Chicken Nuggets You Can Feel Good About
Chicken nuggets are a great quick satiating option when you are feeling hungry. I like knowing what is in my food and the best way of doing this is cooking at home. Of course that’s not always possible but when it is, I feel confident with the ingredients I am using. I also get to use healthy oils such as avocado or olive oil to cook my chicken nuggets so really it’s a win-win situation. This recipe used ground chicken and it comes out flavorful, juicy and delicious!
Yes, but will homemade chicken nuggets taste as good? The answer? No, they will taste even better! What you will love even more is how easy they are to prepare. We will just be mixing a handful of ingredients and be baking them in the oven. In Dr. Hyman’s book “Food, what the Heck should I Eat?” Dr. Hyman strongly advises to stay far away from store bought chicken nuggets and he explains why. I think Dr. Hyman would be really proud that these chicken nuggets would be an exception because we are making them with clean, healthy ingredients that also taste good.
If you have children, you might be surprised at how much they may enjoy these chicken nuggets as well. Even picky toddlers might surprise you! Enjoy them with your favorite sauce such a ranch dressing, bbq dressing, or classic ketchup!
What to serve these with? This recipe will pair well with a delicious salad. You can try my quinoa salad or this Gelsons copycat kale salad . I also like pairing this recipe with baked fries. It is such a versatile dinner, that you have plenty of pairing options.
Can you freeze this recipe? I would not recommend freezing especially if you are using thawed ground chicken. They are so delicious that I think you will want to devour them instantly. Every time I make these chicken nuggets, I think about how lovely it would be if we had leftovers so I could take a break from cooking the next day. That never happens so I think I will just have to make a double batch if I want that to happen.
If you do end up with leftovers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Now that you know how delicious homemade chicken nuggets can be, lets start cooking!
| Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 25 minutes |
| Serves: 3 | Total Time: 30 minutes |
| Ingredients Chicken Nuggets 1 lb. ground chicken 1 tsp salt 1 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper (or just black pepper) 1 tsp paprika 1 egg 4 tbsp bread crumbs Bread Coating 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (any kind of breadcrumbs will work) pinch of salt 2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil to drizzle on top |
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a medium or large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a separate flat plate, combine breadcrumbs and salt and stir until well combined.
- In a large mixing bowl add all ingredients together and mix with hands until well combined.
- Make 9 oval looking nuggets by first shaping them into 9 medium sized balls, then flattening them with your hands.
- Press each nugget into the breadcrumb mixture on both sides making sure to evenly coat the chicken nuggets.
- Place all the chicken nuggets on the lined baking sheet, drizzle the chicken nuggets with olive oil (or you can brush each one with olive oil) and bake for 25 minutes.
- Serve warm with your favorite sauce (bbq, ranch, ketchup) and enjoy!
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