I've yet to meet a kid who doesn't absolutely love chicken nuggets. But I'm also a big advocate of proper homemade food. That's why I put together these 22 recipes you will love making at home. And your kids are going to think that these are even better than the store-bought frozen version that you usually rely on.
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1) Classic Baked Chicken Nuggets
Let's start with your reliable default recipe. These are very easy to make, and they are done just by chopping up some chicken into bite-sized pieces and rolling them in breading.
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No recipe hunting, no messy shopping notes, no complicated chef projects. Just family dinners that fit real weeks.
I personally love to air fry these because the air fryer is really quick, and they give you that perfect golden color on the crust that the kiddos love. Serve them with barbecue sauce, ranch, or honey mustard for a simple meal.
Classic Baked Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- In a bowl, mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Dip each chicken piece in beaten egg, then press into the breadcrumb mixture to coat.
- Arrange on the sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and bake 20 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through.
2) Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Nuggets
These Parmesan-crusted chicken nuggets have that same easy approach. The only difference here is you're going to throw some Parmesan cheese into your breading before you roll your chicken pieces, and that is going to give you an added flavor. You can serve these up with marinara sauce, as it complements that Parmesan cheese extremely well.
Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 400F and line a sheet pan with parchment.
- Combine Parmesan, panko, Italian seasoning, and salt in a shallow dish.
- Dip chicken in egg, then dredge in the cheesy crumb mix, pressing firmly.
- Place on the pan, drizzle with oil, and bake 18 to 20 minutes until deeply golden.
- Let rest 2 minutes before serving.
Notes
3) Honey Mustard Chicken Nuggets
These give you that sweet, tangy, sticky flavor combination, but it is the good kind of messy that your kiddos will enjoy. Just roll your chicken in honey mustard before breading to bring the flavor to life.
Honey Mustard Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in salted panko, and arrange on the sheet.
- Bake 20 minutes, flipping once, until crisp and cooked through.
- Whisk honey, Dijon, and yellow mustard in a bowl.
- Toss the hot nuggets in the honey mustard until glazed, then serve.
Notes
4) Spicy Buffalo Chicken Nuggets
These spicy buffalo chicken nuggets are actually a more adult-friendly recipe, and perfect for game day. They really bring that classic chicken wing flavor to life.
What's great about buffalo sauce is that you control the heat. So the more sauce you use, the hotter these are going to be, or you can pull back. Serve these ones up with ranch and blue cheese, and you have a game-day hit on your hands.
Spicy Buffalo Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 400F and line a sheet pan with parchment.
- Dip chicken in egg, dredge in salted panko, and place on the pan.
- Bake 20 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and crisp.
- Stir together buffalo sauce and melted butter.
- Toss hot nuggets in the buffalo mixture and serve with celery and ranch.
Notes
5) Herb-Infused Chicken Nuggets
This is another adult-leaning recipe, but your kiddos will enjoy the flavor too. If you add your fresh herbs as a touch, and not as an overwhelming ingredient, this can really elevate your average chicken nugget and bring a new flavor profile into the mix for you.
Herb-Infused Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet.
- Mix breadcrumbs with parsley, thyme, oregano, and salt.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in the herb crumbs, and place on the sheet.
- Drizzle with olive oil and bake 20 minutes, flipping once, until golden.
- Serve warm with a squeeze of lemon.
Notes
6) Garlic Parmesan Chicken Nuggets
These have a buttery, garlicky flavor that is definitely going to make them disappear off the plate the minute you put them on the table. Again, this is a recipe I love throwing in the air fryer; it gives it a nice crisp and really brings out that garlic parmesan flavor. And this is another one I personally love serving with marinara sauce.
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a sheet pan.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in salted panko, and bake 20 minutes until crisp.
- Warm butter and garlic in a small pan until fragrant.
- Toss the hot nuggets with garlic butter, then sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.
Notes
7) Cayenne Pepper Chicken Nuggets
These cayenne pepper chicken nuggets are a great way to add gentle heat baked directly into the nugget, so you don't have to worry about adding sauce afterward and making a mess.
You can simply put the cayenne pepper in your breading. So when you roll these, they'll have that subtle flavor, but it's still an ingredient that takes your recipe up a notch.
Cayenne Pepper Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet.
- Combine breadcrumbs, cayenne, paprika, and salt in a dish.
- Dip chicken in egg, dredge in the spiced crumbs, and arrange on the pan.
- Drizzle with oil and bake 20 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden.
