I got a burn on my belly when I was pregnant thanks to these healthy baked chicken nuggets. Rewind to when I was pregnant with Sidney: I was making this exact recipe in a crop top when I bumped my 9-month belly into the HOT baking sheet. I can STILL see the scar and that’s one of the reasons why I’ll always remember making these delicious little tender bites.
Another reason I love them? Tony said they’re officially his favorite chicken nuggets. He couldn’t stop raving about them. And that’s saying a lot considering he basically lived off fast food for a few years post-college.
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What can I say — they’re truly the BEST healthy chicken nuggets ever.
The first time I tested this recipe I was blown away by just how crispy and flavorful these baked chicken nuggets were. The seasoning is based off my paleo chicken tenders (which I LOVE) but this time I was going for a version that was a little crunchier and one that could even give Chick-Fil-A a run for its money.
The results were FANTASTIC. Seriously tender. So flavorful. Crispy. Perfectly dippable. Outrageously good. ALL THE ADJECTIVES.
Ingredients in baked chicken nuggets
Not only is this healthy baked chicken nuggets recipe quick to make, dairy free, perfectly spiced and requires minimal ingredients that you might even have in your kitchen right now! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Chicken: I use boneless, skinless chicken breast and cut it into 1 inch cubes.
- Breadcrumbs: the outside of the chicken nuggets get nice and crispy thanks to panko breadcrumbs! You can easily use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs to keep the nuggets gluten-free.
- Olive oil cooking spray: using cooking spray is a KEY to the crispy outside as well. You’ll learn why below.
- Spices: these chicken nuggets get their flavor from onion powder, paprika, a bit of cayenne pepper (if you like a little heat), garlic powder, salt & pepper.
- Eggs & milk: you’ll need both to help the breadcrumbs stick to the cubes of chicken. I used almond milk to keep the recipe dairy free!
- Dipping sauces: have fun with aaall of the sauces like honey mustard (try the homemade one in this recipe!), ketchup or your favorite BBQ sauce for dipping!
The secrets to crispy baked chicken nuggets in the oven
- Toast your breadcrumbs. This is essential for making crispy baked chicken nuggets. You’ll just need to toast the breadcrumbs in the oven for 5 minutes or so before tossing them with the spices and then the chicken. This is a crucial step for getting that deliciously crispy texture on the outside that tastes even better than the fried version.
- Use a wire rack. This will not only prevent sticking but will also allow the chicken nuggets to bake up nice and crispy on all sides. If you don’t have a wire rack, that’s okay, you can just flip them halfway through baking.
- Use cooking spray. You’ll want to not only spray the breadcrumbs with olive oil cooking spray before baking them, but you’ll also want to spray the assembled chicken nuggets once more before tossing them in the oven. This will ensure that they get that wonderful, golden brown color!
How to make healthy chicken nuggets
- Toast your breadcrumbs. As I mentioned above, this is essential to getting perfectly crispy chicken nuggets. Add your breadcrumbs to a large baking sheet, spray them with nonstick olive oil cooking spray, and bake them for a few minutes (stirring halfway through).
- Add your spices. Transfer your baked breadcrumbs to a bowl and mix in all of those delicious spices.
- Make the egg mixture. In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs and almond milk.
- Assemble the nuggets. Use tongs to dip each chicken cube in the egg mixture, then toss it into the breadcrumb mixture until it’s completely coated. Transfer the nuggets to a prepared wire rack.
- Bake & serve. Lastly, spray the tops of the chicken nuggets with more cooking spray and bake them up! Serve with your fav dipping sauces and our suggested sides below.
What to serve with baked chicken nuggets
Besides dipping sauces (which are obviously key) I love serving these baked chicken nuggets with a hearty salad or veggies, baked sweet potato fries, or maybe a scoop of homemade mac and cheese. CAN I GET A YUM?! Grab these recipes for your next weeknight dinner:
- Balsamic Herb Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables
- Buffalo Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Spicy Cashew Thai Chickpea Broccoli Salad
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes
- Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese
- Homemade Slow Cooker Baked Beans
- Caramelized Garlic Carrots with Spicy Cilantro Yogurt Sauce
Get all of my side dish recipes here!
Adult-friendly ways to enjoy homemade chicken nuggets
Chicken nuggets aren’t just for kids! I LOVE making extra for myself and Tony as a yummy protein boost to salads, bowls, and more. Try adding these to:
- Spicy Ranch Chopped Chicken Cabbage Salad
- Everything Spring Green Salad with Basil Lemon Vinaigrette
- Scoop It Up Kale Couscous Salad
- Hot Honey Chicken and Veggie Glow Bowls
- Crunchy Rainbow Thai-Inspired Peanut Chicken Wraps (swap the chicken for crispy nuggets!)
- Copycat Portillo’s Chopped Salad
- Italian Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Vegan Caesar Salad
- Grilled Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
How to store & freeze homemade chicken nuggets
In the fridge: leftover chicken nuggets can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a week. To reheat, place the chicken nuggets on a baking sheet and broil them on high for a couple of minutes until heated through and crispy on the outside.
To freeze & reheat:
- Let the chicken nuggets cool completely before transferring them to a cookie sheet.
- Freeze them on the cookie sheet to ensure that they don’t stick together, then transfer the frozen chicken nuggets to a freezer-safe bag or container and place in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
- To reheat, I’d recommend heating them in the oven so that they’re nice and crispy.
More dinner recipes you’ll love (great for kids!)
- Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole
- 30 Minute Healthier Turkey Sloppy Joes with Homemade Sauce!
- Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup with Mini Turkey Meatballs
- Spinach Bacon Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
- Mom’s Authentic Puerto Rican Rice and Beans
Get all of my kid-friendly dinner ideas here!
