These baked chicken nuggets are super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. They bake in only 20 minutes. This is the way to go when you want to stay the healthy route, but don't have the time to cook a full meal!
P.S. they taste better than Mc Donald's nuggets, shhhhhh!
So, are homemade baked chicken nuggets really healthy and are they really a thing? I wouldn't believe it myself if I didn't actually cook them and eat them, but let me be the first to tell you that healthy chicken nuggets do exist 🙂 This is the perfect way to trick your kids into eating healthy meals. I know my children love their junk food, but when they are eating these nuggets they are getting some quality nutrients into their system that I feel satisfied about. If you want to try a delicious dip for them check out my Homemade BBQ Sauce that pairs perfectly!
However, I don't use the word, "healthy" when giving these to my kids because we all know that won't go very far 😉 I just call them yummy chicken nuggets. Taylor even helped me mix the ingredients, which I usually always have her do. Above all, I am a big believer if they help make it chances are they will most likely eat it. In addition, this recipe is also the perfect way to make your chicken nuggets crispy in the oven!
So, what do you need to make these nuggets?
To make these delicious healthy baked chicken nuggets you need a couple ingredients. Pictured below are all the ingredients you will need for these baked chicken nuggets.
You will need the following
- 1 tablespoon avocado olive oil
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 pounds)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
What to eat your homemade chicken nuggets with?
Honey Glazed Carrots for the win! My kids LOVE carrots so I thought this would be the absolute perfect dish to accompany my homemade healthy chicken nuggets with. Healthy honey glazed carrots are insanely easy to make. What will you need for these bad boys?
- 6 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 1 tablespoon avocado olive oil
- 1 tablespoon pure honey
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
How do you make this meal?
For the Chicken Nuggets:
Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil. Cut the chicken into small cubes; each breast should yield 12 pieces, and the cubes should be similar in size for even cooking. Sprinkle the chicken with the salt and pepper.
Step 1 
Step 2
In a small ball, whisk the egg. In a medium dish, combine the bread crumbs, parmesan, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Using a fork dip the chicken into the egg and then roll in the crumb mix, making sure it is evenly coated. Lay the chicken on the baking sheet, leaving space between the pieces. Place the chicken in the oven, along with the carrots, and cook for about 20 minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink on the inside and the carrots are tender. Turn the nuggets halfway through.
Step 3 -
Step 4
For the Honey Glazed Carrots:
In a small bowl, combine the carrots with the olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper, tossing to coat. Arrange the carrots on either one side of the baking sheet, leaving room for the chicken nuggets or on a separate baking sheet, depending how much you are making. Set aside.
What else can I serve with my homemade baked chicken nuggets?
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Ranch Cauliflower Bites
- Grilled Veggie Kabobs
- Loaded Crispy Potato Skins
- Asparagus Fries
Want to spice things up?
So, the last time I made these crispy nuggets I was really in the mood for buffalo. No surprise there! Buffalo anything I am usually a number one fan for. I also have recently become obsessed with the brand Tessemae's because of their all natural products. I always use Tessemae's Mild Buffalo Sauce when cooking anything buffalo. You can snag your bottle by clicking here! To make these healthy buffalo chicken nuggets, you will add a small bowl of buffalo sauce to your assembly line. After you dip your chicken in the egg then the panko mix you will quickly dip it into the buffalo sauce then line it on your baking sheet. Continue doing so until all your chicken is used.
I have found that the secret ingredient to CRISPY nuggets is to use panko instead of regular breadcrumbs. Panko is actually made from bread without crusts, so the flakes tend to stay crispier than your standard breadcrumb.
Yes you can! If you are looking to leave out the breadcrumbs, then just replace them with flour. I recommend using whole wheat flour. They won't be as crispy, but they will definitely still taste delicious.
If you bake your nuggets too close together they will steam and not get as crispy. I recommend leaving a 2 finger space between each nugget. Also, feel free to lightly spray your nuggets with cooking spray for an even more added crunch.
Other chicken recipes you may enjoy!
- Healthy Chicken Quesadillas
- Ultimate Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes
- Healthy White Bean Chicken Chili
- Italian Chicken Meatballs
- Chicken Parmesan Zucchini Boats
Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts about 1 ¼ pound
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- coconut cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° and lightly coat a baking sheet with coconut cooking spray. Cut the chicken into small cubes; each breast should yield 12 pieces, and the cubes should be similar in size for even cooking. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg. In a medium dish, combine the panko, parmesan, oregano, and garlic powder. Using a fork dip the chicken into the egg and shake off the excess. Then roll in the panko mix. Make sure the chicken is evenly coated and lay each piece on the prepared baking sheet. Be sure to leave space between your chicken pieces.
- Place the chicken in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through and no longer pink inside. Turn the nuggets halfway through.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
Love making this recipe for my grandchildren when they come for dinner! Rest assured they will gobble it up and want seconds!
Delicious!!
So happy to hear you love this recipe as much as I do 🙂