Even before we started eating real food I always thought that homemade chicken nuggets tasted much better than what you can get at most restaurants and grocery stores. And the best part is…you can freeze the leftovers!
So if you are in a rush simply pull a few pre-made nuggets out of the freezer and microwave them for 30 – 60 seconds for a quick and guilt-free dinner. In our house, this is the kind of “kids’ meal” that is so good the whole family eats it together.
This recipe is also fairly easy once you have the breadcrumbs made. I find that I need whole-wheat breadcrumbs on hand for all sorts of reasons so be sure to make those in advance on a rainy day and store them in the freezer as well. That way they are there and ready when you need them.
To freeze the leftover chicken nuggets make sure they are cooked first then layer them between sheets of wax paper in a Tupperware or other freezer-safe container. Enjoy!
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 1 egg
- 1 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese grated
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- olive oil for cooking
Instructions
- Chop the chicken into small chunks and sprinkle them with salt and pepper (if desired).
- Lightly beat the egg in a shallow bowl.
- In another shallow bowl mix together the breadcrumbs, cheese, paprika, and garlic powder with a fork.
- Now you are ready to bread the chicken. There is a simple technique that will make this part very easy. Make one of your hands the “wet hand” and the other one the “dry hand”. With your wet hand toss some of the chicken chunks into the egg mixture until they are coated on all sides. Then with your wet hand drop them on top of the bread crumb mixture. With your dry hand sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top of the chicken and then flip them over a few times until the pieces are coated. Put the coated pieces on a plate while you work on the rest of the chicken.
- Heat a thin layer of oil in a large sauté pan over medium-low heat.
- Cook the chicken nuggets for several minutes on each side until they are golden brown. You want the nuggets to be cooked all the way through by the time they get brown on the outside. Cut one down the middle to make sure it is fully cooked.
- Transfer the nuggets to a plate lined with paper towels to help drain off any excess oil.
- Serve with organic ketchup or homemade honey mustard sauce (equal parts honey, mustard, and mayo).
And don’t forget to freeze the leftovers!
Hi, how are these best served in a packed school lunch? Cold, room temperature, or heat and keep in a thermos? Thanks!
Lisa’s girls don’t mind eating them cold/room temperature. You could heat them up and store in a thermos to keep them warm, or just in a regular container.
Can these be baked?
While we haven’t yet, they would work fine being baked, too. – Nicole
I have never had luck with “frying” in a skillet. Can you drizzle with olive oil and cook these in an air fryer instead of skillet?
Hi Heather. We haven’t tried them in the air fryer yet, but as someone who uses it regularly, I’d say there’s a good chance this could work. – Nicole
Can gluten free flour be used cup for cup?
Hello Lori. I have used gluten free bread crumbs.
These are great when you mix in panic breadcrumbs! My kids only like these chicken nuggets! #worthwork #seeyafastfoodrestaurants #workingonthefries
PANKO ;)
obviously i’m interested in many of these recipes … but i’m also wondering what the nutritional value is in the meals. Do you have this information for these recipes ?
Hi there. Sorry, we do not provide nutrition details on recipes but there are many online tools that can help. My Fitness Pal is a good example. This post helps explain Lisa’s philosophy on this: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/do-not-count-calories-still-lose-weight/
How long can you keep the chicken nuggets in freezer? Thanks,Judy.
We recommend about 3 months. – Nicole
If you have frozen the chicken nuggets, how do you reheat them? In the oven at the same temperature or can you do it in the microwave? If so, how long for the oven or microwave?
Hi there. I typically thaw them overnight in the fridge. You can reheat in either place. In the oven, I cover with tin foil until heated through. The microwave will depend on its power and how many you are reheating. I typically put them on a plate, cover with a paper towel and heat for about a minute.
Me and my dad love making these chicken nuggets at home! They are so easy to make and soooo yummy!! My dad likes to make these with baked potatoes.
I made these with our 4 yr old granddaughter recently. Grandpa cut up the chicken. I had the bowls set up for dipping and breading. Tried explaining the wet hand, dry hand method to granddaughter, but she had other ideas and just used both her hands to dip and bread. It was kind of a mess, but decided to just go with it. They turned out wonderful and Kaitlyn was so thrilled to have helped make them. Thanks for a great recipe!
Made this again last night ! Everyone loved it. Served with frozen vegetable medley and applesauce. Left out the cheese again – baked at 400 degrees for 12 minutes on each side (24 minutes total).
