These homemade chicken nuggets are crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and made from scratch using real chicken breast and a handful of simple pantry ingredients. The chicken is blended into a smooth, flavorful mixture, coated in a light, crispy batter, and fried until golden perfection.

The secret ingredient for this recipe is the baking soda; it creates that tender nugget texture.

Baking soda tenderizes meat by raising its surface pH, creating a highly alkaline environment. This causes muscle fibers to repel each other and prevents tight protein bonding during cooking. As a result, the meat retains its natural juices, giving it a velvety texture and preventing it from drying out.

Homemade Crispy Chicken Nuggets

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Prep Time 3 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings 22 pieces

Ingredients

• 400 g chicken breast
• 1 tbsp corn starch
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 + 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 ice cubes

Batter

• 100 g All purpose flour
• 100 g corn starch
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 190 g water

INSTRUCTIONS

• Add the chicken breast to a food processor and pulse until it reaches a coarse texture. Add the cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, baking soda, and ice cubes. Blend until the mixture becomes smooth, sticky, and starts clinging to the processor blade.
• Transfer the chicken mixture to a plastic or zip-top bag. Shape it into a log, then seal the bag.
• Freeze the chicken log for 3 hours, or until firm enough to slice.
• Remove the chicken log from the freezer and cut it into slices about 2 cm (¾ inch) thick.
• Prepare the batter. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and water until smooth. The batter should be lump-free and thick enough to coat the chicken evenly.
• Heat enough oil in a deep pot to 170–175°C (340–350°F). Dip each chicken slice into the batter, making sure it is completely coated. Carefully lower it into the hot oil and fry for about 3 minutes, or until the nuggets are crispy, golden brown, and fully cooked. Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding the pot.
• Transfer the fried nuggets to a wire rack or a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
• Serve immediately while they're hot and crispy with your favorite dipping sauce, such as ketchup, honey mustard, barbecue sauce, or spicy mayo.

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