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Oven Baked Chicken Nuggest 1

Ok, who needs an EASY yet healthy dinner for the little ones? Or for you-these are so good and I often make them for the boys then end up eating most myself. I have to test them to make sure they are not poisoned, right? One for you, two for mama! Anyway, I promise these are easy and do not take that much time and so, so much better for you than Chic alay (as my son used to call it).  I mean don’t get me wrong we LOVE Chic alay, but I am trying to cut out the fast food in my boys diets as much as I can.  It is very hard when they can drive. I swear the only good a drivers license is for teen boys is for them to get fast food. I’m paying a bloody fortune in insurance so they can eat Taco Bell! So, if I can get them to eat at home it is a win in my book. And, if teenage boys like these Oven Baked Chicken Nuggets little ones will love them! Oh and they will LOVE the “Canes Sauce”.  It is SO easy to make and tastes just like the restaurant sauce!

You can make a huge batch of these and then freeze them to serve later. You just need to freeze them in a single layer before you put them in the ziplock. This is rather hard for me because my freezer is TINY so I use one of those 1/4 sheet pans and clear a space for a couple hours (they don’t have to be frozen solid) then place them in a bag.  When you are ready to eat just pull them out of  the freezer and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes to heat them through-they are already cooked.

A quick note about the seasoning-use whatever you have on hand! Garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, just salt and pepper, sage, lemon pepper, cumin, cayenne… make it your own.  Basically this recipe is a technique-Breading. Once you learn that you can bread anything! Just remember egg first then coating. If you want these EXTRA crunchy you can double coat them-egg, bread crumbs, then egg again then bread crumbs.

I also highly recommend a wire rack-they are really cheap and you will use it ALL the time, but if you don’t have one its not a big deal just remember to spray your baking sheet or foil with cooking spray so they don’t stick.

Hope you enjoy!

Oven Baked Chicken Nuggest 1
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Oven Baked Chicken Nuggets

A healthier version of the fast food favorite. Crunchy and full of flavor! And the sauce is the icing on the cake!

Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 3 large chicken breasts, cut into cubes
  • 2 cups panko bread crumbs
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 large eggs

"Canes Sauce"

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a wire rack in a baking sheet lined with foil (for easier clean-up). Spray rack with cooking spray. 

  2. In a large bowl or pie plate place bread crumbs and sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, italian season and cayenne if you are using.  Mix well. 

  3. Drizzle olive oil over bread crumbs and mix well.

  4. In another bowl whisk eggs. 

  5. Dip chicken into eggs and then into bread crumb mixture. Be sure to press breadcrumbs on chicken so they stick. 

  6. Transfer pieces to prepared wire rack. 

  7. Bake for 20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. 

  8. For "Canes Sauce"-mix all ingredients in a bowl. It will be best if you can let it sit in the fridge for a couple hours so the flavors meld.  This will keep in fridge for up to two weeks.

Needed Items