Description
Crispy chicken nuggets whip up faster than takeout and taste way better straight from your kitchen. Crunchy golden bites deliver pure comfort without any fuss, making dinner delightfully simple for hungry families.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) chicken breast
Coating Ingredients:
- 1 cup (120 grams) panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup (60 grams) flour
- 2 large eggs
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and position the rack in the center for even cooking.
- Slice 1 pound of chicken breast into uniform 1-inch bite-sized cubes using a sharp knife.
- Arrange three wide, shallow dishes: first with ½ cup all-purpose flour seasoned with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper, second with 2 beaten eggs, third with 1 cup panko breadcrumbs mixed with 1 tablespoon paprika and ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Roll each chicken chunk first in seasoned flour, shaking off excess, then dunk completely in beaten egg, and finally coat thoroughly in spiced panko breadcrumbs.
- Place breaded nuggets on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart to ensure crispy edges.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway through, until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and exterior is golden brown and crunchy.
- Let nuggets rest for 3 minutes after removing from oven to allow coating to set and chicken to finish cooking.
- Serve immediately with your preferred dipping sauce, such as honey mustard or classic ketchup.
Notes
- Chicken breasts work best when cut into uniform sizes to ensure even cooking and crispy coating.
- Seasoning the flour with salt, pepper, and garlic powder adds extra flavor to the nuggets.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour and panko with almond flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Letting the coated nuggets rest for 10 minutes before cooking helps the breading stick better and creates a crunchier exterior.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg