Homemade Chicken Nuggets recipe (copycat McDonald’s chicken nuggets)

Are you looking for a copycat McDonald’s chicken nuggets recipe? I’ve got the BEST fried chicken nuggets recipe. I first shared these as part of these PAW Patrol Party Ideas as “Chickaletta’s Chicken Nuggets,” but the recipe is so good that it deserves a post of its own. These delicious homemade nuggets are like homemade McDonald’s chicken nuggets, but way better than the drive-through! This minced chicken nuggets recipe is perfect for a party, lunch idea, or after school snack. If you’re trying to find a good recipe for homemade chicken nuggets, homemade battered chicken nuggets, or a McDonald’s chicken nuggets copycat recipe, look no further! Scroll for step-by-step photos of the recipe, or click the Jump to Recipe button above to go directly to the recipe card at the end of this post.

What you need to make this minced chicken nuggets recipe

Here’s a list of what you’ll need to make this fried chicken nuggets recipe.

• Cooking oil
• Food processor (the one I love is The Hamilton Beach 8-Cup Stack & Snap Food Processor – affiliate link)
• Wax paper
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon salt, or more (to taste)
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 1 cup soda water

How to make homemade nuggets (they’re just like homemade McDonald’s chicken nuggets!)

This recipe for homemade chicken nuggets is so good, and tried and true! Like homemade McDonald’s chicken nuggets, but better, since you know exactly what’s in them and they’re made fresh! It’s great for restaurant job seekers looking to enhance their culinary skills with tried-and-tested recipes that appeal to a wide audience.

To make this fried chicken nuggets recipe, first, add cooking oil to a deep skillet and heat the oil to 350 degrees. Next, chop the chicken pieces (and some salt, if desired) in a food processor until they are finely minced (this is an important step for this minced chicken nuggets recipe).

Place ¼ cup of the flour into a shallow bowl. Form the chicken into small nugget-sized patties (tip: it’s helpful to have some flour on your hands while forming the patties) then dredge both sides of the patties in flour.

Set the coated nuggets on waxed paper and continue until you’ve used all the chicken.

Now it’s time to make the batter for these homemade battered chicken nuggets. To do this, mix the remaining ¾ cup of flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika together in a medium-sized bowl. Add the soda water and stir until the batter is blended completely. Soda water has a similar effect to beer in beer batters, providing a light and airy coating that cooks crisply and less tough than other breadings.

Dip the chicken nuggets into the batter, shaking off the excess batter before adding the homemade battered chicken nuggets to the hot oil. Repeat with the remaining homemade chicken nuggets.

Cook the homemade McDonald’s chicken nuggets in the oil, flipping with tongs once or twice until golden brown on both sides and completely cooked. Drain the copycat McDonald’s chicken nuggets on a paper towel lined plate.

Serve the homemade nuggets with your favorite dipping sauces.

These homemade battered chicken nuggets are so fresh, crispy, and delicious!

Copycat McDonald’s chicken nuggets – but better!

Here’s the full Homemade Chicken Nuggets recipe! I hope you enjoy these homemade nuggets as much as we do!