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Crispy chicken nugget dipped in creamy orange sauce, with more nuggets in the background.
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5 from 11 votes

Best Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Better than store-bought, Homemade Chicken Nuggets are made with tender chicken pieces and a crispy flour and cornstarch coating, fried until golden and juicy inside for easy family meals.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Resting Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Chicken, Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Mariam Ezzeddine

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs. chicken tenders cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 cup full-fat buttermilk
  • ½ cup sweet pickle juice
  • ½ tsp. black pepper

Dry Flour Mix

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • 2 tbsp. cornstarch

Other Ingredients

  • 2 whole eggs
  • canola oil for frying
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a bowl, mix all the dry flour mixture ingredients.
  • Remove the outer membrane and any attached tough tissue from the chicken tenderloins.
  • Cut the chicken tenderloins into 1-inch cubes. Place them in a large bowl and add 1 cup of buttermilk, ½ cup of sweet pickle juice, and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Mix well, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or longer if time permits.
  • In another bowl, whisk the eggs to prepare the egg wash. Coat each chicken piece in the seasoned flour mixture, dip it into the egg wash, then coat it once more in the flour mixture. Gently press the coating onto the chicken with your fingers to help it adhere. Place the coated pieces on a lined sheet pan and repeat with the remaining chicken.
  • Heat the oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Keep the heat at medium throughout frying.
    Note: Use a kitchen thermometer to keep the oil at approximately 350°F (175°C). Adjust the heat as needed to prevent the nuggets from browning too quickly or becoming greasy.
  • Working in batches, place the chicken pieces in the hot oil with enough space between them to avoid overcrowding the skillet.
  • Fry the chicken pieces for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Remove them with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a paper towel-lined sheet pan to drain.
  • Place the cooked batches in the oven to keep them warm as you fry the remaining chicken.
  • Once all the batches are cooked, serve the homemade chicken nuggets with your favorite dipping sauce.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 6g | Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 921mg | Potassium: 934mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 539IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 2mg