Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Sunday, February 6, 2022
Chicken nuggets are so easy to make and fun to eat for all ages plus they're so much better for you when you know the wholesome ingredients used.

My mom use to make these nuggets as a child and the chicken bite appetizers since they were little pieces and she served them with a variety of dippings sauces.

The chicken was perfect for after-school snacks or perfect to bring on a picnic lunch in a cooler and eat cold.

These can be baked, fried, or air-fried, and perfect every time with just a light coating of seasoned flour.

Of course, you can cut up boneless chicken breasts in any shape you like, fingers, tenders, medallions they will all work with this marvelous coating.

These chicken nuggets are terrific to reheat in the air fryer in just a few minutes crispy and taste as fresh as the first day you made them!

If you happen to have any leftovers they make a perfect buffalo chicken sandwich or a nice addition to toss in a chicken with pasta dish you like.

Serve them with your favorite dipping sauces or plain, these bites are really delicious any time of the day.

Scroll down and see how easy it is to make our version of homemade "McNuggets: mommy style this is not a copycat recipe, but the kids will love them!



chicken nuggets with jack daniels sauce





Chicken Nuggets Homemade vs.Fast Food



My family gives this recipe a two-thumbs-up favorite versus a fast-food restaurant.


These chicken nuggets get a major upgrade from the standard variety with just a few quick seasonings plain and simple and all meat is not pressed or processed meat.


Did I mention they freeze well also? Just freeze them on a cookie sheet and freeze them in freezer bags then reheat them in the oven.


Most of the time they just dip these in barbecue sauce or hot sauce.


If you would like a battered chicken try our Tempura coating and for breaded nuggets try our Chicken cutlet coating.



friedchicken nuggets


Baked or Air Fry Cooking Methods

  1. Baked: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or oil spray the pan. Cut the chicken into 2-inch cubes. Coat them. Spray them with cooking spray on top. Place in a single form on the baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes flipping once halfway. Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reads 165 degrees. 
  2. Air Fry: Preheat the air fry for 3 minutes at 400 degrees. Cube and coat the chicken. Spray the air fryer basket. Place them in a single form in the basket. Air fry at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees using an instant-read thermometer. Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time.

chicken nuggets frying in oil


Chicken Nuggets Step by Step

  1. Cube the boneless chicken
  2. Wet the chicken
  3. Shake in seasoned flour
  4. Heat the oil
  5. Fry
  6. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce


chicken nuggets on checkboard red paper and barbecue sauce


Ingredients You Will Need


  • chicken breasts boneless cubed
  • water
  • flour
  • seasoning salt
  • granulated garlic powder
  • paprika
  • cooking spray
  • oil for frying (vegetable or canola)


cubed raw chicken breast


Tips

  • For diabetes substitute crushed pork rinds
  • For flour, allergies substitute almond flour or gluten-free flour
  • Organic chicken has the best texture
  • For a thickened batter coating dip in egg first, beaten
  • Boneless steak, pork, and venison can be substituted for chicken
  • Cooking Methods: For Baking:  Place the chicken on the cookie sheet, drizzle lightly with oil or cooking spray, then bake at 400 degrees in a preheated oven, for 25 minutes.    
  • For Air Frying:  Spray the cubes with cooking oil. Place on the basket.  Air fry for 10 minutes at 400 degrees or cook until golden browned.


chicken nuggets draining on paper towels


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Easy Little Chicken Bites



These little bundles of crispy chicken bites are sure to please any fried chicken lover young at heart and the kids will go crazy for these.


We love ours dipped in some Jack Daniels barbecue sauce or hot sauce, sometimes blue cheese dressing on the side, and feel free to use your own dipping sauce your family prefers.


If you have to get that quick fix at those fast food places once in a while, no judgment here, but seriously these little chicken nugget bites are so delicious.


You can feel safe knowing what's in your own nuggets and you may never order them out again!


These are so much better than fast food places these days and you can guarantee freshness in your own homemade chicken nuggets in minutes.


