Can I tell you a secret about chicken? I go through phases where I get very, VERY, extreeeemely sick of it. These easy baked chicken nuggets help me get through it, though.
Chicken wings? Give em. Fried chicken? Bring it. BBQ’d and drenched in sticky sweet sauce? [drools]. If it’s unhealthy? Nommmm!
If you bake a chicken breast and hand it to me, chances are I’ll say ‘oh, that’s nice’ as I run to the fridge and find whatever sauce I can to mask the taste. I blame it on all the time I spent during my diet phase where I thought the only way to lose weight was to eat overcooked poultry and bland veggies. (score: 0/10. do not recommend that phase.)
I had to find a way to make chicken fun again. Also, healthy.
Either that, or risk rushing out the door to Chick Fil A. That option isn’t healthy for me or my wallet.
These baked chicken nuggets are easy, and quick – which makes them POSSIBLY faster than running out for fast food.
Surprisingly, faux breading can be made out of almost anything at all you have on hand. That box of Special K the kids won’t eat? Crush that shit up. Bag of tortilla chips? Throw em in the blender. Panko? Ok, that is supposed to be used as breadcrumbs, so it’s not too inventive… just use that if you have it.
This version of chicken nuggets is brought to you by almonds and oats.
Both items you can drop in a blender and turn into flour. Oats have a little more carbs, almonds have a little more fat.
Blend them together and you end up with a really great consistency that coats chicken flawlessly.
A blender or food processor is a must for this. My Blendtec is my best friend, but any cheap blender will work.
Don’t forget to add spices!
I switch up the spices in what I make every time I make it. It’s the best way to make sure you never get bored with flavors.
For this batch:
-Garlic powder
-Everything Spicy, by Flavor God.
Steel cut oats instead of old fashioned quick oats give the flour mix a little thicker consistency. They’re also a bit less processed, with a lower glycemic index. You’re pretty safe with any version of oats… as long as you aren’t opening up the individual packages of sugar filled fruity flavors. Eww. haha
Chop chicken up into nugget sized pieces. Tenderloins or chicken breasts both work for this.
Bath number one: egg wash.
Bath number two: breading mixture.
Arrange on a baking sheet, and into ze oven they go!
Now is probably a good time to mention I’m absolutely terrible at making recipes. I tend to just throw handfuls of things on top of one another and hope it works out. Optimal oven temperature? Pfffft. Set it at 400 and poke at the things inside until you think they’re done.
I’m learning how to write recipes out as I go, so I apologize from the bottom of my heart about this post. It is not fancy. As I’m writing it, I’m installing a fancy plugin to make a recipe card. Perhaps a “jump to recipe” button at the top so you can bypass the ramblings of chicken nugget lady. Who really cares about seeing chicken in an oven anyway? Do you know how many ways you can photograph chicken? I ran out while trying to get creative here.
Easy Baked Chicken Nuggets
Equipment
- Blender or Food Processor
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast or tenderloin
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup almonds
- 1/2 cup oats steel cut or old fashioned
- 1 tsp seasoning of choice garlic + everything spicy
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F
- In a blender or food processor: Combine oats, almonds, and seasoning into flour consistency. Transfer to a shallow bowl.
- Cut chicken to create nuggets. 1-1.5 inch pieces
- In a separate shallow container, crack and whisk egg
- Dip chicken pieces into egg, letting the extra drip back into the container. Then dredge in the flour mixture. Space out onto a baking sheet
- Bake nuggets for 15-20 minutes or until fully cooked, flipping halfway through for even browning.
Notes
Other great alternatives include chili powder for something spicy, paprika for a smoky flavor, or even Italian seasoning.Â
Macro counters, those who struggle to hit protein goals, etc might like this fun variation.
If you want to really ramp up the protein, use Quest chips as your breading! This isn’t a cheap option. Bags of Quest chips are around 2.50 each, and you might need multiple bags to do this. Just open the bag a tad to let the air out, then use a rolling pin (or your hands, or anything you have) to crush the chips.
This was the fast and easy version, so on this plate, nuggs are served up with a bag of microwavable steamer veggies.
Plus dipping sauce.
Because dip.
Make sure to serve these with some veggies, because nourishment is more than just protein!
Do you have your own version of healthy or easy baked (or maybe even airfryed) chicken nuggets you like to make? Head over to Instagram and let me know the recipe!
