SAEDNEWS: Chicken nuggets are a beloved and delicious international fast-food dish made from chicken meat. Follow this step-by-step guide to prepare these tasty nuggets at home.
Chicken nuggets are among the most popular snacks worldwide, known for their crispy coating and tender interior. While they may resemble chicken patties, nuggets are typically breaded and deep-fried for extra crunch.
You can enjoy them in a sandwich, alongside rice, or as a standalone snack. While store-bought options are convenient, homemade nuggets are fresher, healthier, and more flavorful.
This recipe yields 4 servings, but feel free to adjust the quantities as needed.
Chicken breast and thigh mix: 500g
Onion: 1 large, grated
Garlic cloves: 3, minced
Mozzarella cheese: 5 tablespoons
Bread core (from sandwich or toast bread): 4 pieces
Milk: As needed
Kentucky-style breadcrumbs: ½ cup
Cooking oil: As needed
Tomato sauce: As needed
Smoked paprika: 1 teaspoon
Mustard sauce: 1 teaspoon
Salt, red pepper, thyme, coriander seeds, cumin: To taste
Grind the Chicken:
Remove the bones from the chicken thighs and grind them along with the chicken breast twice using a meat grinder.
While you can use only chicken breast, combining breast and thigh meat ensures the nuggets remain moist and tender.
Prepare the Mixture:
Add the grated onion and mashed garlic to the minced chicken.
In a separate bowl, soak the bread core in milk until soft.
Add the soaked bread to the chicken mixture and mix thoroughly.
Season the Mixture:
Stir in the smoked paprika, mustard sauce, mozzarella cheese, and spices.
Mix well until you achieve a smooth, uniform dough.
Shape the Nuggets:
Lightly flour a flat surface.
Roll out the nugget mixture to about ½ cm thickness.
Use a cookie cutter or knife to cut out nugget shapes.
Arrange them on a floured tray and freeze for about 1 hour.
Coat the Nuggets:
In one bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth.
In another bowl, pour the Kentucky-style breadcrumbs.
Dip each nugget first in breadcrumbs, then in egg, and coat again in breadcrumbs.
Fry the Nuggets:
Heat enough cooking oil in a deep pot over low heat.
Once the oil is hot, fry the nuggets in batches until golden brown on both sides.
Transfer the fried nuggets to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
Serve:
Arrange the nuggets on a serving tray.
Drizzle them with tomato sauce and serve with pickles and tomato slices.
Over-frying: Cooking nuggets for too long can make them dry and tough.
Using Only Chicken Breast: Pure chicken breast can result in dryness. Adding soaked bread improves tenderness.
For a vibrant golden color, mix crushed cheese puffs with the breadcrumbs.
This recipe yields approximately 50–60 nuggets.
Smoked paprika adds a unique, delicious flavor.
You can bread the nuggets in advance and freeze them. Fry them fresh when needed.
If the mixture feels sticky, sprinkle it with flour and lightly coat your cutter with it.
Always use frying-specific oil for best results.
Adding mozzarella cheese enhances flavor, but you can substitute it with Gouda cheese or skip it entirely.
Freezing the nuggets before frying helps them maintain their shape and achieve a crisp texture.
Enjoy your homemade chicken nuggets—crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor!
