These Healthy Homemade Chicken Nuggets taste so good, you’d never guess they’re actually good for you! This delicious recipe is low-carb, grain-free, and only requires six ingredients to make.
What if I told you that you could recreate the classic flavor of chicken nuggets in the convenience of your own kitchen with just a few easy-to-find ingredients?
And that these healthy homemade chicken nuggets would be low in carbs but full of flavor?
My friends, that’s exactly what we have with this recipe! I know it sounds a bit too good to be true, but it’s not. These nuggets are so tasty, I find myself making them at least once a week.
Why you should make this recipe
These homemade chicken nuggets contain only six ingredients: chicken breasts, almond flour, Italian seasoning, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper—wholesome ingredients without any fillers, additives, or artificial flavorings.
I don’t know if you’ve seen the ingredient list for some of the famous chicken nuggets, but they’re scary! The chicken nuggets from a popular fast food restaurant contain a whopping 40 (that’s not a typo!) ingredients – that’s way too many ingredients for a meal that should be so simple.
These chicken nuggets, on the other hand, have very healthy ingredients that you can pronounce. And they are gluten-free thanks to the almond flour that serves as the breading instead of breadcrumbs.
While the nuggets are baking in the oven, you can use that time to make a delicious dip to go with them. They’re an excellent option for a healthy dinner that tastes good and brings a little fun to your dinner plate!
Ingredients
This recipe comes together with just 5 simple ingredients and a little baking action in the oven.
- Chicken breasts: boneless and skinless chicken breasts are best for chicken nuggets
- Extra virgin olive oil: this will help the breading to adhere to the chicken pieces
- Almond flour: this will be the base of the breaded coating
- Italian seasoning: just a tablespoon of this will give great flavor to the breading
- Salt and pepper
Step-by-step instructions
These chicken nuggets require only 15 minutes of prep time, which might be even faster than going through the drive-thru if you include travel time!
After that, they bake in the oven for 20 minutes, then spend a few minutes under the broiler to make them nice and crispy. Just like chicken nuggets should be!
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400˚F (200˚C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, stir together the almond flour, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Step 3: Pat dry chicken breasts with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Trim off any fat from the chicken breasts and discard. Cut chicken into 1-inch thick pieces.
Step 4: Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the chicken and toss to coat.
Step 5: Place each piece of chicken in the bowl of flour and toss until fully coated, then transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet, spreading them evenly across the pan.
Step 6: Bake chicken pieces for 20 minutes.
Step 7: Turn on the broiler and place the chicken nuggets under the broiler for 3-4 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.
Remove from oven and allow to rest for a few minutes before digging in. That’s it!
Just wait until you taste them. You may find yourself craving this healthy version more than you ever craved its fast-food counterpart… and you can enjoy them totally guilt-free!
Expert tips
Check out these tips and tricks to make the best, most flavorful, dippable chicken nuggets.
- Start with dry chicken. If there is any moisture on the chicken breasts, the olive oil will just glide off and not stick making the breading step nearly impossible. The easiest way to ensure dry chicken is pat dry with a paper towel.
- For extra crispy chicken nuggets, consider using a wire rack so the underside is just as evenly crispy. But in the interest of easy clean-up, you can just line a baking sheet and call it a day!
- If meal prepping nuggets, make sure you skip the broiling step until just before serving. This will ensure properly crispy and not soggy chicken nuggets.
Variations
If you have a nut allergy and are looking for an alternative to almond flour, you can also try this recipe with coconut flour instead.
Coconut flour is denser than almond flour, so you may want to reduce the amount you use. You’ll also want to be sure that you really coat the chicken in olive oil so the coconut flour has more liquid to absorb.
To add variety to these chicken nuggets, consider these flavor combinations:
- Spicy: add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper or chili pepper to the breading mixture.
- Herbal: add a teaspoon of dried parsley, dill, and basil for more herb flavor
- Garlic Parmesan: swap out the Italian seasoning for 2 tablespoons of finely grated Parmesan cheese and 1 tablespoon of garlic powder (keep in mind this will increase the overall calories and fat content but still be low-carb).
Serving suggestions
Chicken nuggets are a fantastic finger food for dipping into your favorite condiments.
Serve chicken nuggets with mustard or hot sauce, which are excellent low-carb condiment choices. Avocado oil mayonnaise is another great low-carb option. You can flavor the mayo by drizzling a little sriracha for some spicy mayonnaise.
Homemade low-carb ranch dressing is another excellent option.
