Description
Crispy homemade chicken nuggets elevate classic comfort fare with a golden, crunchy exterior and juicy interior. Seasoned breading and simple ingredients make these nuggets an irresistible family favorite you cannot resist trying at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) boneless skinless chicken breast, chopped into pieces
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Coating and Binding Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (30 grams) cornstarch
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) water
- 1 cup (120 grams) breadcrumbs
- 1 cup (125 grams) flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 3 cups (720 milliliters) canola oil for frying
Instructions
- Utilize a food processor to transform chicken into a fine, uniform consistency, ensuring no large chunks remain.
- Enhance the ground chicken with carefully selected seasonings, mixing in water and cornstarch to create a cohesive binding mixture.
- Mold the seasoned chicken mixture into uniform rectangular pieces, approximately 2 inches by 2 inches (5 centimeters by 5 centimeters), positioning each carefully on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Complete the shaping process until all chicken mixture has been transformed into nugget-like forms.
- Refrigerate the prepared nuggets for 30 minutes, allowing them to firm up and maintain their structured shape during cooking.
- Heat of canola oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer to the optimal frying temperature, maintaining a steady medium-high heat.
- Remove chilled nuggets from refrigerator and prepare a three-stage coating station: dust each piece with all-purpose flour, dip thoroughly in beaten eggs, then generously coat with breadcrumbs for a crispy exterior.
- Carefully lower coated nuggets into hot oil, working in small batches to prevent temperature drops and ensure even cooking, frying for 6-8 minutes and rotating midway to achieve golden-brown perfection.
- Extract cooked nuggets using a slotted spoon, transferring them to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil and maintain crispiness.
- Complete the frying process for remaining nuggets, maintaining consistent oil temperature and cooking technique.
- Allow nuggets to rest for a few minutes, letting the internal temperature stabilize and the exterior remain perfectly crisp before serving.
Notes
- Freeze-shaping prevents nuggets from falling apart during cooking, ensuring a perfect bite every time.
- Blending chicken creates a smoother, more consistent texture compared to hand-chopping.
- Cornstarch acts as a secret binding agent, helping the mixture hold together seamlessly.
- Coating layers (flour, egg, breadcrumbs) guarantee a crispy, golden-brown exterior with maximum crunch.
- Working in small batches maintains consistent oil temperature, resulting in evenly cooked nuggets without burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 470 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 27 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg