Baked Ground Chicken Nuggets (Homemade & Healthy)
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These Homemade Ground Chicken Nuggets are a delicious, healthier take on fast food. Made with ground chicken, panko or gluten-free bread crumbs, and simple seasonings, they bake up golden and crispy in under 20 minutes. Perfect for dipping, these nuggets are great for quick meals or snacks that everyone will love.
f you’re craving crispy, flavorful chicken nuggets, these Baked Homemade Ground Chicken Nuggets bring all that comfort and crunch, but with simple, feel-good ingredients. Made with ground chicken, panko or gluten-free bread crumbs, egg, and a blend of spices, they’re a lighter, tastier take on the fast-food classic. Lightly brushed with butter for that golden finish, they bake up in under 20 minutes — perfect for busy weeknights or quick lunches.
I’ve also included air fryer instructions if you want them extra crispy. Whether you’re serving them to kids or enjoying them yourself, they’re great for dipping in ranch, BBQ sauce, or ketchup (and definitely belong next to a pile of fries).
I used to love restaurant and store-bought chicken nuggets, but making my own with simple, clean ingredients totally ruined those for me — these are just so much better! I love that I can prep a big batch, freeze them, and pop them in the oven for an easy, feel-good dinner anytime.
Why are these homemade chicken nuggets a better choice than fast-food nuggets?
This recipe gives you full control over the ingredients, ensuring you’re using lean ground chicken and wholesome options like almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs for the coating. By baking instead of deep-frying, you skip the excess oil and unwanted fats found in fast-food nuggets. Plus, you can customize the seasonings to your taste, avoiding the processed fillers and additives often found in store-bought or fast-food versions. This way, you get delicious, golden nuggets that are not only flavorful but made with real, simple ingredients.
Why You’ll Love This Oven-Baked Chicken Nugget Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Made with ground chicken, bread crumbs, egg, and seasonings, these nuggets are easy to make with what you have on hand.
- Kid-Friendly and Adult-Approved: They’re perfect for the whole family, with flavors kids love and a satisfying crunch for adults.
- Versatile Cooking Methods: Bake or air fry these nuggets in less than 20 minutes, making them perfect for busy nights.
- Perfect for Dipping: Enjoy with your favorite sauces—ranch, BBQ, ketchup, or even homemade dips!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here is everything you need to make the best-tasting homemade chicken nugget recipe:
Ground Chicken: Ground chicken breast meat and/or chicken thigh pieces works best. You can also use ground turkey, or ground pork can be used instead.
Panko Bread Crumbs: Italian bread crumbs, crushed cornflakes, or crushed crackers can also be used. To make chicken nuggets gluten-free, use gluten-free bread crumbs or almond flour.
Milk: Any milk can be used, including cow’s milk, almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk.
Parmesan Cheese: Nutritional yeast or vegan Parmesan cheese can be used for dairy-free chicken nuggets.
Butter: Olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, or ghee can be used instead.
Tapioca Flour: Cornstarch or potato starch can be used as alternatives. You can use regular flour if you don’t need it to be gluten-free.
How to Make My Easy Baked Ground Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Here are easy, step-by-step instructions for the best way to make better-than-fast-food nuggets:
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Mixture
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, combine bread crumbs (or almond flour)and milk and stir until well coated. Then add the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, onion powder, and black pepper and mix well until combined. Then add in 1 pound of ground chicken and mix it all together with your hands just until all the ingredients are blended.
Step 2: Coat the Homemade Nuggets
Set up a breading station with three bowls: one with tapioca flour, one with the beaten egg, and one with a mixture of bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Using a spoon, medium-sized cookie scoop or small ice cream scoop, scoop out a ball of soft chicken mix and drop it into the
tapioca flour mixture, then the egg wash, and finally the bread crumb mixture, ensuring each nugget is evenly coated. Press the whole nugget into an oval shape while it’s in the bread crumbs, shake off excess batter, and then place the coated nuggets on the prepared baking sheet.
Melt the butter and brush it over the nuggets.
Step 3: Bake the Nuggets
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, flip over the nuggets, and brush the tops with melted butter. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 8 minutes or until the nuggets are cooked through and a golden color.
Allow them to cool and serve the chicken nuggets with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
How to Make Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Nuggets
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3-5 minutes.
Place the coated nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching or overcrowded.
Cook the nuggets in the air fryer for about 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
Depending on the size and model of your air fryer, you may need to cook the nuggets in batches to avoid overcrowding.
Serve the air-fried chicken nuggets with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
My Expert Recipe Tips
Ground Chicken: Use paper towels to dab off any excess moisture from the ground chicken before adding it to the mixture.
Seasonings: Feel free to adjust the seasonings to suit your taste. Add more or less garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or salt according to your preference.
