Serve these nuggets with Buttered Noodles, Potato Wedges, French Fries, or Broccoli Mac and Cheese!
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
If my daughter asks for Chicken Nuggets for dinner one more time, I think she is going to turn into one. š So needless to say, I much prefer to makeĀ homemade chicken nuggets from real chicken.Ā I like to buy my own organic free range chicken and grind it myself in the food processor, but you can also purchase ground chicken at the store and skip that step! These are made with an easy panade (a simple mixture of milk and bread), which keeps the meat nice and juicy (vs. heavy and dense). When meat cooks, the proteins expand and contract and in doing so, moisture escapes. The starch in the panade turns to a gel when cooked and lubricates the fibers in the meat as it cooks. I like to brush these nuggets with a little bit of butter to get them extra golden and flavorful, but a light coating of cooking spray will also work! Letās get into everything you need to know so that you can make these in bulk and freeze them for easy chicken nugget dinners for you and the kids! (I love freezer food.)
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions. Combine the bread, milk, garlic salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. (This is called a panadeĀ and it keeps the chicken juicy/prevents it from becoming dense when it cooks.) Add the ground chicken to a large bowl and use your hands to gently incorporate the panade. Donāt overmix. Use a Tablespoon to scoop up the chicken and form nugget shapes.
Brush whisked egg over the nuggets and coat in breadcrumb mixture.
Bake at 375Ā° for 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush each side with melted butter. Bake for 8 more minutes. Let them rest for a few minutes prior to serving.
To Fry in a Skillet
Heat 1 inch of vegetable or canola oil in a dutch oven to 350 degrees. Fry the chicken in batches on each side until golden, 2-3 minutes per side. Donāt overcrowd the pan or the edges wonāt get crispy. Use kitchen tongs to remove and set on a wire cooling rack.
Air Fryer Method
Brush the top and bottom of the nuggets with 3 TBS butter or spray with canola oil. Air fry at 400 degrees for 8 minutes. Flip them halfway through.
To Bake From Frozen
If you plan on freezing, flash freeze the unbaked nuggets on a plate in the freezer for an hour, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes.
Pro Tips
You can make your own ground chicken by placing cubes of chicken breasts in a food processor and pulsing to the right consistency. (Youāll need about 2 small chicken breasts for a pound.) Boneless chicken thighs can also be used. Crushed Cornflakes can be used instead of breadcrumbs if desired. They are more golden in color so the butter is not as necessary for color but can still be added for taste.
Storage
Refrigerating Leftovers: These are best if enjoyed fresh from the oven, however you can refrigerate them for up to 3 days and reheat in a 350Ā° oven. Freezing: Flash freeze the unbaked nuggets on a plate in the freezer for an hour, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. See section above for instructions on baking from frozen.
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