Dinner Ideas

Chicken Nuggets :: Grain Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free, with Nut Free Option

June 11, 2014

Chicken Nuggets :: Grain Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free, with Nut Free Option
Those who know my kids well know that they pretty much eat what some people would call “adult food” most of the day. I don’t subscribe to the practice of “kid food” for the kids and something else for the adults. From very early on my babies ate what we were eating from the table (as long as it was a safe age for the type of food!), and the girls just don’t know any differently. And I just plain don’t have the time to be a short order cook making different plates for everyone!

But chicken nuggets are just fun! And even as an adult, every once and a while I love having what feels like a splurge for a dinner change up.

Chicken Nuggets :: Grain Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free, with Nut Free Option
Chicken nuggets from the freezer section at the grocery store are not only filled with chicken from questionable sources (if even chicken at all??), but they are coated with transfats, destroyed grains, and other preservatives that absolutely affect tummies and behaviors.

Chicken Nuggets :: Grain Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free, with Nut Free Option
This chicken nugget method comes together quite fast – and you can roast up a pan full of root veggies or other vegetable mixtures so you have a full meal in one shot!

Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Chicken Nuggets

Chicken nuggets make for a fun meal, even for grownups! These are free from many allergens, so they should fit your family.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: grain-free chicken nugget recipe, grain-free chicken nuggets, homemade chicken nuggets
Servings: 12 nuggets
Author: Renee - www.raisinggenerationnourished.com

Ingredients

“BREADING” MIXTURE ::

CHICKEN MIXTURE::

  • 2 cups or more of cooked chicken from your crockpotted chicken see Tips section for the simplest way to stock up on cooked chicken for simple meals like this!
  • 1 TB all purpose season
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • ¼ cup whole coconut milk Could do fresh milk from a good source instead
  • ¼ cup olive oil or melted coconut oil (could do melted butter if you can do dairy)

Instructions

  • Whisk the Breading Mixture ingredients in a small mixing bowl.
  • Put all of the ingredients for the Chicken Mixture into your food processor and blend to a puree.
  • Line a baking sheet with silpat or parchment paper.
  • Using your hands scoop a small amount of the chicken mixture, form it into a ball with your hands, and then roll in the Breading Mixture.
  • Press the ball to flatten into “nugget” shape and put the nugget on the baking sheet.
  • Continue until all the nuggets are breaded – nuggets can be made as big or small as you want. I made about 12 out of this batch.
  • Bake at 425 degrees for 12 minutes, then flip them over and bake another 12 minutes. You may want to check them around the 10 minute mark both times just in case our ovens run different. I very often roast veggies along with the nuggets and sometimes that makes them need a little more time to cook.

Product links in this section are from affiliate partners. There is no extra cost to you, and it helps maintain the site and provide free content to you! Know that I would never recommend a product that I wouldn’t use or feed my family!

Tips:

  • Check out THIS post about how to double up on chicken making so you have easy fast pull out chicken in your freezer for dinners like this!
  • Leftovers warm up in the oven well – or fry up in a pan great!
  • You can double or triple up and freeze! Just make up the nugget mixture and get them on the tray, freeze them, and once frozen get the nuggets into a freezer bag. When you are having a busy night you can pull the nuggets out of the freezer and into the oven!
  • I love love love my Silpat liners for baking! Quick clean up and no paper waste.
  • I use THIS all purpose season *all* the time. I have tried so many and this is my favorite!
  • I’m thinking you could probably make the nuggets pretty fun shapes like hearts, stars, etc with small cookie cutters!

What “kid foods” have you figured out how to make real food style?

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15 Comments

  • Reply Meagan @ Growing Up Herbal June 13, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    This recipe looks amazing! I’m definitely going to have to try it with my kids since they love chicken nuggets. The only real food nugget recipes I’ve come across online are basically breaded chunks of chicken, and seeing as how this recipe is more like the frozen nuggets from the grocery store, I’m thinking my kids will like it even better. Thanks so much!

    • Reply Renee Kohley June 13, 2014 at 2:59 pm

      Great Megan <3 Keep me posted how they like them!

  • Reply Kristin June 13, 2014 at 5:07 pm

    These look so good! I love that they are so healthy but still look like chicken nuggets kids are used to. Will be trying soon!

  • Reply Jessica June 13, 2014 at 5:08 pm

    5 stars
    I have never though to try making nuggets with pre cooked chicken. Making nuggets scared me because I don’t want to under cook them. This is perfect!!!

    • Reply Renee Kohley June 13, 2014 at 7:45 pm

      Haha! I get that! I actually made these up because I usually only buy whole chickens – it just isn’t in our budget to buy pastured chicken breasts. So this works!

  • Reply Anna June 13, 2014 at 5:10 pm

    Such a lovely and healthy recipe for chicken nuggets. I would never buy ones from the store, as they are loaded with salt, preservatives and bad quality chicken meat. Can’t wait to try them!

    • Reply Renee Kohley June 13, 2014 at 7:44 pm

      Great Anna! Let me know how they turn out!

  • Reply Andrea Fabry June 13, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    I set aside chicken to try these and next thing I know the chicken was gone. Next week for sure!

    • Reply Renee Kohley June 13, 2014 at 7:44 pm

      Haha! Sounds good! Let me know how they turn out 😉

  • Reply Real Food Summer Picnic Series :: Barbeque Sauce | Raising Generation Nourished June 16, 2014 at 6:02 am

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  • Reply Rita March 4, 2016 at 6:14 am

    hello

    Can we use gluten free flour for the breading ? How do you get it to stick on the chicken ?

    • Reply Renee Kohley March 4, 2016 at 7:28 pm

      Hi Rita! Yes that should work. And the chicken mixture is pretty sticky/wet once blended so the flour sticks well.

  • Reply Real Food Gluten-Free Flour 101: My Guide To Gluten-Free Baking - Live Simply May 6, 2016 at 12:02 am

    […] Tapioca flour gives baked goods a really nice soft gluten texture when used in the right proportion. This starch can also be used to thicken sauces and gravy. Keep in mind that a sauce or gravy will be “gooey” in texture when compared to a thick flour-based gravy. I like to use it for stir-fry sauce thickening, and it makes a great pudding. I also use it for coating meat for searing, or making chicken nuggets. […]

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