One of the best parts of making Mommy-style nuggets are the memories the kids will have and the love that went into making them homemade just for them.


Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Yield: 25
Author: Claudia Lamascolo
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 35 Min
Everyone loves little cubes of crispy fried chicken nuggets and mommy's homemade are always the best! This is a recipe the kids will rave about.

Ingredients

  • 3 boneless chicken breasts cut into cubes
  • 1 1/2 cups flour ( or use gluten-free flour for allergies)
  • ziplock bag or use a pie plate for the coating mixture
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons each granulated garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt or more to taste
  • parchment paper
  • cooking spray
  • large deep baking pan
  • For optional dipping sauces click here
  • Canola Oil or Vegetable Oil (enough to cover the bottom of the pan for frying around 1 inch.)
  • water, milk, or buttermilk ( around 1 cup just to moisten the chicken)
  • Optional: for a spicy chicken nugget add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of cumin to the flour mixture
  • Frying Pan, Air Fryer, or Baking Oven cooking methods below in the notes

Instructions

  1. Rinse the chicken in cold water, or dip it in milk or buttermilk to moisten it.
  2. Cut the chicken into 2 - inch cubes on a cutting board with a sharp knife and set aside.
  3. Start to heat the oil around 2 inches deep in a large frying pan on medium heat.
  4. Place the flour and seasonings into a pie plate or ziplock bag.
  5. Shake the wet chicken cubes into the flour mixture.
  6. Using tongs, place the cubes into the hot oil.
  7. Fry the chicken in oil flipping once for 3 minutes on both sides or until the juices run clear.
  8. For Air Fried or Baking, cooking methods refer to the notes below.
  9. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces click here
  10. For those who prefer a breadcrumb coating try our recipe for Chicken Cutlets
  11. For those who prefer batter coating try out Tempura batter

Notes

Tips

  • For diabetes substitute crushed pork rinds
  • For flour, allergies substitute almond flour or gluten-free flour
  • Organic chicken has the best texture
  • For a thickened batter coating dip in egg first, beaten
  • Boneless steak, pork, and venison can be substituted for chicken


Baked or Air Fry Cooking Methods

  1. Baked: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or oil spray the pan. Cut the chicken into 2-inch cubes. Coat them. Spray them with cooking spray on top. Place in a single form on the baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes flipping once halfway. Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reads 165 degrees. 
  2. Air Fry: Preheat the air fry for 3 minutes at 400 degrees. Cube and coat the chicken. Spray the air fryer basket. Place them in a single form in the basket. Air fry at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees using an instant-read thermometer. Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time.



Nutrition Facts

Sugar (grams)

0.06 g

Sodium (milligrams)

84.42 mg

Sat. Fat (grams)

0.38 g

Protein (grams)

6.61 g

Net carbs

5.73 g

Fiber (grams)

0.28 g

Fat (grams)

2.14 g

Cholesterol (grams)

17.41 mg

Carbs (grams)

6.05 g

Calories

71.87 kcal
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American


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12 comments

  1. They look golden crisp and very tempting!

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  2. Super easy to make and the whole family will love them!

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  3. A great, easy to follow and delicious recipe. Everyone loved them!

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  4. These are a most requested dinner item from my two year old! We love these nuggets!

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  5. This recipe is so good! I love the crispness of the breading, and the tenderness of the chicken! So good!!

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  6. I enjoy chicken nuggets but have never made them but I'll try these when I get off my diet.

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  7. I would have never thought of making chicken nuggets at home so thanks for this recipe!

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  8. Perfect! I love this recipe! I haven’t made one in ages. Thanks for the idea!

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  9. These chicken nuggets were awesome and the kids loved them. I actually made extra to freeze so on crazy days I could just reheat them in the air fryer,

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  10. Homemade is always best and this is especially true for chicken nuggets. These are easy to make and perfect for young and old alike.

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  11. I have everything I need for this dish, can’t wait to make it this weekend!

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