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    Home » Recipes » Oven-Baked Homemade Chicken Nuggets

    Oven-Baked Homemade Chicken Nuggets

    Published: Jul 8, 2020 by Lucy · This post may contain affiliate links · 34 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    A stack of golden crunchy rectangular nuggets with red tomato sauce in a white bowl.

    Crunchy oven-bake homemade chicken nuggets are a healthier version of everyone's favourite snack!

    A stack of golden crunchy rectangular nuggets with red tomato sauce in a white bowl.

    Forget about fast-food restaurant or store-bought frozen chicken nuggets... it couldn't be easier to make your own chicken nuggets with just a few basic ingredients!

    These healthier nuggets are loved by fussy toddlers, on-the-go kids, hungry teenagers and adults! Freezer-friendly, great for lunchboxes or a quick and easy snack.

    A plate of golden homemade chicken bites on a plate with a bowl of sauce.

    6 Ingredient Homemade Chicken Nuggets

    Say hello to the easiest crumbed homemade chicken nuggets!

    To make my oven-baked nuggets, you'll need:

    • chicken mince - either buy chicken mince or mince your own using chicken breast
    • panko crumbs - are a Japanese style breadcrumb that are light and cook to a crunchy texture. Alternatively you can use regular breadcrumbs (but panko crumbs are a million times better!)
    • finely grated parmesan cheese - this gives the crumb on your chicken nuggets the most delicious flavour!
    • chicken stock powder - this is optional however it gives a big flavour boost to the crumb
    • plain flour and eggs - for coating the nuggets

    Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for ingredient quantities and detailed method.

    Bowls of chicken mince, panko crumbs, chicken stock powder, plain flour, eggs and parmesan.

    How To Make Chicken Nuggets From Scratch

    Have a big batch of homemade chicken nuggets prepped and baked in less than 30 minutes!

    Step 1 - Par-bake the panko crumbs

    Place the panko crumbs on a baking paper lined tray and bake in the oven until lightly golden. Shake a few times during baking for even cooking.

    Panko crumbs that have been baked to golden on a baking tray.

    Step 2 - Mix the parmesan cheese and chicken stock powder through the panko crumbs

    This mixture is going to give you the most delicious and flavour-packed crunchy crumb.

    Grated parmesan cheese on top of a bowl of golden baked panko crumbs.
    Panko crumbs mixed with chicken stock powder and grated parmesan in a blue bowl.

    Step 3 - Shape the chicken mince into 'nuggets'

    Use your hands (see my tips below) to shape the chicken mince into traditional nugget shapes. Use approximately 1 tablespoon of chicken mince per nugget.

    Two hands shaping chicken mince into a nugget shape.
    Chicken mince shaped into nuggets on a plate.

    Step 3 - Crumb the nuggets

    Crumb the nuggets by coating in plain flour, dipping in beaten egg and then covering with the baked panko crumbs.

    A chicken mince bite being coated in flour.
    A flour coated chicken bite in a bowl of beaten egg.
    Chicken bites coated with panko crumbs.
    Nuggets coated in panko crumbs on a tray.

    Step 4 - Bake until golden

    Spray the nuggets with cooking oil and bake until golden and crunchy.

    A baking tray covered with parchment paper with crumbed chicken bites.

    Recipe FAQ & Tips

    Do I have to use panko crumbs?

    If you can't get your hands on panko crumbs (most supermarkets or grocers sell them in the Asian section or with the breadcrumbs), then you can substitute for regular breadcrumbs. However, the panko crumbs are what gives the crumb a delicious crunch!

    Why do you bake the panko crumbs first?

    Baking the panko crumbs before coating the nuggets gives them a delicious crunchy texture and a golden colour. It also keeps thee crumb crunchy (and avoids any sogginess) when baked with the chicken.

    Help! The chicken is too sticky to shape into nuggets!

    Wet your hands with cold water before shaping into nuggets. The wetness on your hands will take away the stickiness of the chicken. You may need to wash your hands and wet them again a couple of times during the process if they start to get sticky!

    Can I use chicken breast in place of chicken mince?

    Yes, absolutely! If you have a food processor or a Thermomix, you can mince chicken breasts to use in the nuggets.

    How long will the chicken nuggets last once cooked?

    Store the cooked chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven until hot all the way through.

    Can you freeze these nuggets?

    Yes absolutely! You can freeze the nuggets either cooked or uncooked. If freezing them cooked, you can reheat by placing the frozen nuggets into the oven and baking until hot all the way through.

    A blue plate of golden baked homemade chicken nuggets with a bowl of sauce.
    A hand dipping a crunchy crumbed homemade chicken nugget into a bowl of sauce.

    More Healthy Nugget & Snacks

    Once you've fallen in love with the taste and ease of making homemade chicken nuggets, you'll want to try these yummy nuggets too:

    • Healthy Chicken & Vegetable Nuggets - smuggle some sneaky vegetables into these kid-friendly nuggets.
    • Sweet Potato & Zucchini 'Nuggets' - a meat-free alternative that is absolutely perfect for baby-led weaning, fussy toddlers or an easy lunchbox snack.
    • Chickpea Nuggets - similar to a felafel... but in a nugget!
    A half-eaten homemade chicken nugget with a bowl of red sauce.

    WANT EVEN MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Facebook or Instagram. And if you love baking, then please come and join my Facebook cooking club group or subscribe to my YouTube channel. 