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I hope you love these best ever crispy baked chicken nuggets as much as we do. If you make this recipe please leave a comment and rating to let me know how you liked it — I really appreciate it! xo
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
The BEST Crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- Nonstick olive oil cooking spray
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons almond milk (or milk of choice)
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into into 1 inch cubes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Add panko breadcrumbs to a large baking sheet and spread out in an even layer. Spray breadcrumbs with nonstick olive oil cooking spray. Bake for 2 minutes, then stir breadcrumbs (or just give the pan a shake) and then bake for 2-4 minutes or until breadcrumbs are golden brown. Keep heat in the oven.
- Transfer breadcrumbs to a medium bowl. Whisk in spices: salt, black pepper, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder and cayenne pepper (if using). Set aside.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Set aside.
- Line the large baking sheet with an oven safe wire metal rack. Generously spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Dip each chicken cube into the egg mixture, then use a tong to grab each chicken nugget and toss into the breadcrumb mixture to completely coat with breadcrumbs. Use tongs to transfer to the wire rack, placing about 1 inch apart.
- Generously spray the tops of the chicken nuggets with nonstick spray. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until cooked through and temp reaches 165 degrees F with a meat thermometer. Serves 4. Serve with BBQ sauce, honey mustard, ketchup or whatever sauce you’d like!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on January 23rd, 2020, republished on September 21st, 2022, and republished on October 28th, 2024.
Do you think these could be made in the Vortex (air fryer)? If yes, what modifications need to be made?
Thank you
I haven’t tried these in an air fryer so I’m not 100% sure! Let me know if you try it!
Toast the breadcrumbs beforehand – makes so much sense! Can’t wait to try these.
Do you think these would freeze well after cooking them?
Thanks!
It’s a game changer! And I haven’t tried freezing them but I don’t see why not!
Amazing! I have tried many chicken nugget recipes and 2 things made all the difference: toasting the crumbs (why has no one else mentioned that before) and also using the wire rack. My two teenage boys were impressed and they thought they were better than the fried ones I’ve made in the past! We like things on the spicy side, so I used a garlic seasoning with a blackened red pepper seasoning in place of spices in the recipe. Bye Bye unhealthy fast food chicken nuggets! This is easy to make, just a few ingredients and delicious.
The toasted bread crumbs + wire rack are a game changer! So happy the boys love them too.
Made these last night and they satisfied my pregnancy cravings! They were super easy to make, I already had the ingredients at home and they only took 30 minutes. I will definitely be making these again!
So happy to hear that! Such a great, easy dinner 🙂
I made these for dinner tonight and they were awesome! My husband asked me to make a double batch next time and my 10 month old enjoyed them too! And congratulations on your little one!
Amazing! So happy to hear that. And thanks so much, Erin 🙂
This was an easy and delicious recipe! My daughter called them “gourmet chicken nuggets!” They came out crispy just as promised and looked super appetizing. Flavor was perfect. We served with a quick kale salad and it was great!
Amazing! So happy to hear that. Such a great weeknight dinner!
I made these tonight and they were amazing!!! I used to use a different recipe where instead of an egg mixture you dipped the nuggets in butter. I felt like I could never get them crispy enough and the were always a little greasy. These were perfect!! Crispy and so much flavor! My 7 year old said they tasted and smelled like Wendy’s nuggets!! These obviously were a lot more nutritious than a Wendy’s nugget. Thank you Monique for all you do to develop these amazing recipes!!!
This recipe was such a hit with my partner that he said I should always make these again instead of my usually grilled chicken breast’s. We both loved the crispy coating. It was fun and easy to make!
So awesome to hear that!!
Highly recommend! Quick and easy. Kid (and husband)-friendly.
So glad everyone enjoyed!
This was amazing! It was SO much easier and healthier than frying them in oil – and they actually came out crispier bc of the toasted panko and the wire rack. I added an Italian herb mix to the panko and the flavor was great. The picky eaters in my family ate them up. This recipe is definitely a keeper!
Great idea with the Italian herb mix – yum! So glad the whole family loved these!
Kids and husband loved and came
Out super crispy, even on the wire rack probably should have flipped once halfway through to ensure both sides were as crispy.
So glad they both loved these! And yes, feel free to flip halfway through next time 🙂
So quick and easy to prep & so good!!!
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed!
Yum! I would never have thought to toast the panko first and it made all the difference. I skimped a smidge on the spices as I was worried that my kids would think they were too flavorful, but next time I’ll go exactly by the directions. These are easy, tasty and crunchy! The leftovers are getting tossed into a Caesar salad for my teenage daughter’s lunch tomorrow.
It’s a game changer! And LOVE the idea of adding to a Caesar salad – yum!
Made these for dinner tonight and they were amazing!! I’ve never been able to make crispy chicken nuggets at home, but these turned out so crispy and good! This will definitely be a staple recipe for the family
Love it! So happy you enjoyed!
These baked chicken nuggets are the BOMB! I had my hesitations when making them because so many other baked chicken nugget/tender recipes online come out soggy. I think the trick is in toasting the breadcrumbs…extra flavor and extra crispy…GENIUS! I dont have an oven safe wire rack so I just baked them directly on the pan, flipping them halfway. They came out divine. Seriously can’t say enough about these nuggets. But, it’s Monique, after all. She never lets us down!
The toasting is key! So happy you loved them 🙂
Great chicken nuggets can’t wait until the weekend to see if my granddaughter likes them.
These chicken nuggets were delicious!! I made these last night. I did not have a wire rack so I turned them over a couple times!! I have a large family so I doubled the recipe. Needless to say they they all disappeared!!!
Perfect! So glad everyone loved them!
We made these for dinner last night and they were AMAZING! I am a huge chicken nugget fan but my husband usually is not and we both loved them! He even said they were the best chicken nuggets he had ever had and that we HAD to make them again soon. Thanks for the perfect recipe!! Easy and soooo yummy 🙂
Love that!! So delicious!
