My family and I are obsessed with these healthy homemade chicken nuggets. I mean, who doesn’t love crispy, tender chicken nuggets dipped in your favorite sauces? This recipe tastes even better than the drive-thru version and will hit the spot when you get a craving for fast-food. The only difference is that this chicken nugget recipe is actually good for you, and is made from healthy ingredients— unlike fast-food chains!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The kids will love it. My kids are always asking me to make them these healthy homemade chicken nuggets. They love to dip it in all their favorite sauces and eat with their hands. It’s a great way for them to get their protein in— without it feeling like a chore. Me and my husband also love the flavor of these chicken nuggets, and it brings us down memory lane (back to when we used to eat fast-food as kids!)
- It’s actually good for you. When you make DIY chicken nuggets, you get to control the quality of ingredients that go into them. Fast-food chains often use low-quality meat, coat their nuggets in GMO flour and added flavoring, then fry them in highly-inflammatory oils like canola or soybean oil.
- It’s so easy to make! This recipe is made in under 45 minutes and uses ingredients you likely already have in your pantry! Plus, you can opt to bake or fry the nuggets depending on your preference.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1.5 lbs boneless chicken breast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp white or black pepper
To Coat the Chicken
- 1 cup cornstarch
For the Batter
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup water
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
For Frying
- Tallow, lard, avocado oil or coconut oil
How to Make Healthy Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Prepare the Chicken
Cut chicken breasts into small chunks. Add them to a food processor with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and egg. Blend until finely ground.
Shape and Coat
Place cornstarch in a bowl. Wet your hands and form the chicken mixture into nugget shapes. Coat each one in cornstarch and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Make the Batter
In a bowl, whisk together egg, water, flour, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard, and pepper until a thick but runny batter forms.
Dip into Batter
Dip the nuggets into the batter and shake off any excess.
Cooking Options
Oven Method:
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake nuggets for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway, until internal temp reaches 165°F (74°C).
Fry Method:
Heat oil in a deep pan to 350°F (175°C). Fry in batches for 5 minutes, flipping halfway. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. For extra crispness, fry again for 5 more minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
Serve
Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauces: honey mustard, BBQ, sweet & sour, etc.
To Bake or Fry the Chicken Nuggets
You can choose to either bake or fry these healthy homemade chicken nuggets, depending on your preference. The nuggets will still come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside whether you bake or fry them. However, if you want a more traditional chicken nugget flavor, you may want to opt for frying the nuggets in a cast iron or skillet of choice. Always choose a high-quality oil for frying— like tallow, lard, avocado oil or coconut oil.
Make Ahead of Time
One of my favorite busy mom hacks it to batch prep kitchen staples to have on hand for when I’m in need of a nourishing meal in a pinch. Whenever I make these chicken nuggets for dinner, I always make a second batch to store in the freezer. These chicken nuggets last up to 4 months in the freezer. You can store them either raw or cooked, and pop them out whenever you’re in need of a quick meal. The best part is you don’t even have to thaw the nuggets out, you can bake them right from frozen.
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Equipment
- Food Processor
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1.5 lbs boneless chicken breasts
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp white or black pepper
For Shaping
- 1 cup cornstarch
For the Batter
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
For Frying
- tallow, lard, avocado oil or coconut oil
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts into small chunks. Add them to a food processor with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and egg. Blend until finely ground.
- Place cornstarch in a bowl. Wet your hands and form the chicken mixture into nugget shapes. Coat each one in cornstarch and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- In a bowl, whisk together egg, water, flour, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard, and pepper until a thick but runny batter forms.
- Dip the nuggets into the batter and shake off any excess.
For Frying
- Heat oil in a deep pan to 350°F (175°C). Fry in batches for 5 minutes, flipping halfway. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. For extra crispness, fry again for 5 more minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
For Baking
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake nuggets for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway, until internal temp reaches 165°F (74°C).
To Serve
- Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauces: honey mustard, BBQ, sweet & sour, etc.
Notes
Want to Learn How to Make More Healthy Recipes From Scratch?
Once you start swapping store-bought staples for healthier, homemade alternatives– you won’t ever go back! There is nothing better than creating wholesome meals for your family that are nourishing and delicious! Which is why I created a recipe guide full of healthier, from-scratch versions of your favorite kitchen staples that you and your family will love. Grab a copy today, and fill your kitchen with delicious and simple recipes just like this one!
Did you make my healthy homemade chicken nuggets recipe? Let me know in the comments! And to explore the latest recipes on the blog, check out my recent posts: