Crispy Chicken Bites - McNugget Style
Enjoy this homestyle take on the beloved Chicken McNuggets, perfect for family gatherings or a cozy night in. This delicious recipe delivers that classic taste and crispiness we all love, made right in your own kitchen. With easy-to-follow steps and a variety of seasonings, your homemade nuggets will be juicy on the inside and satisfyingly crispy on the outside. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauces to elevate your appetizer game! Note: The nutritional values provided can be misleading as they account for unused flour and seasonings. Cook up a storm and savor the savory goodness of these crispy bites!
4
Servings
400
Calories
30
Ingredients
Ingredients
Frozen boneless chicken tenderloins
1 lb (thawed)
Cold water
4 cups (for brining)
Fine sea salt
2 teaspoons (for brining)
Pre-sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (for breading)
Pre-sifted all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (for breading)
Cornstarch
1/2 cup (for breading)
Lawry's Seasoned Salt
1 1/2 tablespoons (for seasoning)
Fine cornflour (or masa harina)
1 tablespoon (for seasoning)
Nonfat dry milk powder
1 1/2 teaspoons (for seasoning)
Granulated sugar
1 teaspoon (for seasoning)
Ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon (for seasoning)
Ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon (for seasoning)
Fine black pepper
1/4 teaspoon (for seasoning)
Fine white pepper
1/4 teaspoon (for seasoning)
Ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon (for seasoning)
Ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon (for seasoning)
Ground paprika
1/8 teaspoon (for seasoning)
Ground turmeric
1/8 teaspoon (for seasoning)
Ground cinnamon
1 pinch (for seasoning)
Cayenne pepper
1 pinch (for seasoning)
Beaten eggs
2 (for batter)
Cold water
1/2 cup (for batter)
Cornstarch
2 tablespoons (for batter)
All-purpose flour
2 tablespoons (for batter)
Fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon (for batter)
Sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon (for batter)
Soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon (for batter)
Granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon (for batter)
Vegetable oil
3 parts (for frying)
Vegetable shortening
1 part (for frying)
Instructions
1
Thaw the chicken tenderloins thoroughly. If needed, pound the tenderloins to achieve an even 1/3-inch thickness between sheets of plastic wrap using a meat mallet.
2
Using kitchen shears, cut the chicken into pieces roughly 2 inches by 1 1/4 inches.
3
Prepare the brine by mixing 4 cups of cold water with 2 teaspoons of fine sea salt in a bowl. Add the chicken pieces to the brine, ensuring they are fully submerged. Soak the chicken for 2 hours.
4
After brining, blot the chicken pieces dry with paper towels.
5
In a medium bowl, combine all the breading ingredients and mix well. Set this aside in your working area.
6
In another bowl, whisk together the batter ingredients until smooth. Keep mixing occasionally while you work to maintain the right consistency.
7
Coat a few pieces of chicken at a time in the batter until they're well-covered.
8
Using tongs, dip the batter-coated chicken into the breading mixture, ensuring each piece is evenly coated. Place the breaded chicken onto a cooling rack to allow excess breading to fall off. For extra crunch, you can double-bread them by repeating the battering and breading steps, adding an extra teaspoon of powdered sugar to the breading mix.
9
If you want to freeze the McNuggets for future use, place the breaded chicken on a rack and loosely wrap it in plastic wrap before transferring it to the freezer.
10
When you're ready to cook, preheat your deep-frying oil in a deep, heavy pot or deep fryer to 350°F (175°C). Gradually heat the oil to avoid splattering.
11
Carefully lower the chicken into the hot oil using tongs, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot. Fry the chicken nuggets until they are golden-crisp and cooked through. The cooking time may vary depending on the size of your chicken pieces. Ensure they are no longer pink in the center.
12
Once cooked, remove the nuggets from the oil and let them drain on absorbent paper towels. To keep them warm before serving, place the nuggets on a baking sheet fitted with a rack and cover loosely with foil in a preheated oven set to 175°F (80°C).
