Spicy Chicken Nuggets

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/15/21
spicy chicken nuggets

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Marinating: 30 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 18 nuggets
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
306 Calories
6g Fat
32g Carbs
29g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 306
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 99mg 33%
Sodium 1101mg 48%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 29g
Vitamin C 2mg 8%
Calcium 131mg 10%
Iron 3mg 17%
Potassium 336mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

There's no frying or trip to the drive-through required to enjoy some spicy chicken nuggets. This recipe gets them crispy, juicy, and tender by using the oven. They’re craveably spicy and full of satisfying crunch. The key is to toast the breadcrumbs before breading the chicken nuggets, then bake them to golden perfection. There’s no extensive breading process, either. The nuggets are marinated in a spicy yogurt, then dipped into the breadcrumbs—that’s it! 

Serve them alongside some homemade tots and a salad for a complete meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce

  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, divided

  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

  • Honey mustard, optional, for serving

  • Barbecue sauce, optional, for serving

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    spicy chicken nugget ingredients

  2. Butterfly each chicken breast so you have a total of 4 cutlets. Pound each cutlet to 1/2 inch thick.

    pounded chicken cutlets

  3. Cut each cutlet into 2-inch sized pieces (or whatever size you like, you can also cut them into tenders).

  4. Whisk together the Greek yogurt, egg, hot sauce, half of the cayenne pepper, paprika, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

    chicken nugget marinate

  5. Add the chicken to the yogurt mixture, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

    chicken nuggets in marinade

  6. Preheat oven to 400 F.

    Combine the remaining salt, pepper, and cayenne with the seasoned breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs. Add the breadcrumb mixture to a baking sheet and spread out evenly. Toast on the middle rack in the preheated oven, shaking often until all the breadcrumbs are toasted and golden brown.

    toasted breadcrumbs

  7. Remove the chicken pieces from the yogurt mixture, shaking off the excess liquid and place it in the breadcrumbs, flipping to coat both sides. Lower the oven to 375 F.

    chicken nuggets coated in breading

  8. Place the nuggets on a parchment lined baking sheet fitted with a cooling rack.

    chicken nuggets on a baking rack

  9. Bake for 15 minutes or until the nuggets are cooked to a golden brown with an internal temperature of 165 F. You can flip them halfway through if you don't have the cooling rack. The cooling rack prevents them from getting soggy.

    Sprinkle with even more cayenne pepper if you wish and serve with your favorite dipping sauces, such as honey mustard or barbecue sauce, if you like.

    baked spicy chicken nuggets

Tip

  • These nuggets can also be cooked in the air fryer. Set it to 375 F and cook for 8 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. 
  • You can easily double this recipe to make more chicken nuggets. After fully cooking and cooling, freeze them in one layer on a baking sheet, then place them in a plastic bag in the freezer. They will keep in the freezer for up to four months. The air fryer is a great way to reheat them.

Recipe Variations

  • You can replace the Greek yogurt with sour cream.