Monique! Another amazing recipe! My family of 5 loved these nuggets! My 12 year old asked when I can make them again!
So happy to hear that, Trish! Perfect dinner for the kiddos 🙂
Could you toast the breadcrumbs earlier in the day or does it need to be done right before you coat the nuggets?
You could absolutely toast them earlier if you’d like 🙂
Love these and so did my 1 year old and picky husband! Thank you!
So happy to hear that!
I recently found your site and this is the first of your recipes that I have tried. New follower! I followed the recipe exactly and they came out fantastic! The family loved these and it was pretty easy. Thanks for a great recipe!
Amazing! Welcome to Ambitious Kitchen 🙂 so happy you loved these and I hope you keep finding new recipes here to try!
I didn’t have Panko so I used my food processor to crush up salt and pepper kettle chips. Didn’t spray them with oil since they were already oily. They were delicious!!! I will be making these again 🙂
YUM love that idea!! Glad you enjoyed!
So good. Reheated the next day in our AirFryer and they were still so crispy. I will definitely make these again.
Perfect! Such a great dinner 🙂
These are really good, they’re easy to make but are still fun and taste amazing.
Glad you love them!
We made this recipe last night. So good! Toasting the bread crumbs prior to coating the chicken is fantastic and never occurred to me to try. This is the fourth recipe we have made from Ambitious Kitchen in the past few weeks, and all four were a hit with us. Going to try The Best Cinnamon Rolls and One Pan Caribbean Jerk Chicken next.
Such a game changer! I’m so glad you’re finding recipes here that you love 🙂 enjoy the cinnamon rolls and the jerk chicken (two of my favs!)
I opted to brine these in pickle juice for that Chick-fil-A vibe and they were so delicious! Came out crispy and golden brown and the flavor was great, will definitely be adding these to my regular recipe rotation!
Yum! Glad you enjoyed!
How long did you end up brining for?
My 9 year old girl loves it and asking for more!
I didn’t add cayenne pepper and paprika but it’s oh still yummy!
Thank you Ambitious Kitchen 😊
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂
Just made these tonight for dinner and they were delicious!! I wanted to eat all of it in one sitting but managed to resist so I don’t have to cook tomorrow night 🙂 This recipe was really easy to make and is definitely a keeper. Thank you!!!
So happy you loved these!!
Another winner, Monique! My family loved them! Was pleasantly surprised by how well they reheated too.
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂
THIS IS LITERALLY THE BEST RECIPE I HAVE EVER TRIED!
HONESTLY, THIS RECIPE CAN REPLACE MC DONALDS NUGGETS (NOT KIDDING)
Amazing!! So happy to hear that, Naz!
Awesome nuggets. And they really do taste better fried.
So glad you loved them!
Wonderful recipe. The pre-bake on the panko bread crumbs gives it such a great crunch!! I added some additional spices I always add with chicken, came out awesome. Will be part of the regular rotation. My husband said it was his “favorite meal of quarantine.” Thank you!!
Absolutely! So happy you both loved these 🙂
Sorry , I really didn’t like these. Too much cayenne for little ones and otherwise just didn’t have much flavor. The search goes on for the best nuggets
Sorry to hear that! If you try them again feel free to leave out the cayenne and up any of the other spices.
Delicious recipe makes again and again SO crispy and yummy. 5 out of 5 stars I recommend.
So glad you loved them! Perfect dinner 🙂
The chicken nuggets were easy to make, crispy and very tasty!!
So glad you loved them!
I was amazed how much I loved this recipe. I cooked lunch for me and two co-workers, double dredged, fried in Crisco vegetable shortening and baked. The gals loved the baked and I gave them your awesome recipe. Thank you!
So happy to hear that! Sounds delicious 🙂
LOVE! Crunchy, tasty goodness!! My favorite homemade chicken nuggets!! I use Ian’s Gluten Free panko breadcrumbs and they work wonderfully! I also use 2% milk which worked great too.
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed!
Very simple and really good. Impressed by how moist the chicken breast was after being baked. Bye fast food. These are our new chicken bites. Thank you for sharing this! 5 stars plus.
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
The name says it all – these are the BEST! My son LOVES these and requests them. They are crispy and are healthy so a huge win.
So happy to hear that!
I’m always on the lookout for lightened up & fancier versions of my childhood favorites and this recipe does not disappoint! Perfectly balanced in flavor and super crunchy and tender. It’s a win-win!
Same! The best comfort foods 🙂
This has become a regular go-to recipe in our home. We don’t have a wire rack, but they still taste delicious and crispy without one.
Perfect! Love it 🙂
This was wonderful! They came out so crispy and flavorful. Definitely saving this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
Made this for the first time tonight and it most definitely will not be the last. Super easy to make so even a rookie like me can do them. The chicken came out tender and juicy and the breading was DELICIOUS!!! I didn’t want any sauce at all, they are that good!
So happy to hear that! Such a great dinner 🙂
I’ve made these several times and they are SO good! Super simple to make and so crispy. Defiantly a favorite at my house!
Love it! So happy to hear that 🙂
This making was amazing! The ingredients are simple but effective. This was a simple recipe to follow, I thought they would be good. THEY WERE AMAZING! My boyfriend who considers himself a chicken nugget expert was blown away! Definitely will be making these again soon.
Another ambitious kitchen success!
So happy to hear that! One of our favs, too 🙂
What’s the best substitution for a kiddo with an egg allergy? Vegan mayo?
Yes, a vegan mayo would be good, maybe a bit watered down.
Wonderful Baked Crispy chicken nuggets… made a buffalo dioping sauce to go with it served with brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes . Thank you for sharing already have friends asking for the recipe as I posted photos and the recipe on my facebook page
That sounds amazing! So glad you enjoyed 🙂
Obsessed is an understatement. This is one of our go-to weeknight dinners with a roasted veggie. It’s awesome to have a healthier alternative to frozen chicken nuggets. These give Chick-Fil-A a run for their money!
