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Golden Chicken Nuggets, Made From Scratch

By Catherine Noonan on November 19, 2013 in Food

Photo: Catherine Noonan

Photo: Catherine Noonan


This recipe is a fantastic alternative to store-bought frozen chicken nuggets. You can’t get much healthier and both the little people and big people in your household will love them. This recipe makes enough to feed a family of three to four, or a platter of fun finger food for the next time you host a party.

I didn’t know what was in commercial fast food or store-bought chicken nuggets so I did a little research, and let’s just say that I’d best not list the ingredients one-by-one given that I’m limited to the bounds of this one small page.

I can tell you, however, that the chicken nuggets sold in major Aussie fast-food chains contain anywhere between 15 and 25 ingredients, with only 50-60% chicken. Their store-bought frozen counterparts comprise an average of about 20 ingredients and generally contain between 40% and 60% chicken, depending upon the brand. Other ingredients include ‘numbers’, and some even contain sugar. They all contain wheat and nasty vegetable oils. The fast food nuggets are also cooked in vegetable oil. So, in short, it’s no wonder they taste and make you feel like rubbish.

Kids still dig nuggets though, and they don’t have to be nasty, they don’t have to be unhealthy, and they don’t need to be fried. They also don’t need more than five or six wholesome ingredients.

Ingredients (makes 24)
4 chicken thighs
1 cup almond meal
30g parmesan cheese, finely grated (omit if diary is a problem)
6 oregano leaves, finely chopped
2 eggs

Method
1. Preheat a fan-forced oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
2. In a food processor or Thermomix, whiz the chicken thighs until they form a fine mince consistency.
3. Add all other ingredients and whiz to combine.
4. Mould heaped dessert spoons of the mixture into nugget shapes and place on a baking tray. You may need more than one tray depending on the size of your oven.
5. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, until golden.

So next time your little tackers nag you for chicken nuggets, take them to the supermarket, buy the ingredients and make them at home. Involve your kids in the process and before you know it you’ll have found another great way to entertain and educate them, and in turn they’ll be equally stoked for having helped you cook a winning dinner.

The Beast.