Baked Chicken Nuggets

These Baked Chicken Nuggets are a healthier alternative to the classic fried version! Kids will love this homemade version breaded in crushed tortilla chips and rice krispies cereal!

  • Prep15 min
  • Cook20 min
  • Total35 min
  • Yield24 nuggets
  • Calories81

Ingredients Steps Notes

Baked Chicken Nuggets

Baked Chicken Nuggets are a healthier alternative to the classic fried version and kids will love these homemade nuggets breaded in crushed tortilla chips and rice Krispies cereal!

Close up photo of homemade chicken nuggets.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets

If you’re a sucker for chicken wings or tenders, you’re going to go crazy for this Homemade Chicken Nuggets recipe! Made with a special coating, these nuggets have lots of crunch without being fried.

The secret to the scrumptious texture is the coating! Instead of traditional bread crumbs or batter, these are made with crushed tortilla chips and crispy rice cereal. When ground in a food processor, these two ingredients create a mixture that’s flavorful and wonderfully salty.

They’re so easy to make! Finish them off with a drizzle of homemade Buffalo sauce or dip them in Maple Mustard Sauce for a punch of flavor!

Plate of crispy baked chicken wings with hot sauce bottle in background and blue wall background.

Ingredients for Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets

Corn Tortilla Chips
Crispy Rice Cereal
Large Eggs
All-Purpose Flour
Ground Cayenne Pepper
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Ground Black Pepper
Kosher Salt
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

Homemade Buffalo Sauce

Technically, Buffalo sauce is just a blend of hot sauce and butter, but this recipe takes it a little further in flavor! A little butter, some hot sauce, a spoonful of apple cider vinegar, and a hint of honey does the trick! Just whisk it all together and drizzle or dunk!

Woman's fingers holding Crispy Baked Chicken wing with buffalo sauce.

How To Make Baked Chicken Nuggets

1. Begin by preheating the oven and lining a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Add the tortillas chips and the rice cereal to a food processor and process into crumbs. Pour into a medium bowl and set aside.
3. In a small shallow bowl, whisk the eggs and set aside.
4. Add the flour, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a gallon Ziploc bag, shake to mix and set aside.
5. Prepare the boneless skinless chicken breasts by cutting into approximately 24 small chunks that are roughly the same size.
6. Add the chicken pieces to the bag with the seasonings and shake to coat the chicken.
7. Work in an assembly line to take the floured pieces one by one and dip them in the beaten egg, then coat them in the crumb mixture. Shake off any excess during each step, then place on the baking sheet 1 inch apart and bake.
8. While the wings are cooking, whisk together the sauce ingredients. When the wings come out of the oven, drizzle the sauce over them. Or choose another one of your favorite dipping sauces!
9. Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing, if desired.

Crispy Baked Chicken Wings on a white plate with dipping sauce and hot sauce bottle in the background.

How To Enjoy Baked Chicken Nuggets

You can enjoy these any night of the week. In my house, we often make a meal out of these, but they also make hearty, tasty snacks!

If you have kids with ravenous friends, try making a batch or two of this Baked Chicken Nuggets recipe to satisfy hunger. These are also perfect for potlucks or casual get-togethers, plus I have two more words for you: GAME DAY!

And let’s not forget, these Healthy Chicken Nuggets mean way less guilt. If you really want to be good, try adding a handful of tenders to a bowl of greens.

With a drizzle of blue cheese or ranch dressing (low fat, of course), it makes a killer salad! Spend less money and savor more flavor with this recipe. Perfect for any occasion, they’ll definitely become a family favorite!

A Crispy Baked Chicken Wing bitten into being held by a woman's hand.

More Delicious Game Day Recipes

Steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray and set aside.

  2. Add the tortillas chips and the rice cereal to a food processor and process into crumbs. Pour into a medium bowl and set aside.

  3. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and set aside.

  4. Add the flour, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground pepper, and salt to a gallon Ziploc bag, shake to mix and set aside.

  5. Prepare the chicken by cutting into approximately 24 small chunks that are roughly the same size.

  6. Add the chicken to the bag with the seasonings and shake to coat.

  7. Work in an assembly line to take the floured pieces one by one and dip them in the beaten egg, then coat them in the crumb mixture. Shake off any excess during each step, then place on the baking sheet 1 inch apart.

  8. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes.

  9. While the wings are cooking, whisk together the sauce ingredients. When the wings come out of the oven, drizzle the sauce over them.

  10. Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing, if desired.

Notes

  1. Sauce can be omitted and you can leave nuggets plain and dip them in a different sauce or ketchup.
  2. Nutritional information is an estimate that does not include the sauce.

Nutrition

  • Calories81
  • Carbs6g
  • Protein8g
  • Fat4g
  • Saturated fat1g
  • Fiber1g
  • Sugar1g
  • Sodium176mg

Estimates per serving, when a serving size is listed.