Love that! One of our favs, too 🙂
AMAZING! The seasonings in this recipe are spot on. Also, I never thought to use a rack to ensure both sides of the chicken are cooked well. Such a great tip! This is a new staple in my household.
So happy you found this one! Perfect weeknight dinner 🙂
WOW. best chicken nuggy recipe for real. Roasting the panko before hand? GAME CHANGER! I’ve never made such good chicken nuggets before. Thank you for the great recipe – I’m deleting all my other nuggets recipes now.
Yes!! Glad you loved them!
These honestly were absolutely the BEST chicken nuggets! Who knew toasting the panko would make such a difference. I made these with the brussels sprout mac and cheese. Made both exactly as written. Since discovering this website, I cook at least 2 to 3 meals a week using your recipes. My goal is to make each recipe at least once.
It’s such a game changer! So glad you loved both and are finding lots of recipes here to try 🙂
This was a fun dinner – we enjoyed having a variety of dipping sauces.
Love that idea!!
I just made these recently, and to say that my family loved them is an understatement!! We had run out of panco bread crumbs, so I just made my own, and it still worked out beautifully! Not to mention that the spice combination is amazing!!! Would highly recommend making these!
Amazing! So happy to hear that!
Thank you for this delicious recipe. I made it this evening and my son raved about how fantastic the nuggets were. I followed your recipe exactly. I had brined the chicken overnight in the fridge.
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂
Delicious. Toasting the bread crumbs makes a great difference.
Absolutely! Glad you liked them 🙂
Will using canola oil spray change the recipe?
That should be fine!
just made these and they were AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!! so so so good and crunchy!
So glad you loved them!
These were great! Made as is except I used smoked paprika in place of regular.
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed 🙂
So crunchy!
The best! 🙂
So crispy and tasty!! Definitely recommend making this recipe!!
The best! Glad you loved them!
Happy New Year! Could I follow this exact recipe but use chicken tenders instead of cut up chicken breasts?
Also, I made your cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning (oh my gosh!!) and now today have gone through and saved at least 20 recipes to make this month…thanks for making my meal planning easy!!
Happy New Year to you, too! Yes, I think that would work well 🙂 So glad you loved the cinnamon rolls and I hope you keep finding recipes here that you love!
Haven’t made this yet, but planning to tonight. Would using the convection setting on my oven help?
You shouldn’t need it. Using a wire rack is the best trick to getting these crispy.
Loved these – a new family favorite!
I’m so glad!
Can you make these in a airfryer?
I haven’t tried it but I’m sure you could!
These were so easy and yummy! I highly recommend. If I’m going to eat a chicken nugget, it’s going to be this!
Absolutely! Perfect dinner 🙂
My family is OBSESSEDDDDD with these nuggets. Seriously obsessed. My husband always compares any other nuggets we eat to them and always says “they’re good, but not like yours” aka these. And they couldn’t be easier to make! 10 stars!
Love that!! Perfect dinner 🙂
Sooooo good!
Glad you love them!
Loved the mix of spices! Agreed that toasting the Panko crumbs adds a depth of flavor. Such an easy, healthy and DELICIOUS nugget recipe. Your recipes have yet to disappoint.
Absolutely! I’m glad you’re finding recipes here that you love!
I made these last night for dinner and they were a HUGE hit. We had them with parsnip fries and a salad and truly enjoyed them. They will definitely be made again. I cannot wait to try more recipes on your site. Thank you.
So happy to hear that! Hope you find more recipes here that you love 🙂
Amazing recipe! Love the idea of toasting the bread crumbs first. I don’t even know how to cook and these nuggets turned out great! I love that the instructions were very clear. I would definitely make them again
Absolutely love these nuggets. They were so easy to make and my whole family devoured them, including the 3 and 1 year olds. I skipped the step of toasting the bread crumbs in the beginning and they still came out crunchy.
I make these a few times a month, especially when I have chicken I don’t know what to do with. The chicken comes out PERFECTLY tender and juicy, while still crispy on the outside. My toddler loves these too!
These are really excellent and you should make twice as much because you/your family/friends will love them and ask for more! I seemed to need more panko to coat all the chicken but I think I used closer to two pounds rather than 1.5 pounds.
Absolutely! Glad they’re a hit 🙂
I haven’t eaten frozen chicken nuggets since I was a little kid. So when I saw the recipe for this grown up version, I was pretty excited to try it. They did not let me down. They are fun to eat when you want a finger food and don’t want to feel guilty about it. I did think the spices were a bit aggressive for my taste, so I halved them and thought it was much better.
Absolutely! Glad you were able to adjust to your taste preferences 🙂
College student with average cooking skills here. Made this tonight with pre-cubed chicken breast and it was so good! I didn’t expect it to be so crispy because it was a.) being baked and b.) using a baking sheet but it was awesome and did not take a lot of time to make! I’m excited to use the leftovers too! Will def be using this recipe again and checking out others on this site. Thank you!! 🙂
Amazing! So glad you enjoyed 🙂 I hope you find more recipes here that you love!
Super yummy!!! Second time making these in two weeks. My family of 5 (and one of my 3 kiddos who is picky) LOVED these. I used organic corn flakes (crushed) instead of panko so was able to skip the first step. I also didn’t use wire rack and still perfectly crispy and delicious! Thanks for a great recipe 🙂
So happy to hear that! Perfect dinner 🙂
Hi Monique, these were indeed the best crispy nuggets i’ve ever tasted. I’ve tried a lot of recipes but all tested so blunt. My whole family loved them, especially the kids. I have a question though. Do i have to bake them and then freeze them? Can’t i freeze them as they are and then bake them?
