Better-for-You Chicken Nuggets

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Better-for-You Chicken Nuggets

By

Nicole Keshishian | KALEJUNKIE®

Crispy, juicy copycat Chick-fil-A style chicken nuggets made healthier — breaded with almond flour and breadcrumbs and finished in the air fryer or oven. Served with a sweet-tangy dipping sauce you won't want to skip.

Yield

4

Time

27 minutes

Rating

—

Ingredients

2 lb (about 900 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

2 large eggs

3 tbsp dill pickle juice

1 cup almond flour

1/2 cup Italian herb breadcrumbs

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

Cooking spray or oil spray (for air fryer or baking sheet)

Dipping sauce:

2 tbsp honey

2 tbsp barbecue sauce

4 tsp Dijon mustard

1/2 cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt

Instructions

Step 1

Prepare chicken: Cut the boneless skinless chicken breasts into bite-size nugget pieces (about 1–1.5-inch pieces).

Step 2

Make the egg wash: In a bowl whisk together 2 eggs and 3 tablespoons dill pickle juice until combined.

Step 3

Make the dry coating: In a separate bowl combine 1 cup almond flour, 1/2 cup Italian herb breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.

Step 4

Coat the chicken: Dip each chicken piece first into the egg + pickle juice mixture, then press into the dry coating, pressing the mixture into crevices so each piece is well coated. Repeat until all pieces are coated.

Step 5

Air fryer method: Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Spray the basket with cooking spray and arrange nuggets in a single even layer (do not overcrowd; work in batches if needed). Air fry for 12 minutes, flipping the nuggets halfway through the cook time, until golden and cooked through.

Step 6

Oven method: Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and lightly spray. Arrange nuggets in a single layer and bake on the middle rack for 6 minutes, flip each nugget, then bake another 6 minutes, until golden and cooked through.

Step 7

Make the dipping sauce: In a small bowl whisk together 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce, 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard, and 1/2 cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt. Taste and adjust seasoning or sweetness as desired.

Step 8

Serve: Serve the nuggets hot with the dipping sauce and enjoy.

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Better-for-You Chicken Nuggets

By

Nicole Keshishian | KALEJUNKIE®

Crispy, juicy copycat Chick-fil-A style chicken nuggets made healthier — breaded with almond flour and breadcrumbs and finished in the air fryer or oven. Served with a sweet-tangy dipping sauce you won't want to skip.

Yield

4

Time

27 minutes

Rating

—

Ingredients

2 lb (about 900 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

2 large eggs

3 tbsp dill pickle juice

1 cup almond flour

1/2 cup Italian herb breadcrumbs

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

Cooking spray or oil spray (for air fryer or baking sheet)

Dipping sauce:

2 tbsp honey

2 tbsp barbecue sauce

4 tsp Dijon mustard

1/2 cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt

Instructions

Step 1

Prepare chicken: Cut the boneless skinless chicken breasts into bite-size nugget pieces (about 1–1.5-inch pieces).

Step 2

Make the egg wash: In a bowl whisk together 2 eggs and 3 tablespoons dill pickle juice until combined.

Step 3

Make the dry coating: In a separate bowl combine 1 cup almond flour, 1/2 cup Italian herb breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.

Step 4

Coat the chicken: Dip each chicken piece first into the egg + pickle juice mixture, then press into the dry coating, pressing the mixture into crevices so each piece is well coated. Repeat until all pieces are coated.

Step 5

Air fryer method: Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Spray the basket with cooking spray and arrange nuggets in a single even layer (do not overcrowd; work in batches if needed). Air fry for 12 minutes, flipping the nuggets halfway through the cook time, until golden and cooked through.

Step 6

Oven method: Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and lightly spray. Arrange nuggets in a single layer and bake on the middle rack for 6 minutes, flip each nugget, then bake another 6 minutes, until golden and cooked through.

Step 7

Make the dipping sauce: In a small bowl whisk together 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce, 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard, and 1/2 cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt. Taste and adjust seasoning or sweetness as desired.

Step 8

Serve: Serve the nuggets hot with the dipping sauce and enjoy.

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By GBC Kitchen

This take on the traditional French onion soup is both convenient and delicious, perfect for midweek lunch or dinner alike. Caramelised onions are the star of the dish, cooked to perfection with garlic, thyme and Calvet Muscadet White Wine. Topped with sliced baguette and Gruyère cheese, then baked in the oven until golden and bubbly and served with fresh sprigs of thyme.

50 min

Chicken Tinga Tacos

By Jenn Louis

Chicken gets fabulous Mexican flavor with tinga, an easy-to-make smoky tomato sauce. This delicious tinga chicken taco recipe uses only a few simple ingredients.

2 hr 30 min

Rosemary and Dried Cherry Pork Chops

By Kendra Vaculin

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Spicy Honey Orange Shrimp (Xiang La Fengmi Xia)

By Tiffy Chen

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By Neelam Batra

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1 hr 30 min

More from Weeknight Dinners

View All →

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By Tiffy Chen

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By Iram Mansoor

Savory, melty beef and cheese folded into crispy baked tortilla pockets — great for a quick dinner or party snack. Spiced ground beef with bell pepper and optional Serrano gives these pockets a bold, comforting flavor.

50 min

Chili Crisp Fettuccine Alfredo

By Iram Mansoor

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By Neelam Batra

This flavorful Indian chicken dish features bone-in drumsticks and thighs in a rich, spicy curry sauce made with chiles, garlic, ginger, and more.

1 hr 30 min

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By Keya Wingfield

This easy chana masala recipe has a clever trick: boiling the canned chickpeas with their liquid helps match the texture you'd get from soaking dried ones.