Homemade Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets
Ryan Shepard
April 29, 2022
The ingredients in these homemade chicken nuggets are simple—ground chicken, panko breadcrumbs, some seasoning—and the 25-minute air-fry is hands-free. That’s all it takes to get one of my daughter’s favorite meals on the table. I make a big batch once a month and then freeze them until I’m ready to serve them to her.
She’s really into dinosaurs lately, so I bought a few cookie cutters in those shapes to make dinner even more fun for her. She loves a T-Rex dipped in barbecue sauce!
Note: This recipe uses a wire rack sized to fit in a half sheet pan, measuring 11 1/2 by 16 3/4 inches (29.2 by 42.5cm). If you don't have this size rack, you can wrap a piece of aluminum foil around your oven racks and poke holes throughout the foil to allow for airflow.
Serves
4
Prep Time
01:00
Cook Time
00:25
0
1101
Ingredients
1 pound (454g)
ground chicken
2 large
eggs
½ tsp
Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning Blend
¼ tsp
kosher salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
2 cups
panko breadcrumbs
Steps
1. Make Nugget Base
Mix the chicken, one egg, seasoning, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until well combined. Transfer the chicken mixture to a parchment-lined 8- by 8-inch baking dish and pat into an even layer. Freeze until firm, about 45 minutes.
2. Cut Shapes
Once the chicken is firm, remove the chicken from the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Use dinosaur-shaped cookie cutters to make fun shapes. Form any remaining chicken mixture into small nuggets. Once you’ve gotten all the shapes you want, transfer to a sheet pan and return to the freezer.
3. Preheat the Oven
Rack
When you’re ready to bake, turn on the oven. Spray a wire rack (see note) with nonstick oil spray.
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 437°F
Heat: Top, Rear
4. Bread the Nuggets
While the oven is heating, add the panko breadcrumbs to a shallow bowl and the remaining egg and ¼ cup of water to a second shallow bowl. Whisk the egg and water until frothy.
Remove the chicken nuggets from the freezer. Dip them in the egg wash and then coat them in the panko bread crumbs. Place them on the wire rack-lined sheet pan and spray with nonstick oil spray.
5. Air-Fry
Rack
Transfer the chicken nuggets to the oven and bake until browned and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve immediately.
Sous Vide Mode: Off
Steam: Off
Temp: 437°F
Heat: Top, Rear
00:20 Timer
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