Healthy chicken nuggets

Recreate the classic school dinner of chicken nuggets using a DIY blend of herbs, spices and panko breadcrumbs for an easy midweek dinner.

We all have that fussy friend who seems to delight in eating beige food. The main culprit always seems to be chicken nuggets and I can certainly see the appeal. It’s convenient, cheap and quick to cook.

Personally, I never find the ultra-processed stuff very appealing (read the back of a packet sometime), which is why I concocted my own, healthier recipe for chicken nuggets using a homemade blend of spices, herbs and panko breadcrumbs.

There are no fancy ingredients or techniques going on, but toasting the breadcrumbs first is key to achieve a super-crunchy coating and preventing the chicken breasts from drying out.

It is a messy job coating the chicken in flour, egg and breadcrumbs but if you can rope in some little helpers, you can get dinner on the table in 30 minutes. Start the stopwatch!

How To Make Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets

• Chef Catling’s recipe notes
• Recipe: Healthy baked chicken nuggets recipe
• Serving suggestions
• Frequently asked questions

Tips & Notes To Know

• Pay that little bit extra: For extra crunch, go with panko breadcrumbs over normal breadcrumbs. They give the nuggets a lighter, crispier texture.
• Spice it up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chilli powder to the flour mixture if you like your chicken nuggets with a bit of a kick.
• Make ahead: You can freeze the uncooked nuggets and bake them straight from frozen by adding another 8-10 minutes onto the cooking time.

Healthy baked chicken nuggets

Serves: 4 Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 20 mins 20 mins

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Ingredients

50g panko breadcrumbs
20g ground almonds
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp onion granules
1/2 tsp garlic granules
2 skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
50g plain flour, for dusting
1 medium free-range egg
1/2 tsp dried mixed herbs
Olive oil spray

Instructions

Step 1
Preheat the oven to 200C. In a bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs with the ground almonds, smoked paprika, onion granules and garlic granules.

Step 2
Spread the breadcrumb mixture out on a non-stick tray lined with baking parchment and bake in the oven for 6-8 minutes until golden. Decant onto a plate and leave to cool for 5 minutes.

Step 3
Meanwhile, beat the egg in a bowl and tip the plain flour out onto a separate plate. Once the breadcrumbs have cooled, stir in the mixed herbs with plenty of salt and pepper and mix well.

Step 4
Working in batches, coat the chicken nuggets in the plain flour first, then submerge in the beaten egg, shaking off any excess. Roll the chicken nuggets in the panko breadcrumbs until well coated and place back on the lined baking tray.

Step 5
Spray the tops of the chicken nuggets with olive oil and bake in the oven for 12-14 minutes, turning once, until golden, crisp and the chicken is cooked through. 

Serving suggestions

• Bring back school dinner days with a side of homemade chips and baked beans.
• With sweet potato wedges and corn on the cob.
• Wrapped up in a soft tortilla for a speedy lunch.
• In a grain/nugget bowl – with rice, greens, roasted vegetables and a dip.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Know If The Chicken Is Cooked Through And Safe To Eat?

The juices should be pale gold and clear. If the meat is still pink and raw inside, return the chicken nuggets to the oven for 3 minutes before checking again.

If you have a digital thermometer to hand, simply stick the probe into the thickest part of the chicken breast. The internal temperatures should be at least 73ºC (165ºF). This handy guide will help.