- Cool slightly and serve with a cooling yogurt dip.
Notes
8) Lemon Pepper Chicken Nuggets
These lemon pepper chicken nuggets are my husband's favorite flavor. These are bright and zesty, and they just have an energizing feel rather than a heavy, carb-filled snack.
You can add lemon pepper directly to your breading, or rub your chicken in it before breading. Either way, it brings the flavor to life, and this is sure to be a hit for your family.
Lemon Pepper Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a sheet pan.
- Mix panko with lemon zest, black pepper, and salt.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in the lemon pepper crumbs, and place on the pan.
- Drizzle with oil and bake 20 minutes, turning once, until crisp.
- Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon before serving.
Notes
9) BBQ Glazed Chicken Nuggets
Glazing your nuggets with barbecue sauce is a great option because kiddos love barbecue sauce, and they love dipping chicken nuggets in them. These are sweet and sticky and smoky and everything that everyone in your family is going to enjoy.
BBQ Glazed Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in salted breadcrumbs, and bake 15 minutes.
- Brush the nuggets generously with barbecue sauce.
- Return to the oven for 5 to 7 minutes until the glaze is sticky and caramelized.
- Serve with extra sauce on the side.
Notes
10) Teriyaki Chicken Nuggets
Teriyaki is another way to bring a sweet, savory flavor to your table. And these are so easy to make that you can do them on a busy weeknight, and it's going to feel like takeout. You can serve these with rice to really bring that Asian dish to life, and your whole family is going to enjoy them.
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Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a sheet pan.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in salted panko, and bake 20 minutes until crisp.
- Simmer soy sauce, honey, and ginger in a small pan until slightly thickened.
- Toss the hot nuggets in the teriyaki glaze.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve over rice.
Notes
11) Sriracha Lime Chicken Nuggets
This is another adult-targeted recipe because the nuggets have that added spice in them. These are really zippy, and they have a really fun flavor bomb that is just going to wake up your entire palate.
This is another great game day snack to add some flavor variety to your spread, plus a little heat that the adults are sure to enjoy.
Sriracha Lime Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in salted panko, and bake 20 minutes until crisp.
- Whisk sriracha, honey, and lime juice together.
- Toss the hot nuggets in the sriracha-lime glaze.
- Serve with extra lime wedges.
Notes
12) Italian-Style Chicken Nuggets
These Italian-style chicken nuggets are a convenient way to bring the classic chicken parmesan taste to your table on a busy weeknight. This is a simple twist on a classic meal. They are bite-size friendly. Serve them up with some sauce, and everyone is going to love them.
Italian-Style Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a sheet pan.
- Mix Italian breadcrumbs with Parmesan and salt.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in the crumbs, and arrange on the pan.
- Drizzle with oil and bake 20 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Serve with warm marinara for dipping.
Notes
13) Cheddar Stuffed Chicken Nuggets
These cheddar-stuffed chicken nuggets are really easy to do, and they're going to look like they took a ton of effort. And all you have to do is cut your chicken into bite-sized pieces, slice a thin little pocket in each one, put a little bit of cheese in them, and cook them.
That cheese center will be a fun surprise inside each nugget. And it's going to be a dish the kids are asking you to make again and again.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet.
- Flatten a small portion of ground chicken, place a cheddar cube in the center, and seal into a nugget.
- Dip each stuffed nugget in egg, then coat in breadcrumbs mixed with garlic powder and salt.
- Drizzle with oil and bake 20 minutes, flipping once, until golden and cooked through.
- Cool 2 minutes so the cheese sets slightly before serving.
Notes
14) Panko-Covered Chicken Nuggets
Panko breadcrumbs have a really light and airy texture, which makes them so fun to put on chicken and then throw into the air fryer. Trust me on this one. It's like biting into a crispy but light nugget that the whole family enjoys. And you can serve it with any sauce your family likes.
Panko-Covered Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 425F and line a sheet pan.
- Toss panko with garlic powder, salt, and oil until lightly coated.
- Dip chicken in egg, then press into the panko to coat thickly.
- Arrange on the pan and bake 20 minutes, flipping once, until deeply golden and crunchy.
Notes
15) Coconut Chicken Nuggets
These coconut chicken nuggets bring that tropical vacation twist to an ordinary weeknight. All you have to do is roll these in coconut shavings already in your breading, which makes them easy to put together. Serve with a sweet chili dip for a tropical dish you didn't know you needed.
Coconut Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet.