13
Serve your homemade Chicken Bites with an array of delicious dipping sauces and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
21.25g
Fat
37.5g
Carbs
17.5g
Protein
1.25g
Fiber
2.5g
Sugar
325mg
Sodium
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Crispy Chicken Bites - McNugget Style?
These are a homestyle version of the classic Chicken McNuggets, designed to be juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
How should I prepare the chicken tenderloins?
Thaw the tenderloins thoroughly and pound them to a 1/3-inch thickness between sheets of plastic wrap using a meat mallet.
What size should I cut the chicken pieces?
Use kitchen shears to cut the chicken into pieces roughly 2 inches by 1 1/4 inches.
How do I make the brine for the chicken?
Mix 4 cups of cold water with 2 teaspoons of fine sea salt in a bowl.
How long should the chicken be brined?
Soak the chicken pieces in the brine for 2 hours to ensure they are flavorful and juicy.
What is the first step after brining the chicken?
After brining, blot the chicken pieces completely dry with paper towels.
What ingredients are used for the breading?
The breading includes all-purpose flour, cornstarch, Lawry's Seasoned Salt, cornflour, and several ground spices.
Which spices are included in the seasoning mix?
The mix includes ground ginger, mustard, black pepper, white pepper, allspice, cloves, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, and cayenne.
How do I prepare the batter?
Whisk together beaten eggs, cold water, cornstarch, flour, salt, sesame oil, soy sauce, and sugar until smooth.
How should I coat the chicken in the batter?
Coat a few pieces of chicken at a time in the batter until they are fully and evenly covered.
How do I apply the breading mixture?
Use tongs to dip the batter-coated chicken into the breading mixture, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
What should I do with excess breading?
Place the breaded chicken on a cooling rack to allow any excess breading to fall off before cooking.
How can I make the chicken extra crunchy?
Double-bread the pieces by repeating the battering and breading steps, adding an extra teaspoon of powdered sugar to the breading mix.
Can I freeze these homemade nuggets?
Yes, place the breaded chicken on a rack, wrap it loosely in plastic, and transfer it to the freezer.
What is the correct oil temperature for frying?
Preheat the deep-frying oil to 350°F (175°C) in a deep, heavy pot or deep fryer.
What type of fat is recommended for frying?
The recipe suggests using a blend of 3 parts vegetable oil and 1 part vegetable shortening.
How should I add the chicken to the hot oil?
Carefully lower the chicken into the oil using tongs, being careful not to overcrowd the pot.
How long should I fry the nuggets?
Fry until they are golden-crisp and cooked through, ensuring there is no pink in the center.
What is the best way to drain the nuggets after frying?
Remove the nuggets from the oil and let them drain on absorbent paper towels.
How can I keep the nuggets warm before serving?
Place them on a baking sheet with a rack in an oven preheated to 175°F (80°C) and cover loosely with foil.
How many servings does this recipe yield?
This recipe is designed to yield 4 servings.
How many calories are in one serving?
Each serving contains approximately 400 calories.
What is the fat content per serving?
There are approximately 21.25 grams of fat per serving.
How many carbohydrates are in the chicken bites?
Each serving contains about 37.5 grams of carbohydrates.
How much protein is in each serving?
Each serving provides 17.5 grams of protein.
Is there sugar in this recipe?
Yes, there are approximately 2.5 grams of sugar per serving.
Why might the nutritional information be misleading?
The values account for all flour and seasonings, even though some of it remains unused after breading.
What are good dipping sauces for these bites?
They are great with any favorite dipping sauce, such as honey mustard, BBQ, or sweet and sour sauce.
Is this recipe suitable for families?
Yes, it is described as kid-friendly and perfect for family gatherings or cozy nights in.
What is the ingredient count for this recipe?
The recipe utilizes a total of 30 ingredients to achieve the specific McNugget flavor profile.