The BEST crisp-tender chicken nuggets that are completely oven baked! Serve with ketchup, honey mustard or Ranch!
Chicken nuggets are loved by all. Toddlers, kids, teens, and all the grown ups (whether we like to admit it or not).
Nonetheless, I am all in here. And it’s a bigger plus that these are completely baked. The secret? Baking these bad boys on a cooling rack using cornflake crumbs, letting them get nice and crisp all around.
And yes, you can absolutely use chicken breasts or chicken thighs. Athlete’s choice. The most important thing is to serve these babies hot from the oven with all your favorite dippers.
Baked Chicken Nuggets
Yield: 6servings
Prep: 45 minutesminutes
Cook: 15 minutesminutes
Total: 1 hourhour
The BEST crisp-tender chicken nuggets that are completely oven baked! Serve with ketchup, honey mustard or Ranch!
1 ½poundsboneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks
1tablespoonRanch Seasoning and Salad Dressing Mix
¼teaspooncayenne pepper, optional
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1cupbuttermilk
1large egg
1 ½cupscornflake crumbs
⅓cupfreshly grated Parmesan
3tablespoonscanola oil
¾cupsall-purpose flour
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Coat a cooling rack with nonstick spray and place on a baking sheet; set aside.
In a large bowl, combine chicken, Ranch Seasoning and Salad Dressing Mix, cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; let sit for at least 30 minutes.
BUTTERMILK MIXTURE: In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg.
CORNFLAKE MIXTURE: In a large bowl, combine cornflake crumbs, Parmesan and canola oil; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Working one at a time, dredge chicken in flour, dip into BUTTERMILK MIXTURE, then dredge in CORNFLAKE MIXTURE, pressing to coat.
Place chicken in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet and coat with nonstick spray.
Place into oven and bake until crisp and cooked through, about 13-15 minutes.