- Mix shredded coconut, panko, and salt in a shallow dish.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in the coconut mixture, and arrange on the pan.
- Drizzle with oil and bake 20 minutes, flipping once, until golden.
- Serve with sweet chili sauce.
Notes
16) Sesame Ginger Chicken Nuggets
These sesame ginger chicken nuggets bring restaurant flavor to life at home. The nutty sesame mixed with warm ginger is a flavor combination that just works, especially on chicken. You can really step this one up by serving it with rice, and it'll be better than any Asian takeout your family orders.
Sesame Ginger Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 400F and line a sheet pan.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in salted panko, and bake 20 minutes until crisp.
- Whisk soy sauce, sesame oil, and ginger together.
- Toss the hot nuggets in the sesame-ginger sauce.
- Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve.
Notes
17) Almond-Crusted Chicken Nuggets
These almond-crusted chicken nuggets are another easy option, made by adding ground almonds to your breading. This coating can also be gluten-free if you choose not to use breading. So, if you just have the almonds directly on your chicken, this makes for a great dish for anyone with a gluten dietary restriction.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet.
- Mix almond flour with paprika and salt.
- Dip chicken in egg, press into the almond coating, and arrange on the pan.
- Drizzle with oil and bake 20 minutes, flipping once, until golden.
- Serve warm with honey mustard.
Notes
18) Ranch Seasoned Chicken Nuggets
These ranch-seasoned chicken nuggets are a great way to get ranch flavor in without the dip itself. You can do that by adding ranch dressing seasoning to your breading coating.
If your kids are anything like mine, they'll still want ranch on the side. So go ahead and put it out there. But these will have enough flavor to serve as a standalone dish for the rest of the family if you choose.
Ranch Seasoned Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 400F and line a sheet pan.
- Combine breadcrumbs and dry ranch seasoning.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in the ranch crumbs, and arrange on the pan.
- Drizzle with oil and bake 20 minutes, flipping once, until golden and crisp.
- Serve with extra ranch for dipping.
Notes
19) Rosemary Lemon Chicken Nuggets
These rosemary lemon chicken nuggets bring a classic dish into a kid-friendly format. These are going to have that grown-up flavor, but being in chicken nuggets is going to make them kid-friendly, which means you have a dish that is ready to go for the entire family on a busy weeknight.
Rosemary Lemon Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet.
- Mix panko with rosemary, lemon zest, and salt.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in the rosemary crumbs, and arrange on the pan.
- Drizzle with oil and bake 20 minutes, flipping once, until golden.
- Finish with a squeeze of lemon.
Notes
20) Smoky Paprika Chicken Nuggets
These smoky paprika chicken nuggets are really simple to make, and they give you a deep, smoky flavor you can get in the oven or the air fryer. I'm a huge fan of the air fryer for chicken nuggets because I love how crispy they get.
But go ahead and rub paprika directly onto the chicken, then roll it in your breading. That will help the smokiness stick to the chicken and give you a flavor everyone enjoys.
Smoky Paprika Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 400F and line a sheet pan.
- Mix breadcrumbs with smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
- Dip chicken in egg, coat in the smoky crumbs, and arrange on the pan.
- Drizzle with oil and bake 20 minutes, flipping once, until golden.
- Serve with a smoky aioli or ketchup.
Notes
21) Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Nuggets
Soaking your chicken pieces in buttermilk will give you very tender nuggets, and these crispy buttermilk chicken nuggets are sure to be a win for the whole family. They'll have a tender, juicy inside and a crispy outside that pairs well with any sauce.
Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Soak chicken in buttermilk for 15 minutes while the oven heats to 400F.
- Line a sheet pan and mix breadcrumbs with paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
- Lift chicken from the buttermilk and press into the seasoned crumbs.
- Arrange on the pan, drizzle with oil, and bake 20 minutes, flipping once, until golden and crisp.
Notes
22) Savory Cheddar Herb Chicken Nuggets
And last on the list are these savory cheddar herb chicken nuggets. This one has so many different flavors going into it, but the result is going to be a flavor explosion that everyone enjoys. These are cheesy, herby, and savory, and they are certainly ones that you will want to make more than once.
Savory Cheddar Herb Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet.
- Combine breadcrumbs, cheddar, chives, parsley, and salt.
- Dip chicken in egg, press into the cheesy herb crumbs, and arrange on the pan.
- Drizzle with oil and bake 20 minutes, flipping once, until golden and crisp.
- Serve warm with a creamy dip.
