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    Accueil » Recipes » Main course » Meat and chicken

    Easy and delicious Macdonald's chicken nuggets (copycat)

    Publié le : Jun 5, 2024 · Modifié le : Jun 5, 2024 par Marie · Leave a Comment

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    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

    Once you've tried my homemade chicken nuggets, you'll never eat industrial nuggets of highly questionable composition again! Super-easy to make and delicious, they're no match for fast-food nuggets, with their crispy exterior and tender interior.

    Homemade chicken nuggets on a sheet of parchment paper.
    Table des matières
    • 💙Why you'll love them
    • 🍗For chicken lovers
    • 🧄Notes on ingredients
    • 🍟What to serve them with?
    • ✨How to make the best chicken nuggets?
    • 👩🏻‍🍳Chef's tips
    • 💡Frequently Asked Questions
    • ❄️Storage/freezing
    • 📖 Recette

    💙Why you'll love them

    • 100% transparent composition - they're much healthier than those from industrial fast-food restaurants (like Macdonald's, to name but a few), and at least you know exactly what's inside!
    • So freakin easy - a tasty recipe that's really easy to prepare, yet fun to make, with or without children.
    • Absolutely delicious - believe me, all the people (a good part of my family and almost all my friends) to whom I've given this recipe to taste have been absolutely blown away by the results!
    • All occasions are good - whether for a family meal or with your friends, you'll LOVE them!
    • Cheap - with this recipe you can get more nuggets but for the same price!

    🍗For chicken lovers

    Creamy chicken Orzo

    Creamy chicken Orzo

    Crusted Romano chicken

    Crusted Romano chicken

    Chicken tenders

    Chicken tenders

    🧄Notes on ingredients

    You can find a full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below. Here are a few ingredient notes to make these nuggets.

    • Chicken - chicken strips or chicken breast, the choice is yours, but use chicken breast to make these nuggets.
    • Garlic - if you want to choose your garlic carefully so you do not encourage the slavery of Chinese prisoners, read my Eco Tips on the subject.
    • Sparkling water - this will make the dough lighter.
    • Frying oil, such as sunflower oil.

    🍟What to serve them with?

    • French fries - carrot, zucchini or Cajun fries.
    • You can also enjoy French pommes noisettes, smash potatoes, garlic and Parmesan potatoes or accordion potatoes.
    Homemade chicken nuggets on a sheet of parchment paper.

    ✨How to make the best chicken nuggets?

    Recipe details and quantities are in the recipe card below.

    • Chop the chicken into a purée. You can also use a blender, if you have one, to speed things up.
    Two chicken fillets on a white cutting board.
    A knife that chops chicken fillets on a white cutting board.
    • Place in a bowl with half the paprika and garlic powder, salt and pepper.
    • Using your hands, shape the mixture into nuggets, place on a plate and freeze for 15 minutes.
    Ground chicken in a white bowl with paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
    Two hands holding a homemade chicken nugget.
    All the chicken nuggets are on one plate.
    • Heat your frying oil in a large frying pan until it reaches 355°F/180°C. In a bowl, mix the flour with the remaining paprika, garlic powder, cornstarch, salt and pepper.
    • Dredge the nuggets through the mixture until they are perfectly coated.
    Flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper are in a large white bowl.
    One hand holds a nugget coated in a mixture of flour and spices.
    • Then add the sparkling water to the bowl of flour - you should end up with a liquid batter, something like pancake batter.
    • Dredge the nuggets in the batter.
    The sparkling water was added to the white bowl of flour and spices.
    A spoon mixes the batter in the large white bowl.
    A pair of tongs pulls a nugget out of the white bowl of batter.
    • Place the nuggets in the frying oil and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden-brown on both sides.
    • Pat them dry with paper towels and enjoy!
    A nugget cooked in a pan of frying oil.
    All nuggets are placed on two plates, held by one hand.
    Homemade chicken nuggets on a sheet of parchment paper.

