Hidden Veggie Chicken Nuggets
Crispy baked chicken nuggets with cauliflower and carrot blended right into the chicken. Dip-able, freezer-friendly and ready in 35 minutes.
Chicken nuggets are the one dinner most picky eaters never argue about, which makes them the perfect place to hide a few vegetables.
These are made from scratch in the food processor: chicken, cauliflower and carrot pulsed into a smooth mix, rolled in golden panko and baked until crispy. They look and taste like the nuggets your kids already love, with a serving of vegetables tucked inside.
Hidden Veggie Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into chunks
- 1 cup cauliflower florets, fresh or frozen and thawed
- 1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 egg
- ½ cup shredded parmesan
- 1½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Pulse the cauliflower and carrot in a food processor until very finely minced, almost like rice.
- Add the chicken, egg, parmesan, garlic powder and salt. Pulse until everything turns into a sticky, evenly mixed paste with no visible veggie pieces.
- Toss the panko with the olive oil in a shallow bowl. With wet hands, shape tablespoon-size nuggets and press each one into the panko on all sides.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping once halfway, until golden and cooked through (165°F / 74°C inside). Serve with ketchup or honey mustard.
Contains DairyContains EggContains Gluten
Tips for success
- Mince the veggies on their own first. Tiny pieces disappear into the chicken, chunks get spotted.
- Toast the panko in a dry pan for 2 minutes before coating for extra golden nuggets.
- Wet your hands between nuggets so the mixture doesn't stick.
- Freeze baked nuggets on a tray, then bag them. Reheat at 400°F (200°C) for about 10 minutes.
Questions
Can I use ground chicken?
Yes. Use 1 lb ground chicken, pulse only the vegetables, then mix everything together by hand in a bowl.
Can I air fry hidden veggie chicken nuggets?
Yes. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 10 to 12 minutes in a single layer, flipping halfway.
Are they freezer-friendly?
Very. Freeze baked nuggets for up to 3 months and reheat them straight from frozen in the oven or air fryer.
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