These were a big hit with my son! Will definitely make them again.
My husband likes these but my kids don’t like them :(
Came out wonderful all 12 kids and 4 adults loved them, left out the cheese. Baked at 400* for 25 minutes, on a greased cookie sheet turned halfway. used 6 eggs and 6lbs chicken.
When serving these as a lunch item in the lunch box. Does a ice block help keep them cold enough to be eaten mid day? Just want to make sure I don’t make the little ones sick. :)
Hi there. These are the ice packs Lisa uses: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/.
Do you think these could be baked instead? I would love to make a batch for my 1 year old and freeze them. Thoughts on baking temp and times?
Hi. From a reader above: “I but them on a broiler pan and spray them lightly with olive oil cooking spray. Bake at 375 for 15 to 20 mins. Jusiy on the inside and crispy on outside!”
I would love to make these, but my daughter is highly allergic to egg. Is there something I could substitute?
Hi Janet. I’ve had varied degrees of success with flax or chia egg substitute but eggs are difficult to replace as a binder. ;)
I made these today and they were delicious! We didn’t have Parmesan or garlic powder, so I very finely grated cheddar & fried them in oil with crushed garlic which worked well!
They are delicious! Do you think they could be baked instead of fried?
Yes, I’ve baked them and it worked well.
How long and at what temp to bake them?
Hi. I just use a baked recipe as a reference for time and temp such as: http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/parmesan-baked-chicken-nuggets-recipe/.
I but them on a broiler pan and spray them lightly with olive oil cooking spray. Bake at 375 for 15 to 20 mins. Jusiy on the inside and crispy on outside!
Loved it! My family gobbled it up. Yum!
Hi! If I put them in freezer, how long will it last? I’d like to make them ahead and freeze them so that I can just reheat for a quick meal. Thanks!
I’d recommend about 3 months. – Nicole
Love these! I make them for my family often… They’ve become a staple for us. :) Just a comment… I generally will use two eggs instead of one. It simply allows me to have plenty of liquid base without running out.
Are these okay to freeze and re-heat?
Sure. :)
What temp and time would you re-heat these?
Hi. I thaw and reheat at 400 until heated through in a covered glass casserole dish.
I’d like to try this recipe but bake them instead. Can you provide a for a recommendation for temp and time in the oven? Thanks!
Hi Anna. I have baked these at 400 for about 18 minutes.
My son is allergic to dairy. Could I leave the cheese out or sub it with something else possibly?
Hi. I’ve used nutritional yeast and the flavor is similar. It is a rule bender ingredient, however. :)
Thanks! Why is it a rule bender? I am new to this site :)
It is a bit processed but rich in nutrients. Here is some info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-JC73AStkw.
I made these tonight for the first time for a very picky crowd. It was a smashing success! I fried the chicken and then I had to finish it in the oven, but it was still extremely moist and the best part is that my very picky daughter ate them, my not picky son ate them and my semi picky husband requested that I make them again!
Which cooking oil did you use?
Hi there. I choose avocado or coconut oil. Olive oil works well, too since we aren’t cooking at a high heat.
what cooking oil do you recommend for this recipe?
Hello Maria. I use avocado or coconut oil.
Hi the recipe posted on your blog seems to differ slightly than the one in your book. Is one more recent?
Hi. The book recipe is more recent.
Just a note to make breading even easier and less messy, put the breadcrumb mixture in a plastic bag or other container with a tight lid. Coat chicken with egg then put into baggie and shake until covered. You can do more at once this way and it’s way cleaner!
Also I have frozen them before cooking and they are still good, the breading falls off a little easier though. Thanks for all the great recipes!
Please, more recipes without egg! My son is allergic and I would like to use some of these recipes but lots of them gave egg. It is a far more common allergy than what you would expect. E.g nuggets, banana muffins, vegetable muffins etc.
Hey! Try using vegan mayonnaise instead of egg. Adds nice flavor and has the same effect. Good luck :)
Have you tried using applesauce as an egg replacement in baked goods, like muffins, etc? My daughter has a good friend who is allergic to eggs too, so I have tried to accommodate it. We really like using the applesauce because everything tastes very moist. Had great success with cupcakes and muffins.
How long and at what temperature would you recommend baking these?
HI there. I use this recipe as a guide for baking time and temp: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/parmesan_chicken/.
