Name: Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast or tenders; 1 1/4 cups panko bread crumbs; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 1/2 tsp paprika; 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp sea salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1 large egg; olive oil cooking spray (or other non-stick spray)

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These are the best homemade chicken nuggets that I promise your whole family will love! All you need are a few ingredients for a healthier than fast food chicken nugget recipe.

Homemade chicken nuggets on a silver platter with ketchup and french fries.

The Best Chicken Nuggets Recipe

Anyone else live off of chicken nuggets when they were a kid? Yeah…me too. And apparently the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree because so does my daughter.

I try to remind myself that my very picky tastes as a kid turned into a food blogger as an adult so change really is possible! In the meantime, I’m determined to feed her homemade chicken nuggets because let’s be real, they’re far superior to the store-bought versions.

This chicken nuggets recipe is actually the best. They’re crispy on the outside and tender on the inside without pan frying or air frying. As much as I love the air fryer, space is a major limitation and I prefer to make my chicken nugget recipe in big batches. Though fear not, I’ve also included air fryer instructions below.

If my very picky daughter is any indication, these homemade chicken nuggets are truly a hit!

Ingredients in Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Chicken – you’ll want to use boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into roughly 1 inch cubes.
Panko breadcrumbs – you can also use regular breadcrumbs but panko really do add a nice crispiness
Spices – garlic powder, paprika, onion powder and salt and pepper. These add such good flavor so don’t skip!
Egg – you’ll need eggs to help bind the panko and spices to the chicken.
Olive oil cooking spray – this is the secret ingredient that ensures your chicken nuggets stay crispy in the oven. You could use any cooking spray but I prefer olive oil.

Note: you will also next a wire rack that can fit over a baking sheet. Baking your chicken nugget recipe on a wire rack ensures that the heat circulates around the nuggets and they are evenly cooked.

How to Make Homemade Chicken Nuggets

STEP 1: MIX DRY INGREDIENTS

In a shallow bowl combine panko, spices and salt and pepper.

panko breadcrumb mixture for chicken nuggets

STEP 2: WHISK EGGS + COAT CHICKEN

In a small bowl whisk egg. Using one hand, dip a chicken cube into the egg and then using the same hand remove it and place it into the panko spice mixture.

dipping chicken nuggets in panko breadcrumbs

STEP 3: COAT CHICKEN WITH DRY INGREDIENTS

Using the other hand toss the chicken in the panko spice mixture. Remove with hand and place onto wire rack. Repeat until all chicken has been coated with egg and panko mix.

homemade chicken nuggets on a wire rack before baking.

STEP 4: BAKE CHICKEN

Spray chicken with olive oil spray to give it a light coating. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is golden brown and inside is tender and no longer pink. Internal temperature of chicken should reach 165 F before serving.

Baked chicken nuggets recipe on a wire rack

Can I make Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer?

Yes you can! While I prefer to make these homemade chicken nuggets in the oven (you can cook more at once), you can also make them in the air fryer.

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
Place chicken into the basket in small batches and cook for 10-12 minutes (flipping halfway through). Repeat until all nuggets have been cooked.

Storage + Freezing

One of the main reasons I love this homemade chicken nuggets recipe is because it is amazing for meal prep. You can make a big batch at once and then freeze.

In the fridge– store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in oven, toaster oven, microwave or air fryer.

In the freezer – let chicken cool and then transfer them to a clean baking sheet. Place in the freezer for 2-3 hours and then transfer them to a ziplock bag to freeze for 3 months. Reheat them in the oven or air fryer.

chicken nugget recipe with a bite in it on a silver platter with ketchup.

What to Serve with Chicken Nuggets

You cannot go wrong serving your homemade chicken nuggets with a dipping sauce like ketchup, honey mustard, bbq sauce or ranch dressing. That being said, if you want to complete the meal, here are some ideas:

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