The Best Homemade Chicken Nuggets Recipe (Crispy & Kid-Approved)
Chicken nuggets are a family favorite dinner that most kids devour! If you’re like me, you want to serve your family real chicken! This easy recipe has been my go-to homemade chicken nugget recipe for years! It’s perfectly seasoned, simple to make and kid-approved.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Ingredients you’ll need
These homemade chicken nuggets are made with just a few common pantry spices!
Here is what you’ll need:
1 cup
all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons
seasoning salt
1 teaspoon
paprika
1 teaspoon
poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon
ground mustard
1 teaspoon
chili powder
1/2 teaspoon
black pepper
4
chicken breasts
your choice
oil for frying, I typically use olive oil, tallow or lard
Using fresh-milled flour?
This is the perfect recipe to use your excess flour jar! Any grain will do. If you are milling specifically for this recipe, I would use a mild wheat such as soft white wheat.
What’s the Best Cut of Chicken for Chicken Nuggets?
I prefer chicken breast or chicken tenderloins to make chicken nuggets. However, boneless chicken thighs are a great choice. Dark chicken meat is known to be juicer and more flavorful than white meat. Cooking times should be similar when using boneless meat. This recipe is not for ground chicken.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Whisk the flour and seasonings together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Step 2: Remove skin and debone the chicken if needed. Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
Step 3: Pour enough oil in the skillet for the chicken pieces to be partially submerged, approximately 3/4 to 1 Inch deep. Heat oil to 350 degrees to 375 degrees.
Step 4: Coat chicken pieces in seasoning blend. I like to do this step as I go. This prevents the seasoning from falling off the chicken from over-handling.
Step 5: Fry chicken in small batches to help keep the oil hot. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, turning once.
Step 6: Using a metal spatula, remove chicken nuggets from oil when golden brown. Drain excess oil in a single layer on a paper towel-lined baking sheet or wire rack. If making a large batch, you may want to put the finished chicken nuggets in the oven to keep them warm.
Toss chicken nuggets in seasoning mix to coat.- Fry chicken nuggets in hot oil.
- Cook only a few minutes per side, remove when golden brown,
- Drain chicken nuggets on a papertowel.
Tips to Avoid Soggy Chicken Nuggets
The Perfect Dipping Sauce
Chicken nuggets are made even better when paired with the perfect dipping sauce!
What’s your favorite?
The Perfect Side Dishes
I like to keep my sides simple when serving chicken nuggets but the sky is the limit! My favorite side is homemade macaroni and cheese. Other great choices are French fries, onion rings, or corn on the cob!
One Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe
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Do You Love Fondue?
My family loves to fondue! These chicken nuggets are perfect! When preparing for fondue, coat the chicken pieces in the breading mixture and serve on a plate lined with parchment paper or give each person a small bowl of chicken nuggets. Each person uses their fondue fork to select a piece of chicken and fry it. Be careful! Chicken nuggets will be hot!
Left Over Storage
At our house, leftover chicken nuggets are rare! If you are lucky enough to have any leftovers, store in an airtight container in the fridge. Chicken nuggets can also be spread out in a single layer to flash freeze in bite size pieces. Once frozen, transfer individual frozen chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the freezer until needed. I prefer to bake leftover chicken nuggets.
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FAQ
This recipe is less of a breading and more of a seasoning. The flour acts as a binder to adhere the seasoning blend to the chicken. The flour also gives these chicken nuggets a light crunchy texture.
Cook the chicken in small batches in hot cooking oil. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a warm oven (or serve immediately).
Since this is a light seasoning blend, not a heavy batter, you shouldn’t have trouble with the coating falling of the chicken nuggets. However, over-handling coated chicken can remove the coating. I like to coat the chicken as I cook.
YES! Sometimes I make a double batch, using half for the meal I am preparing and putting the other half in a mason jar for a busy night. Any mix that is exposed to raw chicken should be discarded after use.
The Best Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons seasoning salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 chicken breasts
- your choice of oil for frying
Instructions
- Whisk the flour and seasonings together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Remove skin and debone the chicken if needed. Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
- Pour enough oil in the skillet for the chicken pieces to be partially submerged, approximately 3/4 to 1 Inch deep. Heat oil to 350℉ to 375℉
- Coat chicken pieces in seasoning blend.
- Fry chicken in small batches to help keep the oil hot. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, turning once.
- Using a metal spatula, remove chicken nuggets from oil when golden brown. Drain excess oil in a single layer on a paper towel-lined baking sheet or wire rack.
Nutrition
About the Author: Barbra-Sue Kowalski grew up on a small hobby farm. She was always drawn to farm life, however, she was stuck in an urban life far from her roots. Barbra-Sue was a single mom for 13 years, raising her 3 children on her own. She met Philip in 2018 and they married in 2021. Between the two of them, they have 5 grown children and 7 grandchildren. These empty nesters are following their dreams! As they both turn 50, they are building their off-grid homestead to live the life that they dream about. Learn more about Philip and Barbra-Sue here. Contact them here. To leave a comment on this post, please scroll down.
OMG! These are so good and SO easy! The perfect amount of flavor and crispiness!