Copycat McDonald's Chicken Nuggets

Soft and tender on the inside with an unbeatable golden-brown, crispy exterior, this McDonald's Chicken McNuggets recipe features white meat chicken breast blended with flavorful spices and seasonings - and NO filler or preservative in sight. Serve with buffalo sauce, ranch, honey mustard, or barbecue sauce for a copycat chicken nugget experience you soon won't forget!

📝 Ingredients

• 2 whole Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (– cubed (about 1 1/2 pounds total))
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt (- DIVIDED)
• 1/2 teaspoon Dried Parsley
• 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
• 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 1 TBS Unsalted Butter (- melted)
• 3 Large Eggs (- beaten and DIVIDED)
• 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
• As Needed Peanut Oil (- for frying (about 1 1/2 - 2 cups))

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Start the Mc Nugget Paste: Place the cubed chicken into the bowl of a food processor and pulse four or five times, just to break up the chicken.
2. 2Add Flavor: To the food processor, add the parsley, onion powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, black pepper, butter, and one egg. Process the mixture until it resembles a paste-like consistency.
3. 3Roll Chicken Paste into Nuggets: Line a large sheet pan with plastic wrap. Dip your hands into water or spray them lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Then, use your hands to grab about 2 tablespoons of the chicken nugget mixture and gently shape it into a flattened nugget. Transfer the nugget onto the prepared sheet pan. Repeat forming all of the chicken mixture into nuggets.
4. 4Set Up Dredging Station for Chicken Nuggets: Add all the flour along with 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a shallow bowl and whisk to combine. Add two whisked eggs to a seperate shallow bowl and set bowl aside.
5. 5Set Up Dredging Station for Chicken Nuggets: Working with one nugget at at time, dredge the chicken nugget through the flour, shaking off any excess flour. Then, dip the floured nuggets into the beaten egg, allowing excess egg to drip off. Finally, return the chicken nugget back to the bowl of flour and dredge it through the flour to thoroughly coat the nugget. Transfer the breaded nugget back to prepared sheet pan and repeat the process until all the nuggets are coated
6. 6Heat Peanut Oil: When ready to cook, add the oil to a cast iron skillet, heavy bottom saucepan, or deep fryer. Place the pan over medium heat and heat the oil until it reaches a temperature of 350-degrees Fahrenheit.
7. 7Fry the McNuggets: Fry the Nuggets: Working in batches of 4 or 5 nuggets at at time, Carefully lower the nuggets into the hot oil. Let the nuggets fry, turning a few times during cooking, for a total of 4-5 minutes or until the mcnuggets are golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165-degrees F. Transfer the cooked chicken nuggets to a paper towel lined plate to drain excess grease and immediately season generously with salt while still warm. Then, transfer the chicken mcnuggets to a wire rack to keep them nice and crispy.
8. 8Serve Copycat McDonald's Chicken McNuggets: Serve homemade chicken nuggets warm with your favorite dipping sauces, such as buffalo sauce or blue cheese dressing and enjoy!