My Favorite Baked Chicken Nuggets

You know you're a mom when not only do you a) have a favorite chicken nugget recipe, but b) you have a favorite baked chicken nugget recipe.  What's that you see in my driveway? A minivan? Someone save me before I buy any mom jeans!

Just kidding! I love motherhood. Wouldn't trade it. My house is often filled with little ones, and chicken is usually something you can bet at least half of them will like. (Coincidentally, my toddler decided to boycott chicken the last time I made these.) I think most moms would say they prefer baked recipes instead of fried ones, even though usually the fried stuff tastes so much better (check out this CFA knock-off recipe, it looks amazing). But behold, a tasty baked chicken nugget recipe!

This is my go-to chicken nugget recipe for play dates, parties, snack time and easy dinners. If you keep Panko breadcrumbs on hand, you probably have everything you need to make these in a pinch. If I'm serving them for a group, I like to provide ketchup, honey, barbecue sauce and honey mustard for dipping. Kids (and most adults, right?) love dipping sauces, so they're a must to have on hand.

Finally, a kid-friendly nugget recipe you can feel good about.

Now excuse me while I go adhere a family of stick figures to the back of my van.

(Just a joke! Love to all the mamas out there with van decals.)

Panko-Crusted Chicken Bites

by Oven Love, slightly adapted from Martha Stewart

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1/2 cup flour (you can use all-purpose, but I use whole wheat or white whole wheat and you'll never know the difference)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (use regular paprika or cayenne pepper as a substitute)
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 2 pounds), cut into 1-inch cubes

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and fit with a wire rack. Spray with cooking spray; set aside.
2. Place flour, garlic powder and smoked paprika in a large bowl and season very generously with salt and pepper. Whisk eggs in another large bowl with 2 tablespoons water until well combined. Place the breadcrumbs in a third large bowl, and drizzle with olive oil; toss to coat. Stir in cheese and cayenne and mix well.
3. Place chicken pieces in the seasoned flour and toss to coat. Working in 3 batches, shake off any excess flour from chicken pieces and transfer to egg mixture; stir to combine. Transfer coated chicken pieces with a slotted spoon to the breadcrumb mixture and toss until completely coated. Place the breaded chicken pieces on a rack-lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Repeat process until all the chicken is breaded. Bake until golden brown and chicken is cooked through, 18 to 20 minutes.