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Chicken Nuggets Aren't Just For Kids

August 07, 2013

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Super easy homemade chicken nuggets...kids love them. And so will you.

Chicken Nugget Recipe

My kids are not toddlers, actually they are far from it, but last night, we ate chicken nuggets.  It was highly unusual, since when they were small, we ate so many nuggets that they now gag at the mention of them.

I must admit that I am not a big fan either.

They frankly remind me of fast food places and sticky car rides and, let's face it, nothing about chicken nuggets screams healthy or home cooking. They didn't really rate as a satisfying "daddy food" either.

By kindergarten, in order to keep the love alive and give them more credibility as a main course, I tried to make them on my own, but they were always so bready and mushy or too crunchy. I gave up, and no one seemed upset. At all.

Fast forward to the present and my quest to break out of our boring meal habits, I have been looking for some interesting things to do with chicken (like my francaise).  I've scoured cookbooks, questioned friends, yeah, yeah, I pinned, but a lot of the recipes fell short.

Lesson learned, a gorgeous photo does not always equal a delicious dish.

Then I remembered this one for battered cutlets (something we're also sick of), from my college days...who knew that cutting chicken into cubes could make all the difference? 

I have to admit, they were really good and I am a total convert.

Homemade Chicken Nugget Recipe


The recipe is super easy and you can doctor it up with spices any way you like.  We have pretty boring palates over here at Exquisitely Unremarkable, so I just add salt and pepper. 

It took no time to prepare, it didn't come out of a box, or with a toy. It was just very lean chicken breast, the kids ate it up and doesn't it look pretty on the plate? 

Can't do better than that!

Here's what I did ~ Please keep in mind, I'm not a big measurer:

Cubed Chicken Breast

2-3 pounds of chicken breast cubed
Mix 1 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp  of pepper
1/2 cup of flour together in a bowl or zippy bag and coat the chicken. 

Breading Chicken Nuggets

Add a thin coat of oil to bottom of large skillet and cook until done. I used corn oil, but you can use whatever you like.

Cooking Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Now, I made this in the afternoon, so I cooked them until they were 99% done and then later at dinnertime I popped them on a cookie sheet and warmed them up/ cooked them the rest of the way. 

This also crisped them up a bit more. I served them with popcorn rice and broccoli, but they go with everything! I know that it's pretty basic, but you can't argue with delicious.

You know I love the comments, so feel free to let me know if you have your own chicken nugget recipe or if you might try this one.

Of course, if you have any chicken recipe you'd like to share, please do so on my Facebook page, because you know it's only a matter of time until we're sick of the nuggets again!


Chicken Nuggets Recipe



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  1. We had homemade chicken nuggets for dinner last night too! Mine are not very healthy since I flour, egg, breadcrumb and then fry them - but they are a fun treat once in a while and 4 out of 5 people in my house will eat them - which is pretty good in my house!

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    1. Yes, I hear you loud and clear, that's why I was so thrilled when they all disappeared! No one asked if they could have cereal instead~ not even the daddy...that's a score in my house!

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  2. Kim - they look very delicious, and I am sure they taste much better then the fast food branded nuggets.

    Beth

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    1. Thanks Beth! Everyone here ate them up and they're all pretty picky! Thanks for the comment!

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  3. I may have to try this recipe for my 3 year old food-dipper. :)

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    1. If you do, Yvonne, please let me know! It's so super easy and clean up is a breeze, just toss that zippy bag!

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  4. Those look way better than fast food or frozen chicken nuggets.

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  5. This is great! Found it on the Pinterest Party, pinning it! No more unhealthy "it's-made-out-of-what?" nuggets :)

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    1. Exactly the way I feel and why we hadn't eaten them in so long! Thanks for pinning! :)

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  6. Looks so good. I will make some this week for sure. Thanks for linking to Inspire Me. Hgus, Marty

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    1. Hope you think they are as yummy as we do, Marty!

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  7. I love how you don't measure specifically either. Many of the fabulous recipes I've put on my blog are filled with "some, a lot, maybe 1/2 cup" because they are very easy to add or delete from. This is a style of cooking my mother doesn't know how to deal with. She must have very specific numbers to measure or she can't cook. Somehow, my sisters and I went the complete other way and seem to always throw in a little of this and a little of that and we like to experiment or make do if we don't have a crucial ingredient.

    What is popcorn rice?

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    1. My mom was a measurer, too! She was also a timer...I am not a timer, either. I often forget to look at the clock when I put food it the oven. I like most food well done, so it usually works out pretty well! Popcorn rice is an old family favorite...very basic. White rice, chicken bouillon cube, butter, bake. I should post that recipe...it's almost too easy to warrant a post, but it is delish! Hey, thanks for coming by again! I really liked your blog and I'm looking forward to reading more!

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  8. Yummy - Chicken nuggets always are a great dinner treat! Thanks for sharing at Project Inspired!! Pinned to our group pinboard for some extra luv! Heather

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    1. Thanks Heather! That was so nice of you! :)

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