Table of Contents
Introduction
If there’s one dinner that checks all the boxes—kid-friendly, budget-friendly, and ready faster than you can scroll through takeout apps—it’s homemade chicken nuggets with ground chicken. Whether you’re wrangling toddlers, teens, or just trying to please your picky eater husband (hey, no judgment), these nuggets are the answer to your dinnertime prayers.
Hi, I’m Samuel from Trips Recipes. Around here, we believe in food that not only feeds the body but also brings a little joy to your day. And let’s be real—nothing sparks joy quite like nuggets that taste better than the freezer aisle and are healthier to boot. Plus, using ground chicken makes shaping these golden bites super easy, no food processor required!
Let’s roll up our sleeves and make dinner magic.
Ingredients You Will Need
This recipe uses everyday ingredients you probably already have sitting in your fridge or pantry. No breadcrumbs made from unicorn horns—we’re keeping it simple.
For the Nugget Mix:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 slice white or whole wheat bread, torn into small pieces
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Coating:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional but highly recommended)
- Olive oil spray or melted butter for crisping
How to Make Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Ground Chicken
Step 1: Make the Panade
Soak your torn bread in milk for 2–3 minutes until it’s mushy—this will keep your nuggets juicy and tender. Stir in the egg, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Step 2: Mix with Ground Chicken
In a large bowl, combine the bread mixture with ground chicken. Mix gently—don’t overdo it, or you’ll end up with tough nuggets.
Step 3: Shape Your Nuggets
Scoop tablespoon-sized amounts of the chicken mixture and shape them into nugget-sized pieces. They don’t need to be perfect—“rustic” nuggets are charming, right?
Step 4: Coat and Prepare for Cooking
In a shallow dish, mix the panko and Parmesan. Gently press each nugget into the mixture, coating both sides. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and spray with olive oil or brush with melted butter.
Step 5: Bake or Air Fry
- To Bake: Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake for 10 minutes, flip, then bake another 8–10 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- To Air Fry: Cook at 390°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway. Boom—crispy perfection.
Tips & Tricks
- No Panko? Crushed cornflakes or regular breadcrumbs work in a pinch.
- Make Ahead: Freeze uncooked nuggets on a tray, then store in a freezer bag. Bake from frozen at 400°F for 18–20 minutes.
- Sneaky Veggie Add-In: Finely grated zucchini or carrots blend in beautifully and go unnoticed by even the most observant 6-year-old.
- Customize the Seasoning: Add a dash of cayenne, paprika, or Italian herbs to make them your own.
For more Chicken Nugget methods, check out the following
- Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- Baked Chicken Nuggets
- Chicken Nugget Nachos
- Chick-fil-A Grilled Nuggets Recipe
You can visit our Facebook Page for more choices: Trips Recipes
Whether you’re packing lunchboxes, prepping for a freezer stash, or just trying to avoid the drive-thru, these homemade chicken nuggets with ground chicken are your new best friend. They’re crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and picky-eater approved—without the mystery meat.
Pair them with a side of baked sweet potato fries or our homemade dipping sauce trio to turn dinner into a finger-food feast.
When dinner is this easy and delicious, you might just find yourself making a double batch. (Pro tip: you’ll want to.)
FAQs About homemade chicken nuggets with ground chicken
How to get ground chicken to stick together?
Ground chicken can be a little tricky because it’s lean and tends to be softer than ground beef. To help it stick together, you’ll need a binding agent. The most common (and effective) combo is a panade—that’s just bread soaked in milk—plus an egg. This keeps the mixture moist while giving it just enough structure. You can also add a bit of grated Parmesan or breadcrumbs if it still feels too wet. The key is not overmixing—gentle hands make tender nuggets!
Are McDonald’s chicken nuggets ground chicken?
Yes, McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets are made from ground white meat chicken, primarily chicken breast, along with seasonings and other ingredients. They’re shaped into those iconic nugget forms (boot, bell, ball, and bone!) and then battered and fried. While they do use real chicken, they also include some processing steps that you can easily skip when making your own at home.
What holds chicken nuggets together?
Chicken nuggets hold together thanks to binders like eggs, breadcrumbs, or soaked bread (panade) that help the meat mixture stay firm during cooking. These ingredients trap moisture and create a structure, so your nuggets don’t fall apart mid-flip. A little seasoning also helps improve texture and flavor—but the egg is really the MVP here.
Can you make nuggets with ground chicken?
Absolutely! In fact, using ground chicken makes homemade nuggets easier to shape and incredibly juicy. It’s a great option if you don’t have a food processor to break down chicken breasts. With the right seasonings and a simple coating (like panko and Parmesan), you can bake, air fry, or pan-fry ground chicken nuggets that are just as crave-worthy as anything from the freezer aisle—or drive-thru.