Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Vegetables

Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Vegetables

We have never been big chicken nugget eaters in this house, Mr 5 has never asked for them and I have never bought the frozen variety for them to have.  However, Mr 3 did point them out on a recent trip for a treat meal at a fast food restaurant so I decided it was time to make my own.

Making your own chicken nuggets is obviously more time consuming then pulling some out of the freezer, but nothing beats the satisfaction of knowing your children are eating something that is actually good for them.  A little extra effort once will mean you can stock your freezer up with homemade nuggets for those night you don’t feel like cooking.  They are also easily made gluten free.

INGREDIENTS

400gm Chicken Breasts, cut into chunks
1/2 Carrot, cut into slices
1/2 Zucchini, peeled, cut into slices
1 Tbs Garlic Powder
1/2 Tbs Mustard Powder
1 Tbs Onion Powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1 Egg
Milk
Breadcrumbs – I used Gluten free corn breadcrumbs as they give it a lovely crunchy texture.  Panko breadcrumbs are also perfect for this recipe.
Plain flour, or gluten free plain flour.

LETS PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

1. In a food processor place the carrot and zucchini, with the metal chopping bade process until they are finely diced.

2. Add the chicken breast, garlic, mustard and onion powders (you can use all, some or none of these) and salt and pepper.  Process for approx 45 seconds or until the mixture starts to come together.

3. Remove the blade from the food processor.  Set up a crumbing station, a bowl of flour, abowl of egg and a dash of milk whisked together,  and a bowl of breadcrumbs.

4. Take tablespoon sized amounts of the chicken mix and roughly form a nugget shape.  Dust in the flour, dip in the egg mix and coat in the breadcrumbs.  Repeat until all the chicken mixture is used.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Vegetables

5.  These can now be placed on a lined baking tray with a spray of cooking oil and baked in a 200 degree celcius oven for 10-15 minutes or until they are lightly golden and bounce back when touched.  Depending on your oven you may need to turn half way.

Alternative cooking methods:

Air Chef Air Fryer: Place a single layer of nuggets into a 200 degree celicus preheated air fryer basket, spray with cooking oil and bake for 10 minutes.

Shallow Fry: Place a layer of cooking oil into a fry pan at a medium high heat, add the chicken nuggets and cook until each side is golden.

Makes 20

Freezer Friendly: Place into a zip lock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.  Cook from frozen – add and extra 5 minutes to the stated cooking time in the recipe.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Vegetables

Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Vegetables

 

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25 Responses to Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Vegetables

  1. Natasha November 17, 2015 at 12:55 pm #

    Do u have to cook chicken breast first

    • Amanda November 17, 2015 at 6:56 pm #

      No, it is raw and cooks when the nugget cooks.

  2. Peta June 9, 2016 at 7:12 pm #

    Made these tonight for 11 month old and 3 year old. They are delicious. Kids loved them!! Even my husband kept sneaking them.

  3. Ju Marinelli July 14, 2016 at 5:27 am #

    Made it today, was a sucsess!!!! Much softer and tastier than the ready ones, also so good to know whats in it!!!!
    Thank you!!!

    • Amanda July 15, 2016 at 12:38 pm #

      So glad to hear 🙂

  4. Leanne Neal October 22, 2016 at 12:19 pm #

    I have just made these and they are scrumptious. They are so easy to throw together. What a success. Thank you so much for your recipes. They are easy and practical.

    • Amanda October 24, 2016 at 10:34 am #

      So glad to hear and you welcome 🙂

  5. Jen S November 11, 2016 at 10:13 pm #

    HI Amanda,

    Thank you so much for putting this recipe online! This will no doubt sound like a foolish question… But when freezing the nuggets, do you freeze them ‘raw’ or freeze once cooked?

    • Amanda November 14, 2016 at 4:58 pm #

      Hi Jen, freeze them raw and then cook straight from frozen.

  6. Linda January 4, 2017 at 2:35 pm #

    My son is allergic to milk, eggs, and nuts. Do you have any substitutes?

    • Amanda January 9, 2017 at 1:39 pm #

      HI Linda

      The Egg and Milk are used to help the coating stick to the chicken mix. You can simply use the milk he normally drinks (I assume he has soy milk) and dip the chicken mix in that before the breadcrumbs.

  7. Kaya March 20, 2017 at 11:11 pm #

    Can I just used ground chicken to begin with…?

  8. Ellen May 9, 2017 at 12:51 am #

    I’m just wondering if you could cook these in an air fryer??

  9. Jan December 2, 2017 at 6:13 am #

    Thank you. Can’t wait to trick my picky eater into eating veggies. 🙂

  10. Rachel April 25, 2018 at 4:49 am #

    I’m in love with this recipe! My kiddos devoured these, and I’m going to make a big batch of these to store in the freezer.

    • Amanda April 30, 2018 at 9:01 am #

      So glad to hear, my kiddos are older than when I first wrote this recipe and they still love them.

  11. Unicorn May 14, 2018 at 11:55 am #

    How many does this make??

  12. merchdope June 5, 2018 at 10:43 pm #

    A very good trick, Amanda! I am always in a struggle with the little ones when it comes to veggies! Must try this recipe, thanks!

    • Amanda June 11, 2018 at 9:23 am #

      My boys loved them when they were little and still love them now.

  13. Morgan July 23, 2019 at 5:45 am #

    Hey, so should I cook them before I freeze them? Or freeze them raw?

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