So glad they were a hit! I would bake first and then freeze, then when you are ready you can thaw and reheat or just bake from frozen until warm. Or microwave 🙂
Amazing! We used the air fryer and they turned out so delicious. Great flavor and texture! For sure making again 🙂 thank you for sharing your delicious recipes!
Perfect! Such a great dinner 🙂
We loveddddd these, and I was surprised the prep wasn’t super involved. 🙂 However, we did find them too salty! I would definitely bring it down to 1/2 tsp of salt – or less!
So easy! Feel free to reduce the salt to your preferences next time 🙂
My family and I loved this recipe! Super easy and super crispy. They were delicious plain and with barbecue sauce. I’ll definitely try making new sauces for next time. Also, I accidentally forgot to spray them with cooking spray the second time and they still came out delicious and crispy.
So happy to hear that! I’m glad they worked out well 🙂
This recipe really is the best! We probably make it every other week! So flavorful!
Love that! So glad it’s a favorite!
Very crispy and delicious. A meal that pleased three generations at my house last night.
So happy to hear that!
These chicken nuggets are a real favorite at our home. My boyfriend could eat them every day. They are super easy to make and give you that blissful fulfilled feeling. Thanks for the great recipe Monique!
So happy to hear that!!
I’ve made these in the past but haven’t left a comment. These are great and so easy to whip up. Love the toasted Panko. Just made these and I forgot to spray them with oil, and they weren’t as crispy as they usually are – so don’t forget that last step!
So glad you love these ones!
I don’t have oil cooking spray, just regular oil. Any suggestions on how I could make this recipe with regular oil?
Sure just light drizzle on top!
These are to die for!!! I treat myself to chick fil a nuggets every once in a blue moon, and these are so much better! They’re so tasty, crunchy, and guilt-free. I’ve been reheating them in the air fryer and they taste good as new.
Awesome!! So glad that you’re loving them. Great idea to reheat in the air fryer 🙂
Very delicious and easy to make.
So happy you enjoyed them!
This recipe was delicious! Loved the combination of spices and toasting the breadcrumbs gave a nice extra crisp. My boyfriend and I like things a little spicier so we doubled the seasonings in this recipe but the ratios were perfect. Will make this again!
SO happy to hear that you and your boyfriend loved them!
These were seriously the best chicken nuggets. I was shy a half cup of panko so I added crushed up croutons and they were out of this world. The entire family loved them (and I have very picky teenagers). Will definitely be making these again.
Brilliant idea to add crushed croutons! So happy you guys loved these 🙂
Followed the recipe exactly as it is. Absolutely delicious !! The toasted breadcrumbs and wire rack tricks were genius. Best crisp I’ve ever had on any recipes I tried and seasoning was on point. One to keep for sure. Thank you !
Yay, I’m so glad that you’re loving this one!!
Hi, my nuggets also get soggy and oily. I will definitely try making it as per your recipe. Loved your recipe. Thank you for sharing. looking forward to try it soon!
Excited for you to try it–let me know how it goes! 🙂
Is there any way to make these without eggs? What substitution would you recommend if so?
Thanks!
Hmm I haven’t actually tried these without eggs! You could probably use a vegan egg replacer 🙂
Wow, yum! These are so easy and delish!
Yay! Glad to hear that!
These are SO GOOD!! + truly very simple. My husband has very high standards for chicken nuggets (lol) and he gave these a quick 5 stars. Thanks so much as always, Monique!!
Haha AMAZING, so glad that you both loved them! 🙂
These are awesome. Chicken nuggets I actually feel good about serving my kids! Delicious AND healthy! Love em!
I have made this recipe probably 10 times now, it never fails and it is always super delicious! The only chicken nugget recipe you need!
I am making this as I type and just realized that I left out the spices. I marinated my chicken in Italian salad dressing, so we will see if the flavor from the marinade compensates. Either way, I am excited for the outcome as this was comparatively quicker than other recipes that call for double dipping the chicken in the flour mixture. I will post again to let you all know how they come out.
-Talia
Okay, I am back. I love how crispy these nuggets are. Deep frying is what I have been trying to perfect. I have also tried air frying and I think I am just going to go ahead and stick to this recipe. Quick, tasty and I hope my son enjoys them.
-Talia
These are perfect to make for the week and use on salads or for toddlers quick lunch. They are so delish, always a hit in our household. Super easy directions!
Excellent…I made them for the grandkids but the adults lived them as much!! It’s now my go-to app….no modifications, perfect as is
Amazing!! So glad that everyone loved them, Jeannette!
My fiancé and I had so much fun with this recipe. We cut up the chicken into larger chunks to make them the size of boneless wings and did our own “hot ones” challenge by putting a different spicy sauce on each one haha. I only had 1 egg but it ended up being plenty to coat all the pieces and didn’t have a wire rack but they crisped up perfectly.
Omg that is AMAZING. So fun!! Glad that you guys loved them 🙂
Made these for dinner last night. Quick, easy, and delicious! I swapped regular paprika for smoked paprika to add a bit more flavor.
Yay!! So glad you loved them, Michelle. Love the idea of using smoked paprika in here 🙂
Super easy and my daughter loves it. I feel a little better that they aren’t dried and greasy.
Yay! So happy you both love these 🙂
assome
Glad you loved them!
This recipe is excellent! We made 1/2 of our chicken nuggets exactly as written in the recipe. And, we made spicy buffalo nuggets with the other 1/2 of the chicken pieces. For the spicy batch, instead of the egg/milk mixture as written, we used 1 egg, 1 Tbsp of butter, and 1/2 cup of buffalo sauce. Otherwise, we used the same panko/spice mixture as well as the cooking technique as written. Both versions had a crispy crust and tender chicken. Yum!
My family REALLY enjoyed this chicken. My husband is super picky. And he said it was the best chicken. I followed the recipie exactly. However they took about 45 mins to cook.. will be doing fried chicken this way going forward.
