Discover The Secret To Perfectly Crispy Chicken Nuggets At Home

To make crispy chicken nuggets, marinate chicken pieces in buttermilk with spices. Coat them in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, then fry, bake, or air fry until golden and crispy. For extra crunch, use panko breadcrumbs and double coat. Serve with sauces.

To make crispy chicken nuggets at home, start by cutting boneless chicken into bite-sized pieces and marinating them in buttermilk with spices for at least 30 minutes. Prepare a breading station with flour, whisked eggs, and breadcrumbs. Dredge the marinated chicken in flour, dip it in the egg mixture, and coat it with breadcrumbs. Fry in hot oil at 350 F for 4-5 minutes per side, bake at 400 F for 20-25 minutes, or air fry for 12-15 minutes until golden and crispy. For extra crispiness, use panko breadcrumbs and double coat the nuggets. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces.

Ingredients:

500g boneless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
1 cup buttermilk (for marination)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp paprika or red chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup all-purpose flour (for coating)
1 cup breadcrumbs (for coating; panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch)
2 large eggs (for binding)
1 tbsp water (to whisk with eggs)
Oil (for frying, or spray oil if baking)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chicken:

Cut the boneless chicken breasts into nugget-sized pieces (around 1 to 1.5 inches each).
Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This helps in getting a crispier coating later.

2. Marinate the Chicken:

In a bowl, combine the buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Add the chicken pieces to the buttermilk mixture. Ensure that all the pieces are well coated.
Cover the bowl and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes to 2 hours in the refrigerator. The longer the marination, the more flavorful and tender the nuggets will be.

3. Prepare the Breading Station:

In one bowl, mix all-purpose flour with a little salt and pepper.
In a second bowl, whisk eggs with 1 tbsp water until smooth.
In a third bowl, place breadcrumbs (use panko for extra crispiness).

4. Coating the Chicken:

Take the marinated chicken pieces out of the buttermilk.
Dredge each chicken piece in the flour mixture, ensuring it's fully coated.
Next, dip the floured chicken into the egg mixture, coating it evenly.
Finally, roll the chicken in the breadcrumbs until completely coated. Press down slightly to ensure the breadcrumbs stick well.

5. Frying Method:

Heat oil in a deep frying pan or pot to 350 F (175 C).
Carefully add the chicken nuggets in small batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan.
Fry for about 4-5 minutes on each side until the nuggets turn golden brown and crispy.
Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to drain excess oil.

6. Baking Method (Healthier Option):

Preheat the oven to 400 F (200 C).
Place the coated nuggets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Lightly spray the nuggets with oil or cooking spray.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they turn golden brown and crispy.

7. Air Fryer Method (Crispiest Healthier Option):

Preheat the air fryer to 400 F (200 C).
Place the coated nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Air fry for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.

8. Serve:

Serve the crispy chicken nuggets with your favorite dipping sauces like ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or ranch.

Tips for Extra Crispy Nuggets:

Double coat the nuggets by repeating the flour and egg steps for a thicker, crispier crust.
Panko breadcrumbs add more crunch than regular breadcrumbs.
If baking or air frying, lightly spray the nuggets with oil to help them crisp up.

Enjoy your homemade crispy chicken nuggets.