Make your own Easy Homemade Chicken Nuggets using just a few simple ingredients. It's a quick and easy dinner the family will love!
These homemade chicken nuggets are coated with panko breadcrumbs and baked until they're perfectly crispy and crunchy. If you're looking for a kid friendly meal, this easy recipe is definitely for you!
When my older kids were younger, they used to love chicken nuggets, or crunchy chicken, as they called it. Whether we stopped at a fast food restaurant or bought frozen nuggets from the store, this was their favorite way to eat chicken.
Well, a few years ago, we decided to kick the fast food habit and try to eat healthier meals. But, there's just something about chicken nuggets that we all love, right?
Luckily, you can still enjoy the taste by making your own version of this classic fast food meal. In fact, we recently stopped by McDonald's while on vacation, and we honestly liked our own nuggets better!
You can pair these crispy chicken bites with homemade baked French Fries, mashed potatoes or homemade applesauce made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. Top it off with a homemade peach milkshake, and you may never want to go out for fast food again!
How to Make Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets
The easiest way to make your own crispy baked chicken nuggets or tenders is to have everything ready to go. You're going to dipping and dunking and shaking, and, not gonna lie -- It's messy!
To bread the chicken, you'll need:
- Chicken breasts cut into approximately 2-inch pieces
- A bowl of buttermilk
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Spice mixture
- A rimmed baking sheet
- Cooking spray
Dip the chicken pieces into the buttermilk. Kitchen tongs work best, but you can use a fork if you want.
Next, dip the chicken into the panko breadcrumbs. I like using a large freezer bag and shaking the chicken to coat it. The kiddos can help with this!
Next, arrange the chicken on a prepared baking sheet, and spray with olive oil or cooking spray. Bake for about 10 minutes per side, flipping once, and that's it!
This recipe for crispy chicken nuggets makes enough for a crowd, but it's also great for leftovers. Who says you can't have healthy chicken nuggets?!
How to Make Breadcrumbs Stick without Eggs
I only use buttermilk and the Dijon mustard to make the panko stick to the chicken -- no eggs. It's just a personal preference, but it works! Mayo works, too!
Pin this easy recipe to save it!
Once you get the hang of it, this is really a very easy recipe. The kids love it, and I do too!
Plus, it's so much better than using frozen nuggets or relying on fast food. Of course, we all need a short cut now and then, but if your kids like chicken nuggets as much as mine do, you can save money and eat healthier by making your own.
Recipe for Easy Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Easy Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 3 cups Panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or chili powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray or olive oil
- Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces
- Add breadcrumbs to a bowl or zip top freezer bag. Mix the sea salt, garlic powder, pepper and smoked paprika into breadcrumbs
- Add buttermilk to a bowl, and mix in the Dijon mustard
- Dip chicken into buttermilk, then dip into breadcrumb mixture, making sure each piece is well coated
- Place chicken on prepared baking sheet, and when sheet is filled, lightly spray with olive oil
- Bake for 10 minutes per side, turning once, for 20 minutes total, or until chicken is browned and internal temperature is 165 degrees according to meat thermometer
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy these healthy homemade chicken nuggets as much as we do!
Recipe was originally posted in in 2014 and updated in 2019
Melanie Bauer says
So easy to make and super delicious! I would love to try this specially when we need something quick and easy!
Dee says
I'm sure the kids will love it!
Jade Manning says
These Nuggets look incredible!
Dee says
Thanks, Jade! They are so good!
Beth Pierce says
What a fun recipe and with the perfect amount of crunch! My kids will love these for dinner tonight!
Dee says
Thanks, Beth. Hope they enjoyed it!
James says
The kids just love these. The kids requested this recipe after they saw it posted. Actually quite simple and no oil!
Dee says
It's very simple! I'm thrilled your kids liked them!
Catalina says
My kid's favorite dish! So glad to make it at home now!
Dee says
It's a favorite with my kiddos, too. Hope you guys like them!
Kim Seghers says
Your homemade chicken nuggets do look easy to make and delicious too. I'll need to make a batch for dinner next week.
Dee says
They are super easy. Thanks, Kim!
Debra Attinella says
I am always looking for good recipes to serve my grandkids. They love chicken nuggets and I'll have to put it on the menu soon!
Dee says
My kids are crazy about these. Hope you grandkids like them!
Demeter says
Such a great idea to make your own instead. It really doesn't take that much longer and I'm sure are so much better for you.
Dee says
Definitely better for you than the fast food kind. Thanks!