These nuggets had a great flavor, but they stuck to my pan and I lost a lot of the breading. I’ll try baking these next time as others have suggested.
Can you bake these nuggets in the oven vs. cooking on the stove top?
Hi Teresa. Other readers have.
I made these last night and they were a big hit with my family…there weren’t any leftovers! I don’t do dairy, so I substituted the parmesan cheese with about a tablespoon of nutritional yeast. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
I have 2 questions.
1. What kind of oil do you use?
2. Can they be baked in the oven instead (oven fried)?
Hi Allison. I think Lisa uses ghee here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/14/mini-pledge-week-10-no-refined-oils/. I typically choose avocado oil. And, other readers have baked this successfully.
I have a kiddo with an egg allergy. And substitution recommendations for the egg in this recipe?
Hi Rachel. I think you could use flax eggs. this might help: http://www.thekitchn.com/ideas-for-breading-that-doesnt-use-eggsrecipe-questions-167823. :)
I just made this for my family and they went wild over it. They kept telling me how good it was. I made the chicken nuggets with “french fries” using your Homemade Dried Onion Soup Mix and olive oil. And I also made steamed organic green beans with almond slivers and lemon butter sauce.
I just bought your book and working on changing the family’s eating habits. Thank you so much for all your research and forging the way for us to healthfully follow in your footsteps.
Hi, I’ve made quite a few recipes from this site and they’ve been delicious. This one won over my family. I was eating it as I was cooking it, my husband ate it when he came home. I managed to save a few nuggets for my son after school. I made it just like the recipe other than doing two eggs because our chickens lay small ones. Thank you! ~Tia
Thank you for this recipe. I was curious how you reheat it. Also, how long have you stored them? I’m trying to fill my freezer in an attempt to help simplify my families life. Best wishes for you.
Hi Lindsay. Thaw them in the fridge overnight and heat through in the oven or toaster oven. ~Amy
Do you think I could replace the bread crumbs with almond meal? I have a bunch frozen from making almond milk.
Hi Jessie. I use almond meal as a “breading” for fish all the time. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work here, too. :)
Ahhh…spell check. TUMERIC!
I added Time rich to the recipe…good for you and nobody’s the wiser :)
Hi. Just wondering how to reheat them in the oven once they’re frozen, without over cooking?
Hi Jen. I usually thaw them overnight, cover or wrap them in foil and bake them at 350-375 until heated through(7-10 minutes) in an oven or toaster oven. ~Amy
Awesome receipe and so simple.Been telling my daughters family and allmy friends on the facebook about the dangers of the Nuggets since couple. Of years at the time Ifound out from a meat packer friend. Got positive feedback from all.
I use this same recipe minus the paprika as my boyfriend has an allergy to it. I also bake not fry….I try not to add oils where they aren’t needed.
Hi There,
I am allergic to egg and I see you use a lot of egg in your recipes and menu options. Can you recommend a good substitute? Also if I am making chicken nuggets can I use yogurt to coat instead of the egg?
Thanks
KarenC
Hi Karen. Baking with flax eggs: http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/2011/10/how-to-make-a-flax-egg-for-vegan-baking-the-right-way/ is a good alternative. I haven’t tried the nuggets with yogurt but I think it will work. ~Amy
I have a recipe that uses tapioca flour and avocado oil for frying. They turn out crispy without the heavy breading. Kids love them.
I am wondering if theses can be done without egg and dairy?
Michele Thornton
Hi Michele. You could try coating with coconut or olive oil, though it might not stick as well. And here is an easy recipe for a vegan Parmesan cheese: http://www.veggieful.com/2012/08/vegan-parmesan-cheese-recipe.html. ~Amy
I make these except I use almond flour and also add a tsp. of Italian seasoning. So yummy!
I use a very similar recipe all the time. It is great. And healthy. Instead of egg, I dunk the chicken in buttermilk. Also, I bake them in the oven, rather than fry.
Kelleys, you can leave the cheese out or substitute with a little grated cheddar.
Susan, What temperature and how long for baking?
I bake mine at 350 for 30-35 min. Yum! Even my husband loves them! :)
Hi there, this is a great recipe, but I wondered if there was a substitute for the parmesan cheese, for those who cannot eat it?
I added Nutritional Yeast to mine this evening and it worked beautifully
And here is a recipe I use: http://www.veggieful.com/2012/08/vegan-parmesan-cheese-recipe.html. :)
My daughter is allergic to eggs. Any suggestions for a substitute that will work for breading? I’ve tried buttermilk for other similar recipes with mixed results.
