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Crispy homemade chicken nuggets on a dark plate with parsley and a bowl of ketchup.
Olga Bux

Homemade Ground Chicken Nuggets

Tender ground chicken nuggets with a crisp, seasoned breadcrumb coating, pan-fried until golden.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American-inspired home cooking
Calories: 460

Ingredients
  

Chicken mixture
  • 1lb 2 oz ground chicken 500 g
  • 2 eggs
  • 1¾ oz fine breadcrumbs 50 g
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¾ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper optional
Coating
  • 1 egg
  • 3½–4¼ oz breadcrumbs or panko 100–120 g
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • Neutral oil for frying

Method
 

  1. Combine the ground chicken, 2 eggs, 50 g fine breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, salt, and optional black pepper. Let stand for 5–10 minutes.
  2. With damp hands, shape into small, slightly flattened ovals. If the mixture is too soft to hold its shape, add 1–2 tablespoons of fine breadcrumbs gradually.
    Shaped raw ground chicken nuggets on a plate next to a bowl of beaten egg and a plate of breadcrumbs.
  3. Beat the third egg in a shallow bowl. In a second dish, combine the coating breadcrumbs with paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and a pinch of salt.
    A hand dipping a shaped chicken nugget into a bowl of beaten egg.
  4. Dip each nugget into the beaten egg, then coat in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently.
    A plate of fully breaded ground chicken nuggets ready for the skillet.
  5. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry the nuggets in batches for approximately 3–4 minutes per side, until golden and the center reaches 165°F (74°C).
    Breaded nuggets sizzling in hot oil in a black skillet.
  6. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate and serve warm.
    Golden fried chicken nuggets in a dish beside a skillet with the next batch cooking.

Notes

  • If using seasoned breadcrumbs, reduce or omit the added seasonings in the coating.
  • Weighing the breadcrumbs gives a more consistent result than measuring them by volume.
  • Cooking time varies with nugget thickness and skillet heat.
  • Nutrition is an estimate; calories vary with the amount of oil absorbed during frying