Copycat McDonald's Chicken Nuggets Recipe

McDonald's chicken nuggets are iconic, and I found a way to recreate them at home! I can honestly eat a hundred of them, and this copycat McDonald's chicken nugget recipe is the easiest way to bring these beloved fast-food chicken nuggets right into your kitchen.

These Copycat McDonald's Chicken Nuggets That Taste Like The Real Thing

Whenever I crave fast food, the chicken nuggets from McDonald's are always what I get. Since I love them so much, I had to try coming up with my own copycat recipe. After countless tries, I think I nailed it! My copycat McDonald's chicken nuggets recipe is seriously as good as the real thing. 

Now, since I love them so much, I wanted to make this recipe a little healthier than the restaurant version, so I baked the chicken nuggets, and they seriously turned out perfect. I don't feel as guilty about making this recipe once a week! 

I especially love to cook a big batch when my nieces come over and see if they realize that these are homemade chicken nuggets. So far, they haven't noticed it's a copycat recipe, and we all know that kids can be the biggest food critics! Also, these chicken nuggets are a fantastic appetizer and game-day finger food, and are a great freezer meal. 

Ingredients For McDonald's Chicken Nuggets

• 2 chicken breast fillets - some chicken McNugget recipes I have seen use ground chicken, but genuine McDonald's chicken nuggets use white meat chicken breasts, so that's what I'm going with.
• Breadcrumb mix - I use ¾ cup Italian breadcrumbs, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon dried basil.
• Salt and black pepper - to taste.
• ⅓ cup butter - melted.

How To Make McDonald's Chicken Nuggets

Step 1: Prep The Chicken

Start by preheating your oven to 400°F. Next, cut the chicken breasts into 1 ½-inch pieces. If you are especially skilled with your knife, you can take a little time and cut into the classic McDonald's chicken nugget shapes.

For the best cooking, try to cut them into the same-sized nuggets. Then, season the chicken with a little salt and black pepper. 

Step 2: Bread The Chicken

In a shallow bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with parmesan, the remaining salt and pepper, and dried basil. Melt butter in a medium bowl, dip your chicken pieces in the butter, and coat them well on each side.

Next, coat the chicken with the prepared breadcrumb batter mix. Shake off any excess breadcrumbs.

Step 3: Cook The Chicken Nuggets

Place the chicken nuggets onto a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place them in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.

Once the chicken is cooked through and the batter is a beautiful golden brown, remove it from the oven. Serve these copycat McNuggets warm with French fries and your favorite dipping sauces. Enjoy!

Expert Tips

• Cut Even Nugget Pieces (and Shape Them): Cut the chicken into equal bite-sized pieces (about 1½ inches each) so they cook evenly. If you want the iconic McDonald’s nugget shapes, you can trim or gently mold the pieces into the classic “boot” or oval shapes. 
• Maximize Crispiness in the Oven: For oven-baked nuggets, preheat your oven fully and consider using a wire rack on your baking sheet. Placing the breaded nuggets on a rack allows hot air to circulate all around, making them crispy on all sides. If you don’t have a rack, be sure to flip the nuggets halfway through the bake time.
• Don’t Overcook – Keep ’Em Juicy: White meat chicken can dry out if overdone, so bake just until the nuggets are cooked through and golden. In a 400°F oven, about 20 minutes usually does it. You can use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F (the safe point for chicken) and then pull them out. Avoid baking much longer than that – this keeps the inside of the nuggets tender and juicy, just like the real McDonald’s nuggets, which are always moist inside.
• Deep Fry for the Real McDonald’s Texture: For the most authentic McDonald’s copycat results, frying is the way to go (since the originals are deep-fried). You can pan-fry or deep-fry these nuggets in oil at about 350°F. Fry in small batches – don’t overcrowd the pan, or the oil temperature will drop and you’ll get greasy nuggets. A few minutes per side until they’re lightly golden is usually enough. Once fried, let the nuggets rest on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil. Deep-frying will give you that super crispy exterior and tender interior that screams “McNugget,” albeit with a bit more oil than baking.
• Serve with the Classic Sauces: To complete the McDonald’s chicken nugget experience, serve your nuggets with the iconic dipping sauces. My favorite options include barbecue sauce, honey mustard, ranch, sweet ’n sour sauce, hot mustard, or just good old ketchup.

How To Store McDonald's Chicken Nuggets

Allow leftover chicken nuggets to cool, and store them in the fridge in an airtight container. They'll keep best for about 3 days. To keep for longer, you can freeze the chicken nuggets. I love freezing them to have a quick meal on hand whenever the fast food cravings hit. Just place the cooled nuggets in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 4 months.

The Best Way To Reheat Chicken Nuggets

I've experimented with various methods to reheat chicken nuggets, and I've found that putting them back in the oven is the best way. Reheat the chicken on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet at 350°F (160°C) for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. If you're reheating frozen chicken nuggets, just add about 20 more minutes to the cooking time.

More McDonald's Copycat Recipes

• McDonald's Chicken Snack Wrap
• Homemade McGriddle
• McDonald's Pancakes
• Homemade Big Mac 
• Homemade Egg McMuffin