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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets

    Published: Jan 26, 2016 · Modified: Apr 19, 2023 by Nicole · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    These Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets are perfect for a quick and healthy weeknight meal. They're crispy, flavorful, and so dippable.

    Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets on a white serving plate with ketchup and honey mustard.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    I'm all about healthy, fresh, and flavorful recipes that are easy to make and delicious to eat. That's why I love this recipe for homemade baked chicken nuggets! It's a healthier take on a classic comfort food that's perfect for busy weeknights when you don't have a lot of time to cook.

    We have plenty more simple chicken recipes, so find your favorite!

    Ingredients

    • Chicken: One pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces. You'll want to cut them so they're all about the same size for even baking (about 1 ½ - 2 inches). You can substitute for chicken tenders if you prefer.
    • Bread crumbs: A mixture of whole wheat seasoned bread crumbs and panko bread crumbs, I like 4C. This mixture ensures a nice, crispy texture once baked.
    • Parmesan Cheese: Some grated parmesan cheese gives this chicken some added flavor.
    • Seasoning: Paprika, salt, and pepper.
    • Egg: An egg mixed with a splash of water, to help the breadcrumb mixture stick to the chicken.
    • Olive Oil: You'll need olive oil spray to evenly spray the tops of the chicken so they get crispy and golden.
    Someone holding a chicken nugget that's dipped in ketchup.

    How to Make Homemade Chicken Nuggets

    1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a large baking sheet with olive oil.
    2. Combine the bread crumbs, panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and paprika in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
    3. In another bowl, combine the egg and water. Whisk until combined.
    4. Drop a few of the chicken pieces into the egg mixture. Make sure the chicken is well coated. Move those chunks of chicken to the bowl of breadcrumbs. Evenly coat. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with all the chicken pieces.
    5. Spray the tops of the chicken nuggets with olive oil. Bake for 10 minutes. Turn the nuggets and bake another 4-5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
    Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets on a baking sheet.

    Variations

    I love trying different flavor combinations and ingredients. Here are a few variations you can try:

    • Make them spicy. Add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the breadcrumb mixture for extra heat. Once they're baked, you can even toss them in buffalo sauce.
    • Toss them with BBQ sauce. When flipping the nuggets after 10 minutes, brush them with BBQ sauce, then bake for an additional 5-7 minutes for a smoky and tangy flavor.
    • Make them extra crispy in the air fryer. You can air fry them at 400°F for 7-8 minutes, flipping halfway. They get super crispy in the air fryer.
    • Add some lemon zest and black pepper to the breadcrumb mixture. This will give it a lemon pepper flavor that you won't be able to resist.

    Serving Suggestions

    These homemade baked chicken nuggets are great as a snack or appetizer, but they also make a delicious and healthy meal. Serve them with a side of oven-roasted sweet potato fries, a colorful salad, or your favorite veggies.

    You can also serve them with your favorite dipping sauces, like honey mustard, ranch dressing, or ketchup.

    Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets on a white serving plate.

    More Chicken Recipes

    • Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
    • Baked Cornflake Chicken Tenders
    • Honey Garlic Lemon Chicken
    • Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
    Print
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    Baked Chicken Nuggets

    Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets

    ★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
    • Author: Nicole | Fresh Apron
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Category: Main Dishes
    • Method: Bake
    • Cuisine: American
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    These Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets are perfect for a quick and healthy weeknight meal. They're crispy, flavorful, and so dippable.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
    • ¼ cup seasoned bread crumbs
    • ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
    • 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • 1 egg
    • 1 tablespoon water
    • extra virgin olive oil spray
    • sea salt and pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a large baking sheet with olive oil.
    2. Combine the bread crumbs, panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and paprika in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
    3. In another bowl, combine the egg and water. Whisk until combined.
    4. Drop a few of the chicken pieces into the egg mixture. Make sure the chicken is well coated. Move those chunks of chicken to the bowl of bread crumbs. Evenly coat. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with all the chicken pieces.
    5. Spray the tops of the chicken nuggets with olive oil. Bake for 10 minutes. Turn the nuggets and bake another 4-5 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
    6. Serve immediately and enjoy!

    Equipment

    Image of Tongs

    Tongs

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    Parchment Paper

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    Image of Baking Sheet

    Baking Sheet

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    Notes

    To store, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

    Nutritional values (per serving) are approximates only.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: about 8 nuggets
    • Calories: 242
    • Sugar: 0.9 g
    • Sodium: 387.3 mg
    • Fat: 8.4 g
    • Saturated Fat: 1.9 g
    • Carbohydrates: 10.2 g
    • Fiber: 0.7 g
    • Protein: 29.5 g
    • Cholesterol: 130.2 mg

    Keywords: chicken nuggets, appetizer, main dish, football party food, nuggets

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @freshapron on Instagram and hashtag #freshapron — I can't wait to see what you've made!

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Stephanie says

      October 05, 2021 at 9:36 pm

      I made these chicken nuggets in the air fryer and they came out GREAT! I was nervous that I didn't do the dredge correctly but the instructions are spot on and turned out just like the ones in the pictures. These nuggets are crispy and delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    Nicole | Fresh Apron

    Hi, I'm Nicole! I’m so happy to share all my recipes with you. I'm all about using fresh ingredients and creating simple recipes. Enjoy and happy cooking!

    More about me →

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