So glad that you guys loved them!! Strange about the cooking time, mine have never taken so long. Did you cut the chicken into small pieces?
This was a crowd pleaser! SO good! We loved them dipped in primal kitchen’s Buffalo sauce and we used gluten free breadcrumbs. They turned out so yummy! Definitely a recipe we will keep on repeat in our house. Thank you!
Nice!! That sounds so delicious 🙂 Happy you guys loved them!
Wondering if I can use boneless thighs instead. Has anyone tried that?
I’m sure that would be great! I haven’t tried it, but would guess that they might take a little longer to cook.
Hi, can I use Pam cooking spray instead of olive oil spray?
Sure!
I just tried these for lunch today; my first time ever making home made chicken nuggets! I thought they were pretty good! I didn’t have any cooking spray, so I had to carefully drizzle a bit of olive oil on each nugget, but they still turned out good and were crispy on the outside.
Mine turned out ever so slightly dry, but I think that may have been because I might have accidentally cut my nuggets a little smaller than the author did. When I checked them at the 15 minute mark, the internal temperature was already in the 170’s, so the smaller size may have meant they just cooked a little faster and dried out slightly. However, I still really liked them and so did my 1 year old daughter. I will make them again, and really like the idea of making a batch and freezing them. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi, Allison! Yep it sounds like they cooked quicker because they were smaller. But happy you and your little one still loved them!! Great idea to freeze a bunch for quick meals 🙂
These nuggets are amazing! I made them for my bf and we both loved it. I really like this recipe when there’s that one piece of chicken breast you don’t know what to do with!
Great recipe! Easy and delicious. MUCH better tasting than the frozen nuggets from the store. My 4 year-old granddaughter gives two thumbs up! Only change I made was to leave out the cayenne, as I was worried she might not like the heat, even though it’s slight. Oh–I also used 2% milk, as that was what I had on hand. Thanks for a great recipe; we’ll definitely use it again!
I would like to make these for my LO however he is allergic to eggs. What could be the substitute? Thanks
Hi, Allison! I think a vegan egg replacer would work, or even some watered-down vegan mayo 🙂
Hi! Would love to know if you have any alternatives for egg that would work for my intolerant son?
Hi, there! I haven’t tested it but I think a vegan egg replacer (like Just Egg) should work ok here 🙂
So good!!! Made this and it came together in literally 25 min.
The best I ever had ever one loved them
Tried the chicken nuggets recipeit was easy,, moist, tender and soft so delicious
I’m so happy you enjoyed them! Thanks for leaving a comment 🙂
These were absolutely delicious. My guy, who is really fussy, keeps asking me to make them! That says it all to me! Thanks for this lovely recipe!
Wonderful recipe. Today I used chicken tenders. So good 😊
This is by far the best chicken nugget recipe I have found! They are crispy and very favorfull. I love the fact there is no frying and yes the key to this recipe is to pre-toast the panko. I used seasoned panko and regular spray since that is what I had on hand. The breadcrumb portion are true to the 1-1/2 lbs of chicken nuggets so if you have more then I would adjust accordingly. I have been looking for a recipe that can be made ahead without losing the crispness and this does the job as long as you reheat in oven on the rack. I must say I rarely leave reviews on recipes but this is well worth the small effort. They are very quick to make and delicious
These were so good! I make them often for a great alternative to regular grilled chicken. I like that they are baked not fried. Thank you for a great recipe!!
These nuggets are fantastic – very crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. My son and I devoured them! Thank you for creating such an easy and healthy version of a favorite fast food. Is there a reason (besides convenience/calories) that you use olive oil cooking spray vs liquid form? I used ghee to brown the crumbs and liquid oil for greasing/topping – it worked out great, but surely upped the calories. I’ll definitely be making these again and trying out more recipes from your ambitious repertoire.
I’m SO happy you both love these! Yay! I find the spray super easy and it coats the bread crumbs more evenly 🙂
Wonderful recipes with plenty of well everything
what a great tip to toast the breadcrumbs first!!
It makes all the difference!
Hi!! I want to make these with already cooked chicken! Is that possible? Or will that dry out the chicken??
Sorry, I wouldn’t recommend it! They’ll definitely dry out.
Looks so delicious and healthy foods also
Thank you so much for the lovely recipe.
The most delicious, easy-to-make, and healthy chicken nuggets I’ve ever had.
I made the nuggets in air fryer and came out perfect. My family particularly my 6-year-old son who is fussy around food, loved them so much.
I made this with boneless thighs because I had extra from your delicious honey mustard chicken recipe 😉 was not sure it would be ok, but it was great. All family members including the picky eater enjoyed and I will have to make a double batch next time. Will maybe try chicken tenders so I don’t have to spend so much time prepping the meat.
Yaay!! SO happy you loved them 🙂 And chicken tenders would work really well!
These were amazing! Even with gluten free non-panko crumbs!
Glad to hear those worked well!!
The best chicken nuggets recipe one may find.
Yess, they are so good!! Thanks so much!
Not sure what I did wrong. Though the nuggets were super crispy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside the coating just didn’t taste right. I mixed everything exactly per recipe and even though I backtracked and took some pepper out the nuggets came out super peppery and too papriky. I had to remove the coating and basically serve baked chicken cubes with ranch sauce to mellow out the heat. Will definitely try again as I liked the quality but not the flavor.
Amazing! I used GF Panko and it worked beautifully! A true winner!
Yay! SO happy to hear it came out great 🙂
They didn’t really taste like anything and I might’ve given half of my family food poisoning
Oh no. So sorry to hear this… Did you change anything about the recipe? And cook the chicken for correct amount of time?
Great, simple recipe! Thanks!
This has to be the best chicken nugget recipe on the internet. Made them last week and already again for meal prep this week! I loved cutting them up and heating them in a skillet to add to wraps and quesadillas to mix it up throughout the week.
