homemade chicken nuggets require a little more oomph if you’re going to pass the test. Don’t be scared of the amount of seasoning in this recipe. Trust me – they’re going to be AWESOME.

Nutrition

Keywords: homemade chicken nuggets