Kids -and adults- love chicken nuggets! They’re a delicious and easy option for the school lunch box.
I developed this recipe to get moist, crispy bites that would be perfect with some ketchup, barbecue or honey mustard.
Avid cooks know that it takes more than just following recipes carefully but also learning how basic ingredients work together in new ways – so both are key to these tasty treats!
Why do we marinate chicken before cooking?
Marinating your chicken in the fridge for a little over 30 minutes before cooking it will make sure that you get all of the juiciness and tenderness that is desired. This method also helps to prevent dry meats, as well as adding an extra flavor dimension!
What is the breading of chicken nuggets made of?
Traditionally, chicken nuggets breading starts with dipping marinated chicken pieces into flour and in a beaten egg. Finally, they get their typical crispiness from a coat of seasoned bread crumbs.
My recipe is a bit different. I added Honey Nut Cheerios –who sponsored this recipe video– as a coating to have an extra crunch. Additionally, it adds some mild sweetness to this delicious meal!
The recipe below will make your mouth water! It is the perfect back-to-school meal to serve at home or to take out.
You can enjoy these chicken nuggets with friends and family in less than an hour’s worth of cooking time.
Classical vs fun shapes
Fun shapes are a good way to make food more enticing for kids. I processed chicken breast pieces at home, to mold nuggets in fun shapes.
I used cookie cutters and it isn’t too complicated to add some extra fun to this dish.
Overall, the ingredients are simple to find locally or online as well -they’re even available on Amazon. You can click the links in the ingredients to check them out, is that simple!
Delicious baked chicken nuggets
Equipment
- Food processor
- Baking tray
- Baking net
Ingredients
Marinade
- 2 tsp of minced garlic
- ¼ cup of pickle juice
- 3 tbsps of white vinegar
- ¾ cup of whole milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For shaped nuggets, add half of an egg, beaten, and about ¼ cup whole wheat flour afterward.
Coatings
- 2 cups of Honey Nut Cheerios, crushed
- 1 cup of wheat flour
- 1½ cup of whole milk with one egg beaten in it
- Cooking oil spray
Mustard and honey sauce
- 3 tbsps Dijon mustard
- 1½ tbsp honey
Instructions
- To make the juiciest nuggets, we need to start with a marinade.
- Add into a bowl the garlic, pickle juice, vinegar, milk, salt, and pepper. Then mix everything well and put it aside.
- Nuggets can be done in two ways: using uneven chicken pieces or making fun shapes.
Uneven chicken pieces
- Cut the chicken breasts into pieces of about an inch and a half wide. Then the chicken pieces will go into the marinade pool.Mix and make sure to cover well the chicken pieces.
Fun shapes
- Add the marinade to the whole breasts, covering well the chicken pieces.Cover both preparations with plastic wrap and stick them in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Coating
- In the meantime, let's prepare our coatings. The chicken will have to go through three layers.Spread flour on a plate. In a separate bowl, combine milk and a beaten egg.Crush Honey Nut Cheerios in a food processor until you get a flour-like consistency. If you don't have a food processor, check the video at 2:39 for an alternative method 🙂You'll have enough time to prepare your homemade sauces too.
- Prepare a baking net over a tray with oil spray. Then pass each chicken piece through the flour, the milk mixture, and coat with the Honey Nut Cheerios crunchy layer.
- Leave the nuggets on the oiled baking net.
- To make the nuggets with fun shapes, take the marinated breasts. Cover and grind the chicken in a food processor for a few minutes until you obtain a paste. Add whole wheat flour and an egg to the chicken paste. Mix with the same food processor until you have a malleable dough, perfect to shape it the way we want!
- Place parchment paper on a clean surface and put your preferred cookie cutters on it.
- Smear some butter on the inside of the molds. Then, with a couple of spoons, take some chicken dough and put it in the molds.
- Press well so that it takes the desired shape and then release it pushing a little. Try not to make them thicker than the width of your finger.
- Then, follow the same coating process with the three layers we did before. Put the shapes breaded nuggets in the tray and spray with oil on top.
- Put the nuggets in a preheated oven at 435 °F (220 °C) for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let the nuggets cool for a few minutes before serving.
- And enjoy with your favorite sauce!
Honey Dijon mustard
- Add Dijon mustard and honey in a small container and mix well.
Sriracha BBQ ketchup
- Add ketchup, bbq sauce, and sriracha in a small container and mix well.
Video
Notes
If you liked this chicken nuggets recipe, you might like some of my other recipes too. You can check them here.
And remember, if you try this recipe and want to share your pictures, remember to tag me @lacooquette on Instagram. I’d love to share your pictures on my IG stories.
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