Baked Chicken Nuggets

Super Crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets with Garlic and Parmesan. Breaded in panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese and baked until golden brown and crispy. This easy Chicken Nuggets recipe is wonderful as an appetizer or for dinner, and much healthier than take-out or frozen!

If you love making healthier crispy chicken at home, give my Baked Chicken Tenders and my Oven Fried Chicken Thighs a try!

Baked Chicken Nuggets with Garlic and Parmesan

These chicken nuggets are amazing. Perfectly golden brown, tender on the inside and extra crunchy on the outside. Just how I like my chicken nuggets.

They are baked, not fried, and are still super crispy on the outside. They are breaded in panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. Similar to my Crispy Baked Parmesan Chicken Tenders but way more pop-able.

The trick to getting these nuggets crispy is the panko breadcrumb. Panko breadcrumbs are Japanese-style breadcrumbs that are lighter and flakier than typical breadcrumbs.

Baking these nuggets also makes them a lot healthier. I use high heat (I set the oven to 400 degrees) to get them nice and crispy.

Kids and adults alike love these chicken nuggets. Skip store-bought frozen chicken nuggets or fast food and give these a try!

What you’ll need to make this recipe

• Chicken: I prefer lean chicken breasts for this recipe, however, boneless skinless chicken thighs are another great option!
• Flour: This is the first ingredient for breading the chicken. I used plain, all-purpose flour. The egg and breadcrumbs stick to it really well!
• Egg: Egg is an essential ingredient for breading baked chicken nuggets. It binds the breadcrumbs to the chicken and keeps it from crumbling off.
• Breadcrumbs: For extra crunch, I finished breading the chicken with panko breadcrumbs. They crisp us so well in the oven!
• Parmesan: For a little tangy, cheesy flavor I added grated parmesan cheese. It also gets nice and crispy when it’s baked in the oven.
• Garlic powder: I love garlic in just about every savory dish! A little garlic powder makes these chicken nuggets taste incredible!
• Garnish: Extra parmesan cheese and parsley finish this dish beautifully. This step is optional but I highly recommend it!

How to make Baked Chicken Nuggets

1. Preheat the oven: Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
3. Bread the chicken: Starting with the flour and ending with breadcrumbs, dip the chicken into the flour, egg, and Parmesan breadcrumbs.
4. Place the chicken on a baking tray: Line the chicken tenders on a baking sheet covered with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
5. Bake! Place in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until fully cooked.
6. Turn them over: Flip halfway through cooking.
7. Garnish: Take out of the oven and top with extra Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley for garnish.

Tips for Success

• The best way to bread these baked chicken nuggets is to keep one hand for wet ingredients and one hand for dry. This helps from getting the dreaded breading hands.
• I use this baking method / breading for most of my crispy chicken recipes. It’s a great way to get tender chicken with a crispy coating. If you love these nuggets, check out my Easy Honey Garlic Sesame Chicken and my Super Sticky Asian Chicken Bites which use the same breading method.
• Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days,
• Reheat in the oven or air fryer until heated through and crispy. You can also reheat them in the microwave but the breading won’t turn out as crispy.

What to serve with Chicken Nuggets

• French Fries
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Loaded Mexican Fries
• Pasta
• Three Cheese Mac and Cheese
• Roasted Potatoes
• Risotto
• Mashed Potatoes
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Salad
• Spicy Roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts

Dips

• Barbecue Sauce
• Homemade Ranch Dip
• Ketchup
• Garlic Mayonnaise
• Spicy Mayo
• Blue Cheese Dressing

How long should Chicken Nuggets be in the oven?

Bake homemade chicken nuggets for 15-20 minutes at 400°F. Check the internal temperature reaches 160-165°F, or that it’s no longer pink in the middle before consuming.

Are baked chicken nuggets unhealthy?

Store-bought frozen chicken nuggets are often filled with unnecessary ingredients and aren’t very healthy even if they’re baked instead of fried. Homemade baked chicken nuggets have simple ingredients and are a much better, healthier choice!

How do you know when chicken nuggets are done in the oven?

The best way to tell when baked chicken nuggets are done is with a meat thermometer. When the internal temperature of the chicken reaches between 160-165°F, is no longer pink inside, and the breading is golden and crispy, then you’ll know the chicken nuggets are ready to eat.

Here are more delicious chicken recipes to try!

• Easy Chicken Marsala
• The BEST Chicken Parmesan
• Easy Chicken Shawarma
• Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
• Easy One Pan Bourbon Chicken
• Easy Thai Chicken Satay