There are a lot of great sugar-free sauces with clean ingredients on the market, so feel free to find one that’s right for you. Thankfully, you likely have low-carb ketchup and barbecue sauce in your local grocery store, so there shouldn’t be a shortage of dipping sauces.
I like serving chicken nuggets with some greens on the side. For a quick and light salad dressing, whisk together a little mustard and olive oil to dress the greens for a complimentary flavor.
Storage instructions
Chicken nuggets are best when served right out of the oven. The chicken will be juicy, the breading will be crunchy, and your meal will be delicious!
However, leftover chicken nuggets can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
When stored, the crust will lose its crispiness and the nuggets may become a bit soggy. You also run the risk of drying out the chicken when you reheat it.
To meal prep these nuggets and refrigerate or freeze them for later, you can follow the recipe through the baking step but do not broil. Once cooled completely, transfer to an airtight container. To freeze, stack them in layers in a sealed container separated with parchment paper.
When you’re ready to enjoy them, let them come to room temperature for about 30 minutes, then place under the broiler for 3-4 minutes. This will help keep the outside crispy without drying out the chicken.
Nutrition
One of the best parts about this easy recipe is that you’re baking the nuggets in the oven not frying them in oil. This already makes these a much healthier option.
Most of the fat in these healthy chicken nuggets comes from the almond flour breading. Each serving contains 547 calories and packs in 54 grams of protein and only 4 grams of net carbs, making it an excellent choice for those with diabetes or who follow a low-carb diet.
With such an admirable nutrient profile, you can be sure that you’ll stay nourished and satiated well until the next meal.
Frequently asked questions
Chicken breasts cook fairly quickly and only need about 20 minutes to bake at 400˚F (200˚C).
Making chicken nuggets at home gives you full control over the ingredients that are going into this family-friendly food. This nugget recipe is keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, and low in sodium. It’s a great alternative to store-bought or fast-food chicken nuggets that come with a long list of ingredients.
The best way to ensure chicken nuggets are crispy is to avoid overcrowding the sheet pan to allow heat to circulate between the pieces. Additionally, broiling them for the last 3-4 minutes of cooking time helps to develop golden brown and crispy exterior. Broil them just before serving for the best results.
More low-carb chicken recipes
Are you always looking for new tasty and healthy chicken recipes? Then look no further. We have plenty of healthy low-carb chicken recipes here on Diabetes Strong that I know you will love. Here are a few of my favorites:
If you’re looking for even more inspiration, check out my roundup of the best healthy diabetic chicken recipes!
When you’ve tried this dish, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!
Recipe Card
Healthy Homemade Chicken Nuggets
These Healthy Homemade Chicken Nuggets taste so good, you’d never guess they’re actually good for you! This delicious recipe is low-carb, grain-free, and only requires six ingredients to make.
Servings:2
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400˚F(200˚C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
-
Pat dry chicken breasts with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Trim any fat off the chicken breasts and discard. Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch thick pieces.
2 chicken breasts
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Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the chicken and toss to combine.
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
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In a medium bowl, stir together the almond flour, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
½ cup almond flour, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
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Place each piece of chicken in the bowl of flour and toss until fully coated, then transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet.
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Bake chicken pieces for 20 minutes.
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Turn on the broiler and place the chicken nuggets under the broiler for 3-4 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
Recipe Notes
Variations: If you have a nut allergy, you can substitute coconut flour for almond flour. Note that coconut flour is denser and requires more liquid, so you may want to use less and make sure the chicken is well-coated in olive oil.
Serving suggestions: You can dip these nuggets in mustard, hot sauce, or any low-carb and sugar-free sauce you prefer.
Storage instructions: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. This dish is best enjoyed immediately. When stored, the crust may become soggy, and the chicken can dry out as it’s reheated.
Reheating instructions: If you plan to make ahead, bake the nuggets for 20 minutes but don’t broil them. When you’re ready to serve, let them sit out for 30 minutes to come up to room temperature, then place them under the broiler for 3-4 minutes.
Nutrition Info Per Serving
Nutrition Facts
Healthy Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Amount Per Serving
Calories 547
Calories from Fat 306
% Daily Value*
Fat 34g52%
Saturated Fat 4g20%
Trans Fat 0.03g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 12g
Cholesterol 145mg48%
Sodium 845mg35%
Potassium 875mg25%
Carbohydrates 8g3%
Fiber 4g16%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 54g108%
Vitamin A 113IU2%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 113mg11%
Iron 3mg17%
Net carbs 4g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.