Description
These crispy chicken nuggets are golden on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with flavor. Made with simple ingredients and cooked to perfection, they’re great for a quick dinner, lunchbox favorite, or party snack. You can bake, fry, or air fry them—whatever suits you best!
Ingredients
-
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
-
1 cup all-purpose flour
-
2 large eggs
-
2 tablespoons milk
-
1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
-
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional for extra flavor)
-
1 teaspoon garlic powder
-
1 teaspoon onion powder
-
1 teaspoon paprika
-
1/2 teaspoon salt
-
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
-
Cooking spray or oil (for frying or air frying)
Instructions
-
Prep the chicken: Cut chicken breasts into small, nugget-sized pieces.
-
Set up breading stations: In one bowl, add flour. In a second bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. In a third bowl, mix panko, Parmesan (if using), garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
-
Bread the nuggets: Dip each piece of chicken into flour, then the egg mixture, then coat it with the breadcrumb mixture. Press lightly so the coating sticks well.
-
Choose your cooking method:
Air Frying:
-
Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
-
Spray nuggets with cooking spray and place in a single layer.
-
Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through.
Baking:
-
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
-
Place nuggets on a lined baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.
-
Bake for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Frying:
-
Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat.
-
Fry nuggets in batches for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
-
Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil.
-
-
Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces like ketchup, honey mustard, or ranch.
Notes
-
You can use chicken thighs for juicier nuggets.
-
Add a little cayenne pepper to the breadcrumb mix for a spicy kick.
-
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for later.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 125mg