These homemade chicken nuggets are a better-for-you option that’ll have you skipping the drive-thru. You get a little crunch from the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, and there’s no skimping on flavor with our spice blend. Whip these up for the kids and yourself. Adults love them too!
For more tasty nuggets, try our Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets or our Copycat Chick-fil-A Nuggets.

Why Our Recipe
- Juicy chicken breast and a flavorful breading (with cheese!) makes these nuggets the real deal!
- Easy to make and ready to go in only 35 minutes.
- These nuggets are baked, so you don’t have to deal with the mess of deep-frying.
We make these chicken nuggets all the time in my house. While I’m at it, I often make a double batch and freeze some for later for easy dinners. They’re dipped in butter and coated in a flavorful breadcrumb and parmesan mixture. You can also use buttermilk in place of the butter. Buttermilk will give the chicken nuggets more of a fried chicken flavor.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are great for this recipe. Chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Breadcrumbs: This recipe uses plain breadcrumbs, but you can swap for Italian, Panko, or even crushed crackers.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated has a better texture, but pre-grated can work in a pinch.
- Melted Butter: Used to coat the chicken with the breadcrumbs.
Breadcrumbs
Plain breadcrumbs are used in this recipe because they’re easy to find and affordable, but you can absolutely use your favorite. Panko breadcrumbs are another option, which are larger and provide a crunchier texture. Crushed cereal like cornflakes or even crushed crackers work, too!
Dipping Sauce
We love a good dipping sauce so be sure to check out some of our homemade favorites:
Homemade Ranch: This creamy ranch is made with buttermilk, mayo, lemon, and herbs. It’s so simple, and it is worth it! You won’t want to go back to the store-bought stuff!
Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce: If you know, you know. This sauce is everything you want in a dipping sauceโit’s sweet, tangy, and smoky.
Homemade Barbecue Sauce: This barbecue sauce is sweet, smoky, and has a little kick from the red pepper flakes. Some barbecue sauces are too sweet, but with this one, you get just enough tang and spice.
Crazy Good Comeback Sauce: This sauce is like the older sibling to the Chick-fil-A copycat. She’s a little more spicy from the hot sauce, a little smoky, and not as sugar-sweet.
Freezer Instructions
Prepare the chicken nuggets as directed by breading them and placing them onto a baking sheet. Instead of baking, just pop the baking tray into the freezer. Once frozen, transfer them to a resealable plastic freezer bag.
When you are ready to eat, just pop them back onto a baking sheet and bake in a 400 degree F oven for 30-35 minutes. These chicken nuggets will stay good in the freezer for 1 to 2 months.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes at 390-400ยฐF.
Microwave on high in 30-second increments, until armed through.
Can these be made in the air fryer instead of the oven
They sure can! Here’s my air fryer version: https://thestayathomechef.com/air-fryer-chicken-nuggets/
I made this tonight. Cutting the chicken into cubes was definitely the hardest part and since I didn’t cut the all the same size some of the pieces were smaller than other once they were cooking. I totally forgot that chicken shrinks while cooking. But other than that it was really delicious.
I just made these tonight and everybody loves them. So easy. Cubing the chicken was the hardest part. Easy and delicious. You canโt ask for better than that. Will definitely make these again.
So happy to hear that! Cubing really is the hardest part of the whole thing which makes this such a great recipe!
So easy and delicious!
Glad you are doing better and enjoying your garden!
Thank you! Glad you could enjoy these nuggies!
I need your cookbook !!!
Canโt wait to make these
So glad you are doing well sweetie
Enjoy! My little family has eaten so many of these its crazy!
Rachel, Thank you for sharing your endowed talents of cooking. These chicky nuggets are a hit with my nephews and nieces. The cheese element is a win. These cook up quick and tasty in my book , free of the mystery Frankenstein chemicals mass production nugget factories use to enable perceived freshness in the lengthy the mass distribution pipeline. Your recipe is fresh chicken breast and seals the flavor in with your recipe. Love them!
Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment! Knowing exactly whatโs in them makes all the difference. So glad you’re loving the fresh, simple ingredients and that cheesy touch!
I made these a few days ago for my very picky grandsons. First of all, they loved them as I did and wanted me to make these again. I saw the video and saw how easy it was to make. Don’t make any changes, amazing! So very happy for you with your health journey. Having faith and never giving up and what a role model your are. Love the Sunday chat and love seeing the rest of your team and continued healing.God is amazing and prayers provided by all your followers ” also known as your adopted family”.
Awww thank you! It has meant so much to me to have so much support all these years. When I did my book tour in 2022 and got to meet so many of my adopted family, it was just unreal. I tell people I will just never be able to explain how much that experience meant to me. Meeting people on the other side of the camera/internet that I have only imagined….well, it’s a dream come true.
Can you make this in an air fryer?
Yes! Here is where you can find our air fryer version: https://thestayathomechef.com/air-fryer-chicken-nuggets/
Every think I do with your recipes are amazing!!! Thanks for everything!
I love, love all your recipes dear Rachel! I have many that I cooked, baked and loved! MY family
Loves all of the recipes that I made from you! God Bless you & know you are in my Rosary Prayers! ๐โค๏ธ๐โด๏ธ๐๐ปโ๏ธ
I love all your recipes . I make quite a few so far,and i like to get more