Yum! So glad you are loving this recipe ❤️🙂
Add this to the recipes I’ve tried from your site that are FANTASTIC! I made them exactly as stated and they were great! They’re more labor intensive than my usual dinners but totally worth it! Got a bunch in the freezer for a future dinner!
Yay! I am excited to hear that you are loving this recipe 🙂❤️
Made these tonight and they’re the best ever loved that they’re baked and not greasy! The crispness is WOW! Will be my go to going forward.
Fabulous! SO glad you are loving this recipe ❤️🙂
We loved this recipe and if I had followed the directions more carefully it would have been better. My problem was that there is so much around the recipe and ingredients listed in two different ways i never found the real list of ingredients until after i made it.
Made this in the air fryer (cooked on 200c for about 10 mins, flipping halfway) and my 20m old son vacuumed them up. will definitely make again
Ah thank you for sharing! Sounds delicious 🙂
I made ersatz buttermilk (skim milk starting to sour with a good splash of vinegar). I cut the ( bnls, sknls) chix breasts into pieces larger than 1″‘ cubes and marinated the pieces overnight. I used a traditional 3-dish breading method: AP flour, some of the marinade with a beaten egg, and toasted homemade bread crumbs with most of the listed seasoning. Came out great! Although my recipe varied from yours, I voted 5 stars for the basic technique.
I am making this recipe tomorrow.
None of the comments mentioned that they were moist which is an important characteristic for crispy chicken nuggets. Are they?
Just made these. Great recipe! Only change that I made was to use one egg with 1 tablespoon of milk since my egg was large. Plenty to coat. Definitely a keeper! Thank you!
These are crazy good!
Yay! I am so glad you are loving this recipe ❤️
Great dinner for the kids – I suggest cutting the black pepper in half especially if you’re feeding little ones, otherwise it overwhelms the other flavors.
Thank you for the feedback. Glad this recipe is a hit!
I made these for the first time. They were so good. mixed honey sauce and poured them over the nuggets.
YUM! Sounds delicious, so glad you love these!
These were a hit with my family! The only spice I didn’t add was the cayenne but they were still delicious without it. I’m sure I’ll make these again!
This recipe is amazing! I have been trying to make gluten free chicken nuggets for a long time and this is the best recipe out there by far. Thank you!
Absolutely! SO glad you are loving this recipe 🙂
I will not use this again.
By baking the crumbs ahead of rolling on chicken, they burned too easily, I have used crumbs before and did not have to precook them.
Other than the recipe being simple, I did not like it.
Joan
So sorry to hear this recipe did not turn out for you.
This has got to be the easiest, minimal prep way to get restaurant-style crispy chicken nuggets at home. My husband and I had a hankering for some this Sunday afternoon – And making this recipe took us way shorter than ordering some takeout!
We added some rosemary and some garam masala – cos we had them in the cupboard – nd a teaspoon of rice flour to ensure maximum crispitude. And these additions did not dissappoint!
Go on – treat yourself to these nuggets! You won’t regret it 🙂
Buffalo dip
The best chicken nuggets ever. Even my pickiest eaters love them
Ah yay! Glad this recipe is a hit ❤️
I Make these all the time. Love them and my husband likes them and he’s not a fan of chicken.
I never have cayenne so I use tabasco with the egg mixture.
Yay! I am so glad you both loving this recipe 🙂
Wow
Amazing
Thank you – glad you’re enjoying these
This recipe is AMAZING! The nuggets always come out flavorful, crispy, and delicious thanks to the preliminary seasoning & toasting of the panko, This recipe is a quick go to for my wife and I when we don’t want to do much meal prep after an exhausting day. We typically make these chicken nuggets and add them to mixed greens with chopped cucumber, then drizzle it with a super simple spicy apricot glaze. Spicy apricot glaze is a really good dipping sauce for these nuggets if you like a sweet and spicy sauce. To make it: mix 1/2 cup apricot jam with 2-4 tsp sriracha (to desired taste) and 1/4 – 1/2 cup warm water (to desired consistency).
Thanks for giving me a great recipe to eat more of my favorite sauce with 🙂
AH I love this so much, thank you so much for sharing. I am so glad you’re loving this recipe and it turned out great of you ❤️
Not sure what went wrong but breading would not stick. Looked nothing like the pics used.
oh no! So sorry to hear, did you change anything about the recipe?
Seriously amazing. I stumbled across this recipe several months ago and it was a huge it with husband, 7 year old and 4 year old. Super easy to make, I usually double the recipe for the 4 of us and then have leftovers for kid’s lunch (yes, these are so tasty they will eat them cold and un-cripsed). You have to watch the bread crumbs carefully so they don’t burn but that was easy. Highly, highly recommend! I bet you could do this same with cod for fish sticks or shrimp.
Ahh thank you so much! Glad you and the family are loving this recipe ❤️
These were the best nuggets I’ve made at home ever. I actually cook them in my air fryer and came across this recipe for my grandson who is pretty picky. I made these one day when he came over, he must have eaten 15 of these chicken nuggets when he was 2 years old I couldn’t stop him. I was right there with him! These are delicious and healthy, absolutely must try. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Aw of course, Trish! I am so glad this recipe was a hit and turned out great ❤️
Wd like to make a larg quantity for Saturday night , what steps do I have to take to make ahead of time? Thanks
Hi Sharon – So sorry for the late response. You can prep the breadcrumbs and wet ingredients a few hours before and when you’re ready, you could dip them. Or you could prep them all ahead of time and reheat them on broil for a couple minutes to reheat and re-crisp them. Hope that helps!
I supervised my grandson making these and he did a great job. We all loved them. He was so proud and will do them again without any help. thank you
Aww this is so great. Glad these were a hit 🙂
The best chicken nuggets I’ve ever made. Taste just like the Chick-fil-A ones!!
