Forget the frozen box. These homemade chicken mince nuggets are the real deal.
They're crunchy, kid-approved and freezer-friendly, which makes them perfect for fussy toddlers and hungry kids or stocking up your freezer for lunchboxes.
Crunchy oven-baked chicken mince nuggets are a healthier version of everyone's favourite snack! Forget about fast-food or store-bought frozen nuggets... it's so easy to make your own chicken mince nuggets with just a handful of basic ingredients.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
🍗 Recipe Name: Oven-Baked Chicken Mince Nuggets
⏱️ Time: 27 minutes
🍽️ Makes: 24 nuggets
🔥 Calories: 57kcal per nugget
🧾 Main Ingredients: Chicken mince, panko crumbs, parmesan, eggs, flour
📦 Freezer-friendly: Yes!
⭐ Why You'll Love It: Crunchy, freezer-friendly and SO much better for you than the frozen stuff (and the kids genuinely can't tell the difference).
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Winner winner chicken dinner! A little fiddly as the mince is quite soft which makes it a little challenging to keep them in shape, however, they're delicious.
- Cherie
Cherie's right, the mince can be a bit soft to work with, so I've added my best tips below for shaping them without the mess.
If nuggets are a hit in your house, you'll also love my Healthy Chicken & Vegetable Nuggets, my Sweet Potato & Zucchini Nuggets or my Panko Chicken Schnitzel for another crunchy family favourite.
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6 Ingredient Chicken Mince Nuggets
Say hello to the easiest crumbed chicken mince nuggets! Here's what you'll need.
- Chicken mince - this is the star of the show. Buy it ready minced, or mince your own chicken breast in a food processor or Thermomix.
- Panko crumbs - these Japanese-style breadcrumbs are lighter than regular breadcrumbs and bake up much crunchier. You'll usually find them in the Asian aisle or near the regular breadcrumbs. Regular breadcrumbs will work in a pinch, but panko really is a million times better!
- Finely grated parmesan cheese - this gives the crumb its flavour.
- Chicken stock powder - optional, but it gives the crumb a real flavour boost.
- Plain flour and eggs - for coating the nuggets.
How To Make Chicken Mince Nuggets From Scratch
Have a big batch of homemade chicken mince nuggets prepped and baked in under 30 minutes.
- Par-bake the panko crumbs. Spread on a lined tray and bake until lightly golden, shaking the tray a few times so they cook evenly.
- Mix in the parmesan and chicken stock powder. This is what makes the crumb so flavour-packed.
- Shape the chicken mince into nuggets. Use about a tablespoon of mince per nugget (wet hands stop the mince sticking, see my tips below).
- Coat in plain flour. Shake off any excess.
- Dip in beaten egg.
- Coat in the baked panko mixture. Press gently so it sticks all over.
- Place onto a lined baking tray. Leave a little space between each nugget.
- Spray with cooking oil and bake. Bake until golden, crunchy and cooked through, turning halfway.
Tips For Extra Crispy Nuggets
- Don't overcrowd the tray. Give each nugget a bit of breathing room so the heat can get all the way around them. Crowded nuggets = soggy nuggets.
- Use a wire rack if you have one. Sitting the nuggets on a wire rack over the tray lets air circulate underneath, so the bottoms get just as crunchy as the tops.
- Check they're cooked through. Chicken mince should reach 75°C in the centre. No thermometer? Cut one open, there should be no pink left.
- Turn them halfway through baking so both sides get that golden crunch.
Can I Make These In The Air Fryer?
Yes! Crumb the nuggets the same way, then air fry at 200°C for around 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through. They'll come out just as crunchy with even less cleaning up.
What To Serve With Chicken Nuggets
These are a winner on their own as a quick snack, but for a full dinner I love serving them with oven chips and a simple salad. For dips, you can't go wrong with tomato sauce, but honey mustard, sweet chilli mayo or a yoghurt ranch dip are all really good too.
Recipe FAQ & Tips
If you can't get panko crumbs, regular breadcrumbs will work as a substitute. The panko just gives a much crunchier result.
Wet your hands with cold water before shaping. It stops the mince sticking to you. You may need to re-wet your hands a few times as you go.
Yes! Just mince your own chicken breast in a food processor or Thermomix first. The texture won't be quite as soft as using bought chicken mince, but it'll still work a treat.
Cooked nuggets will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. You can freeze them cooked or uncooked, then reheat straight from frozen in the oven until hot through.
More Healthy Nuggets & Snacks
Once you've fallen in love with the taste and ease of making homemade chicken mince nuggets, you'll want to try these too:
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Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 500 g chicken mince see notes
- 90 g (1 cup) panko crumbs
- 50 g (½ cup) parmesan cheese very finely grated
- 1 teaspoon chicken stock powder optional
- 75 g (½ cup) plain flour
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
Instructions
Conventional Method
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius (fan-forced).
- Place the panko crumbs onto a baking paper lined baking tray and cook in the oven for approximately 5-10 minutes or until lightly golden (give the tray a shake every few minutes). Set the panko crumbs aside in a bowl to cool.
- Increase oven temperature to 210 degrees celsius (fan-forced).
- Shape the chicken mince into nuggets (about 1 tablespoon in size).
- Finely grate the parmesan cheese and add it to the cooled panko crumbs along with the chicken stock powder and mix through.
- Place the plain flour into a bowl.
- Crack the eggs into a separate bowl and beat well.
- Line a baking tray with baking paper.
- One at a time, coat the chicken nuggets in the plain flour (shake off any excess), then the egg mixture and finally the panko crumb mixture.
- Place crumbed nuggets onto a baking paper lined baking tray.
- Spray lightly with cooking oil and bake for approximately 12-14 minutes or until golden, crunchy and cooked through. Turn the nuggets over halfway through the cooking time.
Lucy says
I like your recipe I love it
Thao Pollock says
Thanks so much for the clearly recipe.
Lucy says
My pleasure!
Cherie says
Winner winner chicken dinner! A little fiddly as the mince is quite soft which makes it a little challenging to keep them in shape, however, they're delicious. Considering next time to put some flavour in the chicken mince itself. Might also see if i can create some 'chicken kiev balls'
Lucy says
ooh great ideas!