Homemade Chicken Nuggets Recipe
These baked herbed chicken nuggets will please the kids AND the adults in your family. Guaranteed. They’re healthier than fast food, easy, and delicious!
Instead of running through the drive-through for your chicken nugget fix, make your own at home with this super simple, much more wholesome homemade chicken nuggets recipe!
Why You Must Make
- My family loves these. And they aren’t easy to please! Even our basically vegetarian daughter eats my chicken nuggets!
- Despite dipping in melted butter, they are healthier than fast food versions since they’re baked, not fried.
- The crushed croutons add yummy flavor and texture.
I found the inspiration for this recipe in an old Southern Living while vacationing at a lake house in Arkansas over 2 decades ago. In the evenings, I’d flip through a stack of cooking magazines, jotting down recipes to try at home and when I spotted homemade baked chicken nuggets, I took the bait! The family loved these, so they quickly became a regular on our dinner rotation!
How to Make
Back then, with 3 children aged 2-8 and a picky husband, it was nearly impossible to make a dinner that everyone would eat without complaining. But McDonald’s chicken nuggets seemed to be popular with the wee ones, and I was determined to make a healthier, more appealing version.
With a simple coating of Parmesan and crushed croutons with a few dried herbs thrown into the mix, these baked chicken nuggets were hailed a success by all of us!! I was delighted that these nuggets were made with real chunks of chicken breasts instead of ground chicken breasts and skin. Ewww. Somehow the former seems so much more wholesome, right?
The process is to dip chunks of boneless, skinless chicken breasts into melted butter, coat with the crumb mixture, and bake. It’s as easy as that. Read on for tips and a detailed recipe.
Expert Tips
Even though this recipe uses a bag or box of seasoned croutons, they’re much healthier than their fast-food counterparts! Here are a few tips for making baked chicken nuggets at home.
- Cut your chicken breasts into cubes while the chicken is still slightly frozen. You will be able to make nicer looking nuggets with better control over the slicing.
- Wait until the chicken pieces are defrosted before dipping them into the butter. Very cold chicken will make the melted butter congeal and then the coating will not stick.
- PRO-Tip: I like to have two pie plates for dipping, one with melted butter and the second with the breading. Your fingers will get a little messy, but it’s worth it to get all the nuggets well-coated. If you’re a pro, you’ll keep one hand for dipping and the other hand clean. Somehow that never happens when I’m cooking.
- A dose of herbs makes for the most flavorful result. I love the combination of basil and thyme added to the crumbs to give a boost of spice. No salt is needed as the croutons and Parmesan provide plenty.
- PRO-Tip: Line your baking sheet with heavy-duty foil for easy cleanup. Not necessary, but an option I use frequently.
- Bake until browned and crispy, about 25 minutes. Time will vary depending on the size of your nuggets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the ingredients in McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets: Ingredients: White Boneless Chicken, Water, Vegetable Oil (Canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil), Enriched Flour (Bleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Bleached Wheat Flour, Yellow Corn Flour, Vegetable Starch (Modified Corn, Wheat, Rice, Pea, Corn), Salt, Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Calcium Lactate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Spices, Yeast Extract, Lemon Juice Solids, Dextrose, Natural Flavors.
Here are the ingredients in my chicken nuggets: White Boneless, Skinless Chicken, Butter, Seasoned Croutons, Grated Parmesan Cheese, Dried Basil, Dried Thyme. Note: there are more ingredients included in the croutons, but not nearly as many chemicals as a fast food option.
The calories for one quarter of this recipe or one serving is 441 calories, very similar to 8 fast-food chicken nuggets. Since there are no fillers, the protein content is 2 1/2 times greater in my homemade version.
The time will vary depending upon whether your nuggets are precooked or uncooked as well as whether they’re right from the freezer or homemade. The size of the nuggets is another variable. These freshly made chicken nuggets take about 25 minutes in a 400º oven to fully cook.
To make these chicken nuggets as crispy on the bottom as they are on the top, place an oven-safe wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Place the uncooked chicken nuggets on the rack and bake as directed.
The heat of the oven will be able to circulate, reach, and brown the underside of the nuggets using this technique. Serve immediately so they don’t have time to “sweat” on the sheet pan.
They were invented in the 1960s by Robert C. Baker in a Cornell University Lab. He dehydrated ground chicken and mixed it with binders. Chicken nuggets were first marketed as chicken sticks and were instantly a hit in New York State.
You May Also Like
Would you like to make more copycat fast food recipes at home? Here are some fun recipes to try.
