Name: Crispy, Baked Chicken Nuggets
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ¼ cup panko bread crumbs; 1 pound chicken tenderloin, cut into 1 ½ inch pieces.; 1 cup whole milk; 1 tablespoon white vinegar; 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning mix; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Jump to Recipe

These baked chicken nuggets are healthy and flavorful, with a crispy panko coating your kids and family will love. They’re perfect for a quick lunch, dinner, or snack, and can be made in just 30 minutes!

My kids love these crispy nuggets and I feel good knowing they’re made with more wholesome ingredients than many other options. Plus they’re a great source of protein for picky-eaters. You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts or any lean chicken tenderloin meat and coat with panko crumbs seasoned with Italian seasoning mix, salt, and garlic powder. They’re so simple to make and do not compromise on flavor!

If you’re looking for easy and delicious meals for your kids, these healthy baked chicken tenders and my panko baked cod recipes are a must-try!

Ingredients for Baked Chicken Nuggets

Chicken tenderloins – These are healthy lean cuts of white chicken breast meat that are thinner, so they cook up more quickly in the oven and will save you prep time too.

Panko crumbs – Use these for a really crispy breading. For other options, you can use gluten-free panko and even whole wheat panko crumbs.

Seasoning – Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and kosher salt are added to the breading for extra flavor.

Milk and Vinegar – Soaking the chicken in a milk and vinegar mixture tenderizes the meat and helps the panko breading to coat better. For an alternative, you can use buttermilk to soak the chicken.

How to Make Oven Baked Chicken Nuggets

Cut the skinless chicken breasts into 1 ½ inch pieces and soak them in the milk and vinegar mixture for 5 minutes. This ensures the chicken will be moist and tender!

Meanwhile, toast the panko breadcrumbs for 5 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure you get a nice, golden color and a crispy crunch with each bite.

Mix the panko and seasoning together.

Shake off any excess milk from the chicken, then coat each chicken nugget with the panko mixture.

Place the nuggets onto a baking rack in a single layer. This is important, it helps hot air to circulate and cook the chicken breasts into nice crispy pieces from top to bottom.

Bake the chicken for 15 minutes and you’re done!

Serve with a side of ketchup, ranch, mustard, or your favorite dipping sauce. For a healthy ketchup option, try a sugar-free veggie ketchup!

Tips

You can double this baked chicken nuggets recipe and freeze them for a quick meal.
To freeze, allow the cooked nuggets to completely cool to room temperature, then place them into an airtight container and freeze.
To reheat frozen nuggets, bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes.
Easily customize them by substituting different seasonings, like black pepper or paprika to your taste! You can even add a tbsp or two of parmesan cheese.
If you are using thicker cuts of chicken, add some more cooking time to ensure the chicken is cooked through.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Should you flip the chicken nuggets in the oven?

No, there is no need to as these nuggets are baked on a wire rack. This ensures the chicken will be cooked evenly.

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

Using a meat thermometer, check that the internal cooking temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Alternatively, you can cut the chicken tenders in half, if the chicken meat has no pink color, then it’s done.

What dipping sauces are best with these oven-baked chicken tenders?

While my family usually prefers ketchup, you can use many other sauces as a tasty dipping sauce, including barbecue sauce, honey, honey mustard sauce, ranch, spicy mustard, even Chick-Fil-A sauce. For fun, experiment with a different dip and try something new!

What can I serve with chicken nuggets?

Some healthy options are carrot sticks, celery sticks, baked french fries, air fryer broccoli or air fryer sweet potatoes!

Enjoy these healthy oven-baked chicken nuggets and happy eating!

For another easy dinner, check out this kid-approved enchilada casserole.