Hi Melissa. You could use butter or melted coconut oil to coat. ~Amy
These look so good! I am having a hard time finding good chicken they isn’t insanely expensive. Any tips?! Thank you! Love your
Hi Christina. It is true that you will pay more for organic and pastured chickens. There is not really a way around that but you can search for the best price. What we’ve done is focus more on the quality of the animal products we consume but eat less of them. ~Amy
How do you typically reheat these once they are frozen?
Hi Sumer. I thaw them overnight and then reheat them in the microwave or in the oven covered at 350 for about 12 minutes. ~Amy
Have you tried prepping then freezing versus pre-cooking?
Hi Kristina. Sure, you can do that though you might lose a little of the bread crumbs. ~Amy
I just made these for the first time, for my very picky toddler. BIG HIT (with the entire family)! They are AMAZING! Thank you!
I bake and they turn out great! I use a Misto to mist coat with olive oil. bake 350* for 15-20 mins turning over once midway. I also freeze cooked nuggets in portion size for my 2yo and take out as needed.
Could you bake these nuggets instead of cooking in the oil?
Hi Jordan. Yes, other readers have done so. ~Amy
Hi! I’d love to try these they look amazing! How long would you say the frozen ones will be good? I definitely want to make a bunch and freeze some to have on lazy nights instead of buying the unhealthy bags at the store.
Hi Cara. I try to rotate things out by three months but they would be fine up to 6. :)
Made these tonite, my kids devoured them and asked me to put on the “make again list” :) My husband and I agreed! Thanks for the recipe!
Can i frozen the nuggets before cooking it? Im gonna try it thank u for sharing
Hi Eman. We’ve not tried freezing these prior to cooking. ~Amy
I just made a double batch and froze half. My picky 6 year old eats them hot or cold dipped in honey. My husband travels daily and takes them on the road with him. I have cut them up and put them in pasta salad. They are a great alternative to all the precooked packaged chicken out there. Thanks for the recipe!
Delicious! I cooked them in olive oil on medium heat
I didn’t have paprika so added cayenne pepper instead into the breadcrumbs with a little salt, and I forgot to add the cheese but they came out absolutely delicious anyway, and served with a green salad… a huge hit with the family!
There were no left overs in our house (2 adults and 3 teens)and everyone asked if there were more, so I will to increase the quantity next time, and I will try them in the oven as per other comments left here.
Have you ever added veggies to the nuggets?
Hi Linda. We have not. Let us know how they turn out if you do. :) ~Amy
How do you reheat after freezing?
Hi Zandra. Thaw them overnight and reheat them through in the oven, toaster oven, or microwave. ~Amy
Thanks!
Oh my goodness! I made these tonight for dinner and they were a HIT!!!
I went ahead and added salt and pepper to the dry bowl and left out the parmesan-didn’t want to take the extra 3 minutes it would have taken to grate some ;)
Baked at 400 degrees for 20 mins and they came out crispy and perfect with such a yummy flavor!
Thanks for the recipe!!!
I’m a super noob at this, so I just wanted to leave extra advice if there are other noobs like me :)
And now that I’m here, I realize maybe the advice would have been in the other pages of comments. Oh well.
1) it could just be my over, so…I baked my nuggets at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. I found that my bigger pieces dried out, while my smaller ones are just perfectly. Next time I won’t be so lazy and I’ll cut those bigger pieces down.
2) I made a big batch for freezing, so I doubled the recipe. Just for messiness’ sake, next time I’ll mix all the dry ingredients in one bowl–and then in another bowl pour iit for dipping as needed. Even if I was careful at making sure there wasn’t too much egg getting into my dry bowl, by the end of my 4 lbs of chicken, my dry bowl was gross. Haha
The recipe itself tasted great! Will do it again. And for personal preference, I will add some cayenne for a kick.
I’ve made these delicious nuggets several times, and my family lives them! The only problem I have is with them sticking to the pan. Has anyone else had this problem? Any tips?
Just made this for dinner tonight! Came out great! I forget to salt and pepper the chicken for the first batch and I have to say it made a big difference taste wise. I used whole wheat panko crumbs and some whole wheat matza meal. I was out of Parmesan so I just omitted them.
Oil question. Is organic expeller pressed canola oil too processed??
