food
By Katherine Gillen
•
Published Dec 26, 2020
Additional reporting by
Hannah Loewentheil
Admit it: You love chicken nuggets. And why not? They’re one of those beloved comfort foods that’s so wrapped in nostalgia, it immediately brings us back to our childhood. But if you think you can’t enjoy this finger food past the age of ten, we’re here to prove you wrong. Presenting 31 totally fancy chicken nugget recipes—from sticky glazed tenders to boneless wings—to make for dinner (or, you know, whenever a craving hits).
RELATED
The 101 Best Chicken Recipes for When You’re in a Dinner Rut
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
1. Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets
Here, the typical breading gets a sophisticated (and healthy-ish) twist. Bonus: Your kids will love them too.
Get the recipe
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
2. Coconut Chicken Tenders
It’s all about that crispy-sweet coating. We suggest pairing these with a spicy barbecue or Thai chili sauce for dipping.
Get the recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
3. Katsu Bites With Chipotle-gochujang Sauce
Chicken katsu is a Japanese dish of crispy panko-breaded chicken cutlets. Here, we made them bite-size for maximum snackability.
Get the recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
4. Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders
This is one dish where a knife and fork are optional (but honey mustard is not).
Get the recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
5. Mini Chicken And Waffles
We found your new favorite party app. It goes without saying that you should serve maple syrup on the side.
Get the recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
6. Spicy Glazed Popcorn Chicken
Once you pop, you just can't stop. Psst: The spicy, sticky glaze is just five store-bought ingredients.
Get the recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
7. Chicken Parmesan Bites
A little sprinkle of cheese (OK, fine, an entire cup of Parmesan) goes a long way.
Get the recipe
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Eden Grinshpan
8. Chicken Kebabs With Garlic Lemon Yogurt
They’re basically chicken nuggets on a stick. What’s not to love? (Don’t get us started on the garlicky yogurt.)
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
9. Firecracker Chicken With Rice
They’re still *technically* in nugget-form, just served over a bed of rice. Very adult.
Get the recipe
10. Almond-crusted Nuggets
Twenty-five minutes is all you need to make these babies, which just so happen to be gluten-free.
11. Chicken Nuggets With Lemon Glaze
We’d put this four-ingredient citrus glaze on just about anything.
RELATED
50 Chicken Recipes for Kids That They’ll Actually Like
12. The Best Crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets
The key to the crispiest nuggets of all time? Toasting the breadcrumbs beforehand. (Genius).
13. Coconut Popcorn Chicken With Sweet Thai Chili Lime Sauce
You know what they say: Two sauces are always better than one.
14. Korean Chicken Nuggets
These nuggets are fried in rice flour and cornstarch for the lightest crunch possible, then glazed in a spicy gochujang-honey sauce.
15. Copycat Chick-fil-a Nuggets
These just might be—dare we say?—better than the real thing.
16. Ultra-crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets
These chicken nuggets have a secret: They’re coated in potato chips.
17. Baked Boneless Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings With Spicy Ranch
To us, boneless wings are really just another excuse to eat chicken tenders. (And there’s nothing wrong with that.)
18. Baked Popcorn Chicken With Raspberry Hot Honey
You had us at “raspberry hot honey.”
19. Baked Honey Barbecue Popcorn Chicken
The best part about game day? These lil’ cuties.
20. Chipotle Popcorn Chicken With Honey Mayo
If you like honey mustard, just wait ’til you try honey mayo.
21. Bacon Wrapped Chicken And Jalapeño Bites
Cream cheese, spicy peppers and bacon…yep, you might want to make a double batch.
22. Oven-fried Cajun Popcorn Chicken With Creamy Honey Mustard
These bites are coated in finely crushed cornflakes, which mimic that deep-fried texture we can’t get enough of.
23. Boneless Buffalo Wings
You’ll want extra napkins on hand for these saucy tenders.
24. Ginger Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders
We give you permission to double dip, just this once.
25. General Tso’s Chicken
FYI, you can bake them in the oven or even bust out your air fryer if you’re not into deep-frying.
26. Black Pepper Rub Chicken Fingers With Greek Yogurt Ranch
Baked tenders and yogurt dipping sauce? These are practically a salad.
RELATED
22 Sheet-Pan Chicken Thighs You Haven’t Made for Dinner Yet
27. Sticky Garlic Chicken And Broccoli
These are twice-baked to ensure a crackly coating.
28. 30-minute Bang-bang Chicken
Three words: sweet chili mayo.
29. Hot Honey Pretzel Chicken Fingers With House Sauce
Pretzels + honey + BBQ sauce + jalapeños? It's like the Take 5 of chicken tenders.
30. Sheet-pan Sticky Pomegranate Chicken And Honey Roasted Squash
Proof that chicken nuggets can be downright gorgeous.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
31. Buffalo Cauliflower Nuggets
OK, so these aren’t chicken, but you definitely won’t miss it. (Besides, they’re still nuggets and that’s the most important part.)
Get the recipe
RELATED
20 Dutch Oven Chicken Recipes That Pretty Much Make Themselves
Katherine Gillen
Senior Food Editor
Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...
read full bio
Hannah Loewentheil
Freelance PureWow Editor
From 2015-2017 Hannah Loewentheil held the role of Editor covering entertainment, food, travel and all things nyc.
read full bio
