Toaster-Oven Chicken Nuggets
By America's Test KitchenPublished on January 19, 2022
Yield
Serves 4 (makes 36 nuggets)
Toaster oven setting
Air-fry or convection
Ingredients
Before You Begin
The nuggets can be cooked from fresh without freezing; reduce the cooking time to 12 to 17 minutes. Respray the rack before cooking additional batches. The air-fry or convection setting helps to achieve a crisp crust on the nuggets; if your toaster does not have these functions, use the standard bake function. The number of nuggets you can bake at one time will depend on the size of your baking sheet. Serve with Honey-Dijon Dipping Sauce and/or Sweet-and-Sour Dipping Sauce.
Instructions
- Pound chicken between 2 sheets of plastic to uniform ¾-inch thickness as needed. Cut each breast diagonally into thirds, then cut each piece into thirds. Dissolve sugar and 3 tablespoons salt in 2 quarts cold water in large container. Add chicken, cover, and let brine for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toss panko with oil in bowl until evenly coated. Microwave, stirring frequently, until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to shallow dish and let cool slightly. Whisk eggs, flour, onion powder, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper together in second shallow dish.
- Line large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove chicken from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Working with several chicken pieces at a time, dredge in egg mixture, letting excess drip off, then coat with panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere; transfer to prepared sheet. Freeze until firm, about 4 hours. (Frozen nuggets can be transferred to zipper-lock bag and stored in freezer for up to 1 month.)
- Adjust toaster oven rack to middle position, select air-fry or convection function, and heat oven to 400 degrees. Set small wire rack in small rimmed baking sheet and spray rack with vegetable oil spray. Place desired number of nuggets on prepared rack, spaced evenly apart, and cook until chicken registers 160 degrees and nuggets are crispy, 18 to 23 minutes. Serve.
to cook nuggets
Yield
Serves 4 (makes 36 nuggets)Toaster oven setting
Air-fry or convectionIngredients
Ingredients
Ingredients
Why This Recipe Works
These homemade nuggets are fresh and juicy, and you know exactly what you’re getting in them. You can make them fresh and eat them hot, or take advantage of their make-ahead convenience and pop them in the toaster oven from frozen whenever you’re ready for more. A 15-minute brine seasoned the white meat and guarded against dryness even after freezing. Adding onion powder and garlic powder to our streamlined egg-flour mixture delivered classic flavor, and our favorite dipping sauces completed the picture.
Before You Begin
The nuggets can be cooked from fresh without freezing; reduce the cooking time to 12 to 17 minutes. Respray the rack before cooking additional batches. The air-fry or convection setting helps to achieve a crisp crust on the nuggets; if your toaster does not have these functions, use the standard bake function. The number of nuggets you can bake at one time will depend on the size of your baking sheet. Serve with Honey-Dijon Dipping Sauce and/or Sweet-and-Sour Dipping Sauce.
Instructions
- Pound chicken between 2 sheets of plastic to uniform ¾-inch thickness as needed. Cut each breast diagonally into thirds, then cut each piece into thirds. Dissolve sugar and 3 tablespoons salt in 2 quarts cold water in large container. Add chicken, cover, and let brine for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toss panko with oil in bowl until evenly coated. Microwave, stirring frequently, until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to shallow dish and let cool slightly. Whisk eggs, flour, onion powder, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper together in second shallow dish.
- Line large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove chicken from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Working with several chicken pieces at a time, dredge in egg mixture, letting excess drip off, then coat with panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere; transfer to prepared sheet. Freeze until firm, about 4 hours. (Frozen nuggets can be transferred to zipper-lock bag and stored in freezer for up to 1 month.)
- Adjust toaster oven rack to middle position, select air-fry or convection function, and heat oven to 400 degrees. Set small wire rack in small rimmed baking sheet and spray rack with vegetable oil spray. Place desired number of nuggets on prepared rack, spaced evenly apart, and cook until chicken registers 160 degrees and nuggets are crispy, 18 to 23 minutes. Serve.
to cook nuggets
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