Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets
If you have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease like I do, you’re absolutely going to love these gluten-free chicken nuggets. Sure, you can buy frozen gluten-free chicken nuggets from the grocery store, but they can be so expensive! So, why not make them at home for the fraction of the price?
This recipe is very simple to put together. You just need to set up a breading station to coat the chicken and then you can bake your gf chicken nuggets in the oven until crispy. They’re great with BBQ sauce, aioli, ranch, honey mustard, and so much more!
You’ll love this recipe because:
It’s SO crispy! The combination of gluten-free breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese make the perfect coating. Plus, the method of baking on a wire rack helps these gluten-free chicken nuggets get extra crispy!
It’s baked, NOT fried! If you don’t want to deal with the fuss of deep frying with hot oil, these chicken nuggets are for you! They’re baked in the oven until crispy instead of being fried!
It’s gluten-free! Using gluten-free flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs, this chicken nugget recipe is easily made gluten-free without sacrificing any of the flavor or that crunch you expect when biting into a juicy chicken nugget.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Breasts – Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. Be sure to cut all of the chicken pieces the same size so they cook in the same amount of time.
- Gluten-Free Flour – I used Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour (in the blue bag) for this recipe.
- Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs – You can use store-bought gluten-free breadcrumbs or homemade gluten-free breadcrumbs for this recipe. I used unseasoned breadcrumbs, but if yours are already seasoned, you may want to cut back on some of the spices in this recipe by about half.
- Parmesan Cheese – Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for the best flavor. Avoid pre-grated cheese, which can contain anti-caking agents that affect the texture. If you need your chicken nuggets to be dairy-free, omit the parmesan cheese from the recipe.
For the crispiest chicken nuggets, make sure to use an oven-safe wire rack on your baking sheet. This allows hot air to circulate around the nuggets, ensuring even cooking and a crunchy exterior. If you don’t have a wire rack, be sure to flip your chicken nuggets halfway through the baking time to ensure crispy nuggets.
Step-by-Step instructions
If you’ve never made your own baked chicken nuggets at home, you need to try this recipe! It’s so easy! The below steps with matching photos are not meant to be the full recipe, but are there to help you see the recipe made at various stages.
For the ingredient list with measurements, full instructions, printable recipe, and additional notes, please scroll down to the recipe card.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use other hard cheeses like Romano or Asiago. Just make sure it’s finely grated to blend well with the breadcrumbs.
Yes, you can omit the parmesan cheese or use a dairy-free cheese alternative. Ensure your breadcrumbs are also dairy-free.
These chicken nuggets pair well with a variety of dipping sauces such as honey mustard, barbecue sauce, ranch, or a spicy aioli.
es, you can cook these chicken nuggets in an air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook the nuggets in a single layer for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through.
expert tips
Storage instructions
- Storage: Store any leftover chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Ensure they are completely cool before sealing them in the container.
- Reheat: To reheat the chicken nuggets, bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes or in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for about 3-5 minutes, or until heated through and crispy.
More gluten-free dinner recipes to try
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Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb skinless boneless chicken breasts (cut into 1-inch sized pieces)
- 1/2 cup gluten-free flour ((70g) I used Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour)
- 2 large eggs (100g)
- 1 1/2 cup plain gluten-free breadcrumbs (85g, store-bought or homemade)
- 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese (30g)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place an oven-safe wire rack on a baking sheet and lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the breading station by setting up three shallow bowls. In the first bowl, place the gluten-free flour. In the second bowl, beat the eggs. In the third bowl, combine the gluten-free breadcrumbs, grated parmesan cheese, salt, ground pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Dredge each piece of chicken in the gluten-free flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip it into the beaten eggs, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, coat the chicken pieces in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere the crumbs.
- Place the coated chicken nuggets on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are evenly spaced and not touching to let air circulate around them while baking.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 14-16 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until the chicken nuggets are golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F (74°C).
- Remove the chicken nuggets from the oven and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- If you are on a gluten-free diet, be sure to double check that all of your ingredients are gluten-free as manufacturing practices can change from time to time.
- Be sure to use a gluten-free dipping sauce for your chicken nuggets.
- To ensure even cooking, cut the chicken breasts into uniform 1-inch pieces. This helps all the nuggets cook at the same rate, preventing some from being overcooked while others are undercooked.
Nutrition
I’m Megan
A gluten-free food blogger from Chicago and lover of all things food, showing you gluten-free can be easy and delicious, too. Let’s make gluten-free stress free together! Read more…