Breading: Assign one hand as your dry dipping hand for dipping the nuggets in the flour and bread crumbs. Then use the other hand for dipping in the egg wash to keep your fingers from getting too messy.
Baking: To ensure even cooking, flip the nuggets halfway through baking and brush butter on the second side.
Healthy Chicken Nugget Serving Suggestions
Some of my delicious dips you can enjoy with your chicken nuggets include:
- High-Protein Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing with Mayo
- 5-Minute Homemade Ketchup with Honey and Garlic
- Greek Yogurt Honey Mustard Protein Sauce or Dip
- Lighter Honey BBQ Sauce Easy-From-Scratch Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you love finger foods? Check out more of my easy and nutritious finger food recipes:
Baked Ground Chicken Nuggets (Homemade & Healthy)
Gluten-FreeIngredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs (or almond flour)
- 3 tablespoons milk (any kind)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- dash black pepper
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup tapioca flour
- 1/4 cup butter
Breading:
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.In a mixing bowl, combine bread crumbs (or almond flour)and milk and stir until well coated. Then add the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, onion powder, and black pepper and mix well until combined. Then add in 1 pound of ground chicken and mix it all together with your hands just until all the ingredients are blended.
- Set up a breading station with three bowls: one with tapioca flour, one with the beaten egg, and one with a mixture of bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Using a spoon, medium-sized cookie scoop or small ice cream scoop, scoop out a ball of soft chicken mix and drop it into thetapioca flour mixture, then the egg wash, and finally the bread crumb mixture, ensuring each nugget is evenly coated. Press the whole nugget into an oval shape while it's in the bread crumbs, shake off excess batter, and then place the coated nuggets on the prepared baking sheet.Melt the butter and brush it over the nuggets.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, flip over the nuggets, and brush the tops with melted butter. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 8 minutes or until the nuggets are cooked through and a golden color.Allow them to cool and serve the chicken nuggets with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
- AIR FRYER INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3-5 minutes.Place the coated nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching or overcrowded.Cook the nuggets in the air fryer for about 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.Depending on the size and model of your air fryer, you may need to cook the nuggets in batches to avoid overcrowding.Serve the air-fried chicken nuggets with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Important Disclaimer
This recipe is created by a home cook and not a medical professional. Our ingredient philosophy is reviewed by RDNs, but this specific post is not personalized medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for dietary concerns.
Hi. Is there any way to do this without egg?
Hi Anna, that is an excellent question 🙂 Absolutely! You can totally make these chicken nuggets without egg. The egg helps the breadcrumbs stick, but there are a few easy alternatives:
Milk or buttermilk: Dip the chicken in milk or buttermilk instead of egg — it works really well and adds a nice flavor.
Greek yogurt or plain yogurt: Thin it out with a little water or milk, then dip your chicken. It adds a yummy tangy taste and extra protein.
Mayo: A thin coating of mustard or mayo can help the breadcrumbs stick and give a fun flavor twist.
Absolutely Delicious!!! I have made it several times. I double or triple the recipe and freeze them. These are great for after school snacks and quick lunch wrap! 🙂 just microwave 1 or 2 minutes.
Hi Idalys, thank you so much for the review! That’s a brilliant idea to batch prep them 🙂
I made the nuggets following the recipe the other day and they turned out amazing. Thanks for developing the recipe!
Would you consider including serving sizes with the nutritional information? Thanks for all the great recipes!
Yes, Keilani! That is an excellent suggestion. Thank you!
My family loved this!
That’s fantastic! Thank you for the review, Ryan 🙂
My husband made your chicken nugget recipe, and it tasted amazingly delicious!
We loved the seasoning! He will definitely make it again!
That is so awesome, Carolyn!!! Thank you for sharing this with me 🙂
It turned out delicious. My son is a professional chicken nugget eater and very picky. He absolutely loves this recipe so we have a new favorite entree. Thank you so much for this healthy version of nuggets. Keep the yummies coming chef!!
Hi Angela, thank you so much for sharing this with me and reviewing my recipe. Your son has great taste 🙂 I will do my best to keep sharing clean, healthy recipes!
These are amazing!!! My kids are obsessed with these chicken nuggets😊
Hi Eliza, I’m so glad your kids love these!!!
I have said goodbye to store bought chicken nuggets because these are a hit! So much more flavor and so much less junk. highly recommend!!
Thank you, Brinley! You’ll never miss the ‘junk’ 🙂
These nuggets are great, the kids loved them, so much better than frying them
That’s awesome, Renee! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Way better than McDonalds!! I didn’t add the parmesan cheese but they were still amazing!
Thank you, Glen!!
I’m so excited to share this recipe and I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does!