    A stack of golden crunchy rectangular nuggets with red tomato sauce in a white bowl.

    Oven-Baked Homemade Chicken Nuggets

    Crunchy oven-bake homemade chicken nuggets are a healthier version of everyone's favourite snack!
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Snacks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes
    Total Time: 27 minutes
    Servings: 24 serves
    Calories: 57kcal
    Author: Lucy - Bake Play Smile

    Ingredients

    • 500 g chicken mince see notes
    • 90 g (1 cup) panko crumbs
    • 50 g (½ cup) parmesan cheese very finely grated
    • 1 tsp chicken stock powder optional
    • 75 g (½ cup) plain flour
    • 2 eggs lightly beaten

    Instructions

    Conventional Method

    • Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius (fan-forced).
    • Place the panko crumbs onto a baking paper lined baking tray and cook in the oven for approximately 5-10 minutes or until lightly golden (give the tray a shake every few minutes). Set the panko crumbs aside in a bowl to cool.
    • Increase oven temperature to 210 degrees celsius (fan-forced).
    • Shape the chicken mince into nuggets (about 1 tablespoon in size).
    • Finely grate the parmesan cheese and add it to the cooled panko crumbs along with the chicken stock powder and mix through.
    • Place the plain flour into a bowl.
    • Crack the eggs into a separate bowl and beat well.
    • Line a baking tray with baking paper.
    • One at a time, coat the chicken nuggets in the plain flour (shake off any excess), then the egg mixture and finally the panko crumb mixture.
    • Place crumbed nuggets onto a baking paper lined baking tray.
    • Spray lightly with cooking oil and bake for approximately 12-14 minutes or until golden, crunchy and cooked through. Turn the nuggets over halfway through the cooking time.

    Notes

    RECIPE NOTES & TIPS
    Panko crumbs - If you can’t get your hands on panko crumbs (most supermarkets or grocers sell them in the Asian section or with the breadcrumbs), then you can substitute for regular breadcrumbs. However, the panko crumbs are what gives the crumb a delicious crunch!
    Baking the panko crumbs - Baking the panko crumbs before coating the nuggets gives them a delicious crunchy texture and a golden colour. It also keeps thee crumb crunchy (and avoids any sogginess) when baked with the chicken.
    Shaping the nuggets - Wet your hands with cold water before shaping into nuggets. The wetness on your hands will take away the stickiness of the chicken. You may need to wash your hands and wet them again a couple of times during the process if they start to get sticky!
    Chicken breast or chicken mince - You can either use chicken mince or make your own by mincing chicken breasts in a food processor or a Thermomix.
    Storing - Store the cooked chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven until hot all the way through.
    Freezing - You can freeze the nuggets either cooked or uncooked. If freezing them cooked, you can reheat by placing the frozen nuggets into the oven and baking until hot all the way through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 101mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    Did you try this recipe?Mention @BakePlaySmileBlog or tag #BakePlaySmile!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Helen

      April 23, 2020 at 5:19 pm

      These are yummy so thanks for sharing. I was planning to freeze some but, there's none left haha!!!

      For next time though...when you take them out of the freezer do you cook from frozen or defrost first and how long will they take second time around?

      Reply
      • Lucy

        April 23, 2020 at 9:42 pm

        Hi Helen, yes you can cook them directly from frozen. It will depend on the size of the nuggets. Cook at the stated temperature and continue cooking until very hot the entire way through (this will obviously be longer than cooking from un-frozen).

        Reply
    2. Carly

      January 24, 2020 at 5:44 pm

      5 stars
      These were great. quick and easy, i used gluten free breadcrumbs and quinoa flakes to make mine gluten free friendly! Mr 3 and 10mo loved them!

      Reply
      • Lucy

        January 24, 2020 at 9:04 pm

        That's absolutely fantastic!

        Reply
    3. Lia

      April 29, 2017 at 6:39 pm

      I made these for my very fussy toddler tonight and he LOVED them! Thank you for the great recipe, sure to become a staple in our house.

      A question: do you freeze before or after cooking?

      Reply
      • Bake Play Smile

        April 30, 2017 at 6:42 am

        Wooo hoo!!! I'm thrilled to hear that!!! I freeze after cooking (in ziplock bags).

        Reply
    4. Ariana

      January 20, 2017 at 6:33 pm

      Oh, WOW! I just made these and they are sooo good. I am definitely going to tell all my friends about this. Love it!

      Reply
      • Bake Play Smile

        January 23, 2017 at 5:35 am

        Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed them too!

        Reply
    5. Emily

      December 12, 2016 at 6:09 pm

      Do you think it will be ok without Parmesan cheese? I have lactose free twins.

      Reply
      • Bake Play Smile

        December 13, 2016 at 4:01 am

        Absolutely!

        Reply
        • Emily

          December 13, 2016 at 12:13 pm

          Awesome. They just don't enjoy the store brought ones anymore. Also going to make today for my sons class party 🙂

          Reply
          • Bake Play Smile

            December 14, 2016 at 5:45 am

            That's such a great idea! Enjoy! xx

            Reply
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    I’m Lucy! A mum, a wife, a food blogger and a lover of all things to do with food! I love creating delicious, no-fuss Thermomix and conventional recipes the whole family will love. Classic baking favourites, lunch box snacks, quick and easy family dinners and more!

    More about me →

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