- Slow Cooker Copycat Wendy’s Chili from the Real Housemoms
- Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese from Rachel Cooks
- Homemade {Baked} Chick-fil-A Sandwiches from Barefeet in the Kitchen Plus my
- Classic Coleslaw with Buttermilk Dressing
- Plus, this Easy Chicken Stir Fry tastes as if it came from your favorite Chinese restaurant!
- Check out all my Best Main Dish Recipes, too.
Stay in touch through social media @ Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes! And if you love the results, please give it a 5-star rating in the recipe card. Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit my Amazon Store for my favorite products.
Herbed Chicken Nuggets
An easy, delicious weeknight meal that will please the whole family. Adapted from Southern Living.
Ingredients
- 5 ounces seasoned croutons, processed or crushed into crumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º. Cover large baking sheet with foil (or just lightly grease baking sheet).
- Place crushed croutons, Parmesan, basil and thyme in a pie plate and mix to combine.
- Pour melted butter into a second pie plate. Dip chicken pieces in melted butter, then crouton mix. Place on large baking sheet.
- Bake 20-25 minutes, till lightly browned.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 441Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 724mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 45g
35 Comments on “Homemade Chicken Nuggets Recipe”
One of my favorite easy weeknight meals!! My kids enjoy this every time!
Delicious recipes, My kids love & enjoy this recipe
These are great! A little work but well worth it. I might make a big batch before the grand kids show up next time!
Making a healthier version of a dish that kids love is always the way to go. The croutons definitely add to the crunch.
these nuggets prove that you don’t have to be a kid to love chicken nuggets. So good. Who would want the fake nuggets after eating these. Happy 4th Liz!
These nuggets are a family favorite! I can count on my family to gobble these up and not even miss the drive-through!
These are really good! The kids loved them and I thought they were super easy to make!
It’s no wonder this recipe is a favorite! You majorly upgraded chicken nuggets & I cannot wait to try them!
–I’ve seen this butter recently! I shall buy and make these little gems! xx
Lizzy,
It’s no wonder these are a family favorite, they look delicious. You’re so good to keep everyone happy.
Annamaria
Well now! Who wouldn’t be satisfied with butter dipped chicken?!!!
I’m happy just looking at them and thinking of that warm melted butter bath….this one is a definite keeper, Lizzy!
xo,
Tammy<3
I’ve heard lots of good things about Kerry Gold and would love to try it. These nuggets are so much better than the fast food fakes. Nothing like having real chicken nuggets!
These chicken nuggets look awesome, so flavoursome!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I think my whole family will love this chicken nuggets as well!
I’m picky too….you cope lol. And yepp-I’d love these nuggets!!
My children are crazy for chicken nuggets. I gotta try your recipe with herbs and Parmesan cheese.
Ooh, serious yum. And I don’t even have a persnickety palate. 🙂
I can certainly understand how the whole family would enjoy the chicken nuggets. It has to be a real challenge to cook for picky eaters.
Nice idea, Liz. I bet these are really delicious!
I love that golden herbed coating, these look like a winner!
They might be persnickety, but at least they know a good thing when they see it! These sound great, Liz and I am sure they would be a favorite anywhere!
Thanks for sharing! I’m going to try these for my kids. Much healthier than frozen nuggets.
Haha!! Love Shirley Tay’s comment. How funny! These sound good, Liz…great for a picky husband and daughter. It seems you have a real challenge on your hands. I had the same with my boys when they were growing up. LOL I used to have to make something for each of them.
These look delicious- you can see the flavor in those nuggets!
Yup, my kids love nuggets. Sometimes it seems like the only things they like are burgers, nuggets, pizza, and mac & cheese. This sounds like a good way to make it tasty for all of us!
Don’t these look happy! I love that they’re baked.
p.s. is there any way for viewers to get only one video sound when they visit? Like a button to push that I don’t know about? I open 4-5 blogs at a time and then I race around to find which one has the automatic videos because I can hear two. Then I found it was two on yours going off at the same time.
Ugh. So sorry I dislike audio on blogs…and it irks me that I had it x2. If I can figure out which ads are the culprits, I’ll see if I can opt out. Thanks for letting me know, Maureen.
My great-nephew would LOVE these darling nuggets…Er, a few Ninja adults might like the tasty golden nuggets, too =) Presume seasoned panko would work, too.
looks delicious!! 🙂
I will devour the whole bowl! They look so crunchy and tasty.
Liz, I’ll be happy to enjoy every dish you make. 🙂 especially these nuggets. Yum!
Yum! I love chicken nuggets-a total guilty pleasure.
they look perfect with a nice crispy coating and that Parmesan chesse adds such a wonderful flavor!
Gosh, this is probably the kinkiest nuggets I’ve seen! Pass me some, won’t you?? xoxo
The nuggets look great Liz, might be something new to try for Sunday dinner:@)