No need to stop at the fast food restaurant. Make your own chicken nuggets at home! These are a great alternative to fast food chicken nuggets. Serve with some roasted sweet potato fries & a side salad for a well-balanced meal
Who doesn't love a happy meal?
If you happen to pass those golden arches, I bet you've been tempted to drive in there and grab a happy meal {or maybe something a little more substantial}.
But I'm pretty sure it's universally known that fast food is generally not your best choice when it comes to food options.
Like I often say: it's so much better for you to make your own.
Unfortunately, many healthier chicken nugget recipes just don't taste quite like those gems from Ronald McDonald's kitchen.
Then I found a great recipe for homemade chicken nuggets on a blog, so here's my attempt at them.
You should really try these! They will definitely make you happy, and they actually taste like fast food chicken nuggets, not boring breaded & baked chicken pieces.
I love that you can bake these and then freeze them for later. I like to make a double batch and freeze the extra, so whenever I'm too lazy or busy to make dinner or a snack, I can pull these out to eat.
Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken breast
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder or 1/2 chopped green onion
- 1/2 tsp salt-free seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt divided
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 large egg whisked together
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/4 cup white whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
Set up your breading station:
- Put whole wheat flour in one shallow bowl. Whisk together egg & water in another shallow bowl. Mix 1/2 tsp salt and whole wheat bread crumbs in another shallow bowl.
Make nuggets:
- Stir together ground chicken breast, garlic powder, onion powder, salt free seasoning, olive oil, remaining 1/2 tsp salt, and pepper.
- Using a tablespoon, scoop chicken mixture into little nuggets. Roll nuggets lightly in flour, dip in egg {make sure to let excess egg wash come off before dipping in bread crumbs}, and roll in bread crumbs.
- Transfer to prepared baking sheet, and space nuggets about 1/2-1 inch apart. Spray tops of nuggets with baking spray, and bake in preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned and cooked through.
- Serve with ketchup or other dipping sauce if desired.
- Refrigerate tightly covered for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
Notes
Enjoy your "happy meal" with some roasted sweet potato fries, a side salad {not pictured} & a strawberry beer {if you are of legal drinking age, of course}.
What to use in this recipe:
Meme
Nicole says
Love these! This is going to be my go-to Mardi Gras snack. So easy to freeze and so tasty. And they went perfectly with your Perfect Baked Fries recipe!
Meme says
Yay! I love a good Mardi Gras snack plan!! xo