Homemade Chicken Nuggets are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and made completely from scratch with simple ingredients. These bite-sized golden nuggets are perfect for kids and adults alike, offering a nostalgic, crave-worthy crunch with every bite—way better than anything from a drive-thru.
Homemade Chicken Nuggets are crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor thanks to a seasoned panko crust—perfect for dipping, snacking, or mealtime favorites.
Why These Homemade Chicken Nuggets Are the Best
- Real Chicken: Made with boneless chicken breasts or thighs for juicy, flavorful nuggets.
- Crispy Coating: A seasoned breadcrumb or panko coating gives them that irresistible crunch.
- Golden and Delicious: Shallow fried or baked until perfectly golden and crisp.
- Kid-Friendly and Adult-Approved: Everyone will love these crispy bites dipped in their favorite sauce.
- No Weird Additives: Just real ingredients you can feel good about feeding your family.
Once you try these homemade nuggets, you’ll never go back to store-bought.
Ingredient Notes
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: Serve as the tender, juicy base for the nuggets, easy to cut and quick to cook.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Provide a light, extra-crispy coating that turns golden and crunchy when baked or fried.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances the natural flavor of the chicken and helps season the coating evenly.
- Seasoning: A flavorful blend of spices that adds depth, zest, and a savory kick to the breading.
- Eggs: Help bind the breadcrumbs to the chicken pieces, ensuring a crisp and even coating.
- Milk: Loosens the egg mixture slightly, allowing for better coverage and adhesion of the bread in.
Tips for Making the Best Chicken Nuggets
- Cut Evenly: Dice the chicken into uniform pieces for even cooking.
- Double Dip: For extra crunch, dip the chicken in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs or panko.
- Season Every Layer: Add spices to both the flour and the breadcrumb mix for flavor all the way through.
- Use a Wire Rack: If baking, place nuggets on a wire rack so the bottoms stay crispy too.
- Don’t Overcook: Fry or bake just until golden—overcooking can dry them out.
Serving Suggestions
- With Dipping Sauces: Serve with ketchup, ranch, honey mustard, BBQ sauce, or your favorite dip.
- With Fries or Veggies: Pair with baked fries, carrot sticks, or a fresh side salad for a balanced meal.
- As a Snack or Appetizer: Perfect for parties, game days, or movie nights.
- On a Nugget Platter: Serve them with multiple sauces and toppings for a fun, DIY nugget board.
- Freeze for Later: Make a big batch and freeze—reheat in the oven or air fryer for a quick meal.
A Must Try
Crunchy, golden, and bursting with real chicken flavor, these Homemade Chicken Nuggets are a total win. Whether you fry them for that classic crunch or bake them for a lighter twist, they’ll come out juicy and delicious every time. Serve them fresh and hot with your favorite dipping sauce, and watch them disappear fast—they’re that good!
Homemade Chicken Nuggets are crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor thanks to a seasoned panko crust—perfect for dipping, snacking, or mealtime favorites.
Be sure to check out these other delicious recipes!
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1.5 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Go ahead and crank up your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place a non-stick skillet over medium heat and toss in the panko breadcrumbs. Stir them around for 30–60 seconds until they turn lightly golden and start to smell toasty and delicious.
- Pour them into a medium bowl, whisk in the salt and your seasoning(garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, ground black pepper, dried parsley), then set it aside for later!
- In another medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk until nice and smooth—this will help everything stick later! Set that bowl aside for now.
- Next, grab a large baking sheet, line it with an oven-safe wire rack, and give it a good spray with nonstick cooking spray so nothing sticks while baking.
- Now for the fun part! Take one chicken cube at a time and dip it into the egg mixture—let the extra drip off so it’s not too soggy. Then use tongs to roll it around in the breadcrumb mixture until it’s fully coated and crispy-looking. Pop each nugget onto the wire rack, making sure to leave about an inch of space between them so they bake up nice and golden all around.
- Give the tops of your chicken nuggets a good spray with nonstick olive oil spray—this helps them get extra crispy in the oven! Bake them for 15–20 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and fully cooked.
- Want to be sure they’re done? Stick a meat thermometer into one—you're looking for 165°F (74°C).
- Serve these golden nuggets hot with your favorite dipping sauce—BBQ, honey mustard, ketchup, you name it!
- Want to take the crispiness up a notch? Try pan-frying them in a little neutral oil over medium heat until they’re beautifully golden and cooked through. Yum!
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Homemade Chicken Nuggets are crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor thanks to a seasoned panko crust—perfect for dipping, snacking, or mealtime favorites.