Ah yay! I am so glad your loving these chicken nuggets 🙂
These are the best nuggets my husband and I have had. Nice and crispy but tender and juicy on the inside. We love dipping in ranch dressing.
Amazing! I’m team ranch, too 😉
Simple and clear recipe – nice results.
Glad you enjoyed!
This is the most amazing homemade chicken nuggets recipe i have ever tried, super easy to make with kids and everyone in my family absolutely loves these.
So happy to hear that! Such a great kid-friendly dinner 🙂
Hi there! I just come across your site and the recipes look wonderful.. I was just wondering whether I could prepare the nuggets a day before and keep them in the fridge to cook the next day?
Hi there I ve just come across your site and the recipes look wonderful. I was wondering whether I could prepare the nuggets one day before and keep them in the fridge and cook them the next day? Thank you! 😊
Hi! Great question – I don’t think I’d recommend coating the chicken nuggets and storing them in the fridge ahead of time because I don’t think they’ll get as crispy.
My favorite chicken recipe! The seasoning is unreal, spicy and perfection. This recipe is so fantastic! My husband and I love this chicken so much, we now have a spice container with these ingredients so we can use it for a variety of different recipes! You have out done yourself Monique!
So good!! Glad you both love it!
These are a little bit of a labor of love but worth it! I usually use these to put over a salad but let’s be honest, I’m snacking on them as they come out fresh out of the oven. The wire rack over the baking sheet is a must! I would also love it if there were air fryer directions in addition to the conventional oven, but ultimately it’s probably no easier for this particular recipe.
Ooo these sound perfect in a salad! I don’t use an air fryer so I’m not 100% sure.
Yammy anf healthy! My daughters said they are the best!
So happy to hear that!
could you air fry these instead?
I don’t own on air fryer so I’m not 100% sure what the instructions would be, but I think they should work using one!
Excellent recipe! I had a new hot sauce come in and was looking for a healthier alternative to wings. These were such a hit with my husband and 2-year-old. They were so crispy on the outside and still tender on the inside. This is a weekly rotation recipe for me! Great recipe!
Love that! Perfect weeknight dinner 🙂
Fast, easy and tasty recipe! Only sub was avo oil to toast the panko 👌👌
Perfect!!
Just came here to say I did the exact same thing when I was baking pregnant in a sports bra and still have a scar to prove it! Also these nuggets are delish!
Twins! Haha I swear it’s inevitable. Glad you loved this recipe!
Hi! Any ideas what I could use to replace the egg in this? Thank you!
Hi! I think a vegan egg replacer would work, or even some watered-down vegan mayo 🙂
5/5 stars for ease of prep, cook time and family approval – toddler included. Our 2.5 year old helped “dip” and our 6YO said “these are better than Chik-FilA because I can eat them” He has a peanut allergy and they fry their chicken in peanut oil. I don’t eat chicken but I’m always so happy when I can find and execute a recipe that makes everyone happy. Thanks for sharing your genius with us Monique =)
Amazing! So happy everyone loved them 🙂
These were tasty but took a little longer to bake!
Thank you for this recipe. All 4 kids including my husband raved saying that this was so much better than any store bought ones.
I will be making these in large batches for school . I baked mine.
So happy to hear that!
Planning to make these and freeze them – thank you for providing instructions on how to do so! If using a 17″x12″ baking sheet, what’s the maximum pounds of chicken you’d recommend putting on one sheet? TIA!
This is by far the best chicken nugget recipe I’ve ever had. I made 2 pounds of chicken nuggets and can literally say we ate every single one in record time. So good, so crispy. You need to try this recipe! Perfect for gatherings!
YES so good!! Glad the recipe was a hit!
Made this tonight and the whole family loved it. Will definitely make it again.
Wow! The most flavorful and absolutely crispiest chicken nuggets I have ever made! I am done looking for another recipe! I never thought to toast the bread crumbs before coating the chicken along with your other tips-thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
YES so good! Glad you loved them!
These were a hit with my picky teen. Next time, I want to try using pork rinds instead of panko to reduce carbs. Thanks for a great recipe. I ended up steaming the leftover egg/milk dip and it tasted great.
Let me know how that goes! Glad they were a hit!
I don’t have a wire rack. Do i have to make any change to the time or anything else?
No, just know that they likely won’t get crispy on the bottom. You could try giving them a flip halfway through cooking though!
“Best” nuggets is an understatement—these are OUTRAGEOUS! My almost-six-year-old is made of chicken nuggets and I was worried that anything proper and homemade would be a tough sell, but he flipped our over these. As did my husband and I. I will be making a batch of these weekly for his school lunchbox. Thank you, Monique, for another winner!
So happy to hear that! These are a big hit in our house, too 🙂
This recipe is delicious and loved by my toddler and partner! Definitely including his in our rotation. I love ALL of the the recipes from Ambitious Kitchen, thank you Monica!
So happy to hear that!
Most important step; don’t forget to toaster the bread crumbs!!
I appreciate learning this step I never did before and now will never not do!
YES it makes all the difference!
Terrific for a preschooler who’s been begging for chicken nuggets lately. Even my husband loved these!
The best chicken nugget recipe EVER. I’ve been looking for a recipe for the oven instead of frying, and this is finally the one. I tried it with cut up boneless chicken thighs, and it was outstanding. My kids loved them also. Unfortunately there were no leftovers. Thank you for sharing the tips (like roasting the bread crumbs and spraying with oil). Those make a big difference.
So glad you found this one! Perfect for kiddos 🙂
So yummy! I didn’t even add oil during the toasting process or before baking the nuggets, and they still turned crispy!
Amazing! Such a great dinner!
I’ve never left a comment before on a recipe, but this meal turned out so well that I had to say THANK YOU!! I needed something quick and easy, (but also tasty!), and your recipe fit the bill! I received “kudos across the board” from the family! DEFINITELY going into the rotation!
Amazing! So happy to hear that!