PrintThe Ultimate Crispy Baked Homemade Chicken Nuggets (Better Than Fast Food)
Make incredibly crispy, juicy homemade chicken nuggets right in your oven. This easy recipe skips the deep fryer but delivers restaurant-quality flavor that kids and adults love. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 22 min
- Total Time: 37 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1.5 cups Panko breadcrumbs
- Cooking spray or 2 tablespoons olive oil for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Prepare the dredging stations. In a shallow dish, combine the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. This is your dry mix.
- In a second shallow dish, whisk the eggs and milk together. This is your wet mix.
- In a third shallow dish, place the Panko breadcrumbs.
- Take each piece of chicken and dredge it first in the flour mix, shaking off any excess.
- Dip the floured chicken into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off.
- Finally, press the chicken firmly into the Panko breadcrumbs until fully coated. Place the coated nuggets on the prepared baking sheet.
- Lightly spray the tops of the coated nuggets with cooking spray or brush lightly with olive oil to help them crisp up.
- Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, flipping the nuggets halfway through the cooking time, until they are golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauces for an easy weeknight chicken meal.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can marinate the chicken pieces in 1/2 cup of pickle juice for 30 minutes before starting the breading process. Pat them dry before dredging.
- If you prefer an air fryer, cook at 380°F (195°C) for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Use ground chicken for a softer texture, pressing the mixture into nugget shapes before breading.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 nuggets
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 95