Description
Make crispy, juicy chicken nuggets from scratch. This recipe works well for baking or air frying, making it a quick, family-friendly weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or ground chicken
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for extra crisp)
- Cooking spray or oil for brushing/spraying
Instructions
- If using whole breasts, cut the chicken into uniform, bite-sized nugget shapes, about 1 to 1.5 inches thick.
- Set up a standard breading station with three shallow dishes.
- In the first dish, combine the flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Mix well.
- In the second dish, place the beaten eggs.
- In the third dish, combine the panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese, if using.
- Dredge each chicken piece first in the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
- Dip the floured chicken into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off.
- Press the chicken firmly into the panko mixture to coat completely. Place coated nuggets on a clean plate.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) or your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- For baking: Arrange nuggets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Lightly spray the tops with cooking spray or brush with oil. Bake for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F).
- For air frying: Place nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Spray lightly with oil. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and crisp.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
- For make-ahead preparation, freeze the breaded nuggets on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag. Cook directly from frozen, adding 3-5 minutes to the cooking time.
- If you prefer a copycat texture similar to fast food, use finely ground chicken instead of cutting breasts.
- For extra flavor, add 1 teaspoon of onion powder to the flour mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 18 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking or Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 nuggets
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 105