    👩🏻‍🍳Chef's tips

    1. Flour, cornstarch & sparkling water, the perfect combo: we often see nuggets dipped in beaten eggs and covered with breadcrumbs, but real nuggets are actually prepared with a tempura-style batter. You'll be amazed at how similar they are to Macdonald's...!
    2. Don't neglect the freezer, as you'll have trouble manipulating them without it. It'll be much easier after a short time in the freezer.

    💡Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make them in the Air Fryer for healthier cooking?

    Of course you can! Turn the oven on to 390°F/200°C and place the nuggets in the Air Fryer basket. Cook for 8-10 minutes, then turn them over and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.

    What to do with used frying oil?

    Don't throw your frying oil down the drain, as it may clog it up. It's best to put it back in the bottle once it's cooled down (very important, otherwise it'll have a hole in it), then dispose of it at a waste disposal center that accepts special household waste. And if that's impossible, at least put it in the non-recyclable waste garbage can.

    ❄️Storage/freezing

    • Store - let chicken nuggets cool to room temperature, then place in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
    • Reheat - place in a preheated oven at 320°F/160°C for 5 to 10 minutes.
    • Freeze - let the nuggets cool to room temperature, then place them on a plate and freeze for 2-3 hours to « pre-freeze ». Then transfer them to a freezer bag, remove as much as possible and place in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
    • Defrost - place in a preheated oven at 390°F/200°C and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, turning halfway through to ensure even heating.

    If you make these Macdonald's chicken nuggets, it would be so nice to leave me a comment and rate the recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. You can also tag me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Tik Tok, or even send me a photo, I love seeing my little dishes in your homes!

    📖 Recette

    Nuggets de poulet sur une feuille de papier cuisson.
    Pas encore de vote

    Easy and delicious Macdonald's chicken nuggets (copycat)

    Once you've tried my homemade chicken nuggets, you'll never eat industrial nuggets of highly questionable composition again! Super-easy to make and delicious, they're no match for fast-food nuggets, with their crispy exterior and tender interior.
    Servings 2 servings
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Resting time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins

    Ingredients

    • 11 oz chicken breasts
    • 1 tablespoon paprika divided
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder divided
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
    • ½ cup sparkling water
    • salt to taste
    • black pepper to taste
    • 4 cups frying oil like sunflower oil
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Chop the chicken into a purée. You can also use a blender, if you have one, to speed things up.
    • Place in a bowl with half the paprika and garlic powder, salt and pepper.
    • Using your hands, shape the mixture into nuggets, place on a plate and freeze for 15 minutes.
    • Heat your frying oil in a large frying pan until it reaches 355°F/180°C. In a bowl, mix the flour with the remaining paprika, garlic powder, cornstarch, salt and pepper.
    • Dredge the nuggets through the mixture until they are perfectly coated. Then add the sparkling water to the bowl of flour - you should end up with a liquid batter, something like pancake batter. Dredge the nuggets in the batter.
    • Place the nuggets in the frying oil and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden-brown on both sides. Pat them dry with paper towels and enjoy!

    Notes

    • Store - let chicken nuggets cool to room temperature, then place in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
    • Reheat - place in a preheated oven at 320°F/160°C for 5 to 10 minutes.
    • Freeze - let the nuggets cool to room temperature, then place them on a plate and freeze for 2-3 hours to « pre-freeze ». Then transfer them to a freezer bag, remove as much as possible and place in the freezer for 2 to 3 months.
    • Defrost - place in a preheated oven at 390°F/200°C and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, turning halfway through to ensure even heating.
    Author: Marie Compain
    Calories: 464kcal
    Course: Chicken, Main Course
    Keyword: comforting, delicious, easy, quick
    Régime: Dairy-free

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2servings | Calories: 464kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 199mg | Potassium: 748mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1796IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 5mg

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    About Marie

    Marie Compain est la fondatrice, créatrice de recettes et photographe culinaire de Marie Food Tips. Depuis 2021, Marie partage ses recettes faciles et familiales, toujours gourmandes et bourrées de saveurs, pour la vie quotidienne ou les occasions plus spéciales.

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