Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Healthy Baked Parmesan Chicken Nuggets
Small chicken nuggets with a Parmesan crumb are a very inviting thing to dip. The coating turns lightly golden, with more cheese worked into the chicken underneath. Bring them to the table warm, choose ketchup or a favorite dipping sauce and enjoy the crisp little bites.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Original yield
- Serves 4
- Ingredients
- 6 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Primary protein
- Chicken
- Cooking method
- Baking · Baked & roasted
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 30 minutes or less
A few quick notes
1. Pulse until just combined
Process chicken with the first Parmesan portion, cold water and seasoning until minced and well mixed.
2. Shape before coating
Form the minced chicken into small nuggets, then coat each with the separate panko-Parmesan mixture.
3. Brown briefly under the broiler
Bake the nuggets first, then transfer for the short broiling stage until lightly golden.
Get to know the ingredients
Chicken breast pieces
Cut boneless skinless breasts into pieces before they go into the food processor for mincing.
Divided Parmesan
Half the Parmesan is processed into the chicken; the remaining portion mixes with panko for the coating.
Cold water
Add the cold water to the processor with chicken and seasonings, rather than putting it into the breadcrumbs.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 4. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 4 steps completeMake room for Healthy Baked Parmesan Chicken Nuggets
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Serve with a dip
Bring the lightly golden nuggets to the table warm with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce.
A little more help as you go
Line the baking sheet
Foil or parchment paper are both listed for lining the tray before the coated nuggets are arranged.
Reheat leftovers as allowed
When you're ready to eat the stored nuggets, you can reheat them in a microwave or toaster oven.
A few questions you might have
Does this recipe use whole chicken strips?
The chicken is minced in a processor and shaped into small nuggets before being coated with crumbs.
How are leftovers stored?
Keep the nuggets in the refrigerator for two days, or in the freezer for up to a month.
Should I spray the nuggets before baking?
The directions allow drizzling them with oil or spraying with cooking spray once arranged on the baking sheet.
Is the Parmesan only in the coating?
It's divided between the minced chicken mixture and the panko coating, using half at each stage.
Where should I put the crumb mixture?
Combine panko and its Parmesan portion in a shallow dish for coating the small shaped nuggets.
Any more cooking tips?
Nuggets will keep fresh in the fridge for 2 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Re-heat in the microwave or toaster oven.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: gimmedelicious.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.