This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These tasty cheese chicken nuggets are perfectly crispy, high protein, and kid-friendly too! They’re made with just a few simple ingredients and baked, not fried. Pair these with your favorite sauce and you’ll be making them again and again!
Why you’ll love this
Move over fast food, these homemade chicken nuggets are seriously easy and delicious (and healthier, too!).
They’re baked (not fried!) with just a handful of ingredients and lots of cheesy flavor from both cheddar and parmesan cheese.
One serving or about 4 nuggets has an impressive 29 grams of protein! Pair these with an easy side like Air Fryer Broccoli with Feta, Bell Pepper Slaw or Crispy Parmesan Carrot Sticks. Or, serve them over a salad or in a wrap for an easy lunch.
Your whole family is going to love these crispy cheesy chicken nuggets- even your pickiest eaters!
You can whip these up fresh on a busy weeknight, meal prep them ahead at the start of the week or even freeze them after baking for your future self. Serve them with your favorite sauce- my choices are Buffalo Ranch Sauce, 3-Ingredient Honey Mustard or Creamy Sriracha Sauce.
Ingredients
- Ground chicken: Lean ground chicken is the base for these nuggets and makes them super simple to mix up and season. You could also use chicken breast or boneless chicken thigh meat, chop into small pieces and pulse them in the food processor first to ensure an even texture for the nuggets.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar cheese has a bold flavor that makes these so so tasty. Any other shredded cheese would work too.
- Parmesan cheese: Grated parmesan cheese adds more cheesy, salty flavor to both the breading and the chicken.
- Egg: Eggs helps hold these nuggets together and keeps the nugget texture just right, plus it adds another little boost of protein and nutrients. An egg wash also helps to create a nice crispy coating.
- Garlic powder, onion powder, salt + black pepper: This classic seasoning combination gives just the right amount of flavor.
- Panko breadcrumbs: I like to use plain panko breadcrumbs because they give a crispier coating to the nuggets. Plain traditional bread crumbs will also work if that’s what you can find at the grocery store.
How to make cheese chicken nuggets
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix breading ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Add ground chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, 1 egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a large bowl.
Step 3: Mix with clean hands (or gloved hands) until combined well.
Step 4: Prepare the egg wash by lightly whisking an egg on a plate. Next, use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion out chicken mixture into balls (about 2 tbsp each) and shape into oval nuggets with your hands- makes about 20-24 nuggets.
Step 5: Lightly coat each nugget with the egg wash, and then press into the breading mixture to coat.
Step 6: Place each nugget onto the prepared baking sheet and lightly spray the tops with cooking spray.
Step 7: Bake nuggets for 15 minutes, flip and lightly spray the tops with cooking spray. Bake for an additional 8-10 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
How to store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze them for up to 2 months.
- Reheat from fridge: Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway. Or, air fry at 375 for 5-6 minutes for crispiest results. You can also microwave them in 30 second increments but they won’t be as crispy.
- Reheat from frozen: Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Or, air fry for 8-12 minutes at 375 degrees.
Variations
- Mix up the cheese! Colby jack, pepper jack, or mozzarella cheese all work great for this recipe!
- Add dried herbs like Italian seasoning or finely minced fresh herbs like parsley or chives for a classic herb flavor.
- Instead of ground chicken, you can use ground turkey to make turkey nuggets.
- For gluten-free, swap panko for gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- For a spicy version, add ¼ tsp of cayenne pepper to the nugget mix.
More family-friendly recipes you’ll love
- Chicken Nuggets with Ground Chicken
- Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
- Big Mac Sloppy Joes
- Greek Yogurt Alfredo Sauce
- Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Turkey
- High Protein Mac and Cheese
Cheese Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Breading
- 3/4-1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 egg
- cooking spray, I prefer avocado
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Mix breading ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add ground chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, 1 egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Mix with clean hands (or gloved hands) until combined well.
- Prepare the egg wash by lightly whisking an egg on a plate.
- Next, use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion out nugget mixture into balls (about 2 tbsp each) and shape into oval nuggets with your hands- makes about 20-24 nuggets. Lightly coat each nugget with the egg wash, and then press into the breading mixture to coat.
- Place each nugget onto the prepared baking sheet and lightly spray the tops with cooking spray.
- Bake nuggets for 15 minutes, flip and lightly spray the tops with cooking spray. Bake for an additional 8-10 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an estimate.
Food photography by Marie-Catherine Dubé
These were delicious and easy to make! The whole family loved them!!
Another amazing recipe! The whole house smelled so good as these were baking. This recipe was easy and the results were tasty! This is going into the regular rotation at our house.