Homemade chicken nuggets ready in less than an hour, easy to freeze for busy days and great for snacking or meals. No salt added, just a few spices to add some flavor, making them suitable for BLW babies, toddlers and kids of all ages.
Homemade chicken nuggets are so much better than store-bought ones. They are healthier since you have control over the ingredients you are using and you could add different spices depending on what your family likes.
They are my go-to meal on busy days and if we have any leftovers I put a couple in my little one's lunchbox for the next day. My chicken nuggets recipe is dairy-free and nut-free if you are following a special diet but I will be using eggs to make the crust.
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👩🏻🍳 Why you should try my recipe
- Easy to make with just a few ingredients.
- Suitable for babies from 6 months old.
- You could use different spices to your liking.
- Easy to freeze for busy days.
- Great for lunchboxes or snacking.
🥘 Ingredients
To make these baby-friendly chicken nuggets, I'm using chicken strips, breadcrumbs, eggs, flour, sweet paprika and Italian seasoning. Instead of Italian seasoning, you could also use oregano or a mix of dried herbs.
If you'd like to enhance the seasoning, consider adding garlic powder or turmeric. Many breadcrumb packets available in stores contain salt, so be sure to check the ingredients. Alternatively, you can make your own breadcrumbs using stale bread by blending it in a food processor.
For full quantities and to print the recipe, see the recipe card below.
🔪 Step-by-step Instructions
So get your ingredients ready and let's get started!
01. I'm using 2 chicken breasts or 3 boneless chicken thighs and cut them into pieces. To speed up the process you could buy precut chicken strips, but it doesn't take long to cut the chicken yourself and usually it's slightly cheaper. For juicier chicken nuggets, I recommend using boneless chicken thighs, as they are higher in fat.
02. I like to place three bowls in front of me to dip the chicken strips in. In one bowl I place the flour, in the second I beat the two eggs and in the third one I mix the breadcrumbs with the sweet paprika and Italian seasoning. For older kids, you could also add some salt to taste.
03. I take each chicken piece and dip it in the bowl with the flour. I make sure it's covered on all sides before moving to the next bowl and tap it lightly to remove any excess flour.
04. Moving on, I place the chicken piece in the bowl with the beaten eggs. I'm using a fork to turn the chicken around and cover all sides.
05. Then I place the chicken piece in the bowl with the breadcrumbs and seasoning. I cover all sides with the breadcrumbs and place the chicken piece in a lined baking tray.
06. I repeat the same process with the remaining chicken strips, dipping them first into the bowl with the flour, then the eggs and finally the breadcrumbs.
07. I have all the chicken nuggets on a lined baking tray ready for the oven. Before baking them, I like to spray them with some olive oil or brush them to get crispier on the outside.
08. I make sure the oven is preheated to 375F or 190C and bake them for 25 minutes until they have a nice golden brown crust. We don't want to overcook them, as the chicken will become dry and it will be harder to bite and chew for the little ones.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- You could use oregano or mixed dry herbs instead of Italian seasoning.
- You could also add garlic powder, turmeric and a little bit of salt (for older kids).
- You could use chicken breasts or boneless thighs for a juicier nugget.
HealthyBitesForKids Product Picks
Easy to clean stainless steel trays. I have a couple of those for roasting veggies or baking cookies.
Buy On Amazon🍽 Serving suggestions
I usually serve these homemade chicken nuggets with some raw or boiled veggies on the side like broccoli, carrot or cucumber sticks, cherry tomatoes and some potato mash or healthy potato fries.
They are also great for snacking as they are easy to hold and not very messy, or for breakfast with some beans or eggs. So versatile!
🧰 Storage
If you have any leftover of these homemade chicken nuggets, then store them in the fridge for the next day. The crust will get a bit softer when you reheat them but they will still taste great.
I also like to freeze them, as it gets very handy for busy days when you don't have much time or you have your hands full with other stuff. I put the chicken nuggets in freezer friendly bags and lay them flat so it's easier to place on a tray when ready to bake. You don't have to thaw them. Just preheat the oven to 375F and bake for 12–15 minutes until hot all the way through.
❓ FAQ
Make sure you don't overcook the chicken nuggets as the meat will dry out and will be difficult to chew, especially for little ones with a few or no teeth. For a juicier chicken nugget, you could also use boneless chicken thighs that are more fatty.
📋 Recipe
Homemade Chicken Nuggets (Baby & Kid Friendly)
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- ¾ cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup flour
- 2 eggs
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts into strips (about two fingers width).
- Place the flour in one bowl. Place the eggs in another bowl and lightly beat them until combined.
- In a third bowl, add the breadcrumbs, sweet paprika and Italian seasoning and mix everything well.
- Dip each chicken piece into the bowl with the flour and tap lightly to remove any excess flour.
- Then dip into the eggs and cover with the breadcrumbs mixture.
- Place the breaded chicken piece on a lined baking tray. Repeat with the remaining chicken pieces.
- Spray or brush the chicken nuggets with some olive oil.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes in a preheated oven to 375℉ or 190℃.
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🥣 More to try
If you liked my baby-friendly chicken nuggets, you should try some of these recipes too:
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