Hi Franki. Yes, as a rule we use no refined oils. This will explain: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/14/mini-pledge-week-10-no-refined-oils/. ~Amy
I can’t wait to try these…2014 is the year I’m starting my family to eat REAL FOOD! I tried the baked beans & whole wheat mac & cheese and they were AMAZING! I’m so glad a found this site!!!
okay great thank you!
what temperature would I bake these at if I didn’t cut up the chicken and kept it once piece? is it still 400 degrees for 20 minutes?
Hi Tianda. No, you would need to cook whole breasts longer. I’d say 30 minutes or until golden brown and no longer pink in the middle. Use a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the breast to be sure. ~Amy
Our family is making the transition to eating real foods. I was worried my oldest daughter would not like these as much as the fast food versions, but she LOVES them, and we have made them 3 times since by her request. REAL is BETTER!
Hi – loved this recipe but I have a question: can you pre-make a batch of the breading (with the parmesan cheese, etc.)and store it for later use? If so, how would you store and for how long? Thank you!
Hi there, Michelle. That is not something we have done so i can only guess. I think do it would work. I would store it in the fridge and use it within a few days. ~Amy
I freeze all of the heels from our sandwich bread and will throw them in the food processor with parmesan parsley and spices. I love my homemade bread crumbs and they keep very well in the freezer!
After telling my teenage daughter how they really make McDonald’s chicken nuggets, I found this recipe. Both my kids loved it! I have to make extras so we can have leftovers!!!
I had two pans, I flipped one of them but not the other, to see if it made a difference. There wasn’t much of a difference in taste, but the ones I didn’t flip were just slightly more stuck to the pan when done. :)
Made these specifically to freeze for my little kids lunches after I have the baby in a few weeks. I baked at 400 for 25 min. Kids sampled them when done and wanted to eat them all! I used 3 chicken breasts and the called for amount of breadcrumb mix, and it almost covered it. I needed another half cup of coating. It ended up making 65 bite size pieces. Will definitely make again! So easy!
Great idea! Did you flip them during baking? Good luck with the baby!
i Tried this recipe and my whole family likes it. Thant you so much!
what brand parmesan cheese do you buy?
Hello. Just look for an organic block of parmesan. ~Amy
Can I bake the nuggests instead of frying them? What would be the oven temperature and for how long? Thanks!
Hi Monica. I’ve made a similar baked recipe and cooked them at 400 for about 20 minutes. ~Amy
Hi Celia. Coconut oil works great for this recipe. :) ~Amy
Just fried these up in coconut oil – my daughter is having a hard time with the transition to green light type foods. She’s very picky and has a hard time with texture too. She tried these right outta the pan and loves them! Thanks
I love that you always give healthy options! Esepcially kid friendly. Can you tell me what kind of cooking oil you recommend for this recipe? We use primarily coconut oil and olive oil. Would coconut oil work?
One of my favorite recipes!!!!
I haven’t tried making breadcrumbs yet, but typically I use oatbran when something calls for breadcrumbs and it works great!
Have copeied and save this recipe to make when my grandkids come to visit. (Or I just make some for myself!) I also grind my own raw chicken, turkey, beef and pork to make recipes using ground meats. I just don’t trust what may be in already ground meat in grocery stores. The grinder attachment to my KitchenAid mixer does this job effortlessly.
I use corn meal instead of breadcrumbs……sooo easy and delish!!
My kids would love these! I’ll have to try making a dairy and egg free version for them. I’ll let you know how it turns out! :)
Hi! I’m just curious how long these will stay “good” in the freezer? I am loving this site & so is my family – what a fantastic resource!! Thank you!
Hi there. We use three months as a rule of the thumb. ~Amy
Looking for more lunchbox ideas. Could these be frozen and then heated up and sent to school in an insulated thermos?? Thanks;)
Hi Sara. Yes, absolutely! :)
I double the recipe, and had TONS of breadcrumbs leftover. Then, since I had more chicken, I did another 2 lbs in the same breading, and still had lots of breadcrumbs leftover…?
For those wanting to bake them – I baked them for 20 minutes at 400F.
I’m going to throw the extras in the freezer. Do you have reheating instructions (oven, not microwave, please)?
Oh, and since I didn’t have garlic powder, I used onion powder.
I took the suggestion to put the chicken greats in the food processor first. I left out the cheese because I am currently out. Absolutely perfect! My 10 month old and 3 year yr old will scarf these down!