For a while there I was pretty sure that the only thing my son would eat was chicken nuggets. It was just a phase and he eventually grew out of it, but in the meantime I learned how to make a rockin' chicken nugget that snuck in some healthy stuff, and most of all, one that us grown ups could enjoy. This nugget is chock-full of flavor. I serve mine with honey mustard for a dipping sauce. These freeze well for later enjoyment. Just freeze before baking and add a few minutes to baking time. These babies have a nice crunchy coating, while the butter keeps the chicken breast nice and juicy.
Ingredients
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup paremsan cheese, freshly grated
1/2 tsp salt
2 tablespoons basil
1 tablespoon oregano
1 stick of butter
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Trim chicken breast of any fat. Cut into 1-inch, nugget sized pieces.
3. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs, wheat germ, flax seed, parmesan, salt, basil and oregano. If you don't want to use wheat germ or flax seed simply replace it with the same amount of bread crumbs.
4. In another small bowl melt the stick of butter in the microwave.
5. Dip the chicken pieces into the butter and then roll them around in the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure they are good and coated.
6. Places the coated chicken nuggets onto a lightly greased baking sheet.
7. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes.
Most fast food chicken nuggets are made from a meat slurry. Doesn't that sound tasty? The original fast food chicken nugget was introduced by McDonald's in 1983. So really, it is quite appropriate to have a good grown-up version under your belt since at 29 years old, it is time for the chicken nugget to act its age!
Chicken nuggets are traditionally fried in oil. Baking is a healthier alternative for both adults and children. Just meat and breading, toss in oven! A high temperature will help crisp the nuggets up. Using a dark coated pan will also increase crispiness on the bottom of the nugget.
