Description
Crispy homemade chicken nuggets deliver a nostalgic crunch with perfectly seasoned breading that elevates classic comfort. Golden-brown morsels promise a delightful meal you’ll savor with each satisfying bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) chicken breast, boneless skinless, chopped into pieces
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup (125 g) flour
- 1 cup (120 g) breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
- ¼ cup (60 ml) water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3 cups (720 ml) canola oil for frying
Instructions
- Preparation: Pulverize chicken in a food processor until smooth and homogeneous, eliminating any substantial meat fragments.
- Seasoning: Incorporate selected spices, water, and cornstarch into ground chicken, creating a unified mixture that binds seamlessly.
- Shaping: Form consistent rectangular nuggets approximately 2 inches square, positioning them meticulously on a parchment-lined baking sheet until entire mixture is transformed.
- Chilling: Refrigerate nuggets for 30 minutes, enabling structural stabilization and enhanced cooking performance.
- Coating Station: Establish a three-phase breading process – dust nuggets with flour, immerse in beaten eggs, then generously envelop with breadcrumbs for a crisp, golden exterior.
- Frying: Heat canola oil to medium-high temperature in a deep pot, strategically frying nuggets in controlled batches for 6-8 minutes, rotating midway to ensure uniform browning and complete cooking.
- Draining: Extract nuggets using a slotted spoon, transferring to paper towel-lined surface to eliminate excess oil and maintain optimal crispness.
- Resting: Allow nuggets brief recuperation, permitting internal temperature equilibration and exterior texture preservation before serving.
Notes
- Pulse Chicken Carefully: Use food processor in short bursts to prevent over-processing, maintaining a smooth yet slightly textured meat consistency.
- Chill Before Coating: Refrigerating nuggets for 30 minutes helps binding mixture set, preventing disintegration during coating and frying.
- Manage Oil Temperature: Keep oil between 350-375°F to ensure crispy exterior without burning, using a kitchen thermometer for precise monitoring.
- Batch Fry Strategically: Cook nuggets in small quantities to maintain consistent oil temperature, preventing soggy or unevenly cooked pieces.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg