Honey Chicken Nuggets

Marinating in honey is the secret for these tasty homemade Honey Chicken Nuggets. Coated in panko and then pan-fried, the honey makes the chicken nuggets so tender and flavorful! They're sure to be a hit with the whole family.

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Generally, I'm not a fryer. Nope. -- I much prefer to bake or roast my chicken, and leave the frying to KFC.

But when it comes to chicken nuggets, I do believe frying is best. 

Sure, you can certainly bake up a batch of nuggies, but let's be honest -- the texture is just not the same. So pan frying is my method of choice when it comes to whipping up a plateful of homemade chicken nuggets. And pan frying is exactly the method we use to whip up a batch of these very tasty Honey Chicken Nuggets, creating a really nice crunchy texture all around.

Our family has given many homemade chicken nugget recipes a try over the years. And I must say, we've simply fallen in love with Honey Chicken Nuggets. Of course, my husband being a beekeeper is what initially drew us to the recipe, as we're always on the lookout for new and delicious ways to enjoy honey. So chicken nuggets marinated in honey? -- We're all about it.

Honey gives a delicious underlying sweetness to the flavor of the nuggets. -- And it's so good.

So just exactly why does honey make these Honey Chicken Nuggets so good? Two reasons:

• First, honey makes the chicken so super tender. I usually use the good-old southern trick of marinating my chicken in buttermilk, which makes it wonderfully moist and tender.  Well, guess what? -- Honey does the same thing!

• Second, the honey gives a delicious underlying sweetness to the flavor of the nuggets. -- And it's so good. When first making this recipe, I didn't expect the honey flavor to come through so much in the finished nuggets. But you can truly tell the honey's there, and it's truly delicious.

Serve the nuggets up with a dipping sauce, or just plain as they are. -- I actually prefer Honey Chicken Nuggets just as they are, no dipping sauce involved. But either way, they sure make for one wonderfully delicious dinner, lunch, or snack.

What's to Love About This Recipe?

• Fabulous flavor - Honey gives a delicious underlying sweetness to the nuggets, creating truly fabulous flavor.
• Super tender chicken - Marinating in honey is the secret for making these tasty homemade chicken nuggets so super tender.
• Crunchy on the outside - Coating in panko bread crumbs and pan frying creates a really nice crunchy texture all around. 
• A family-favorite - So tender and flavorful, Honey Chicken Nuggets are sure to be a hit with the whole family.

Honey Chicken Nugget Ingredients:

To whip up a pan of these tasty chicken nuggets, you'll need:

• Chicken - This recipe is made with boneless skinless chicken breasts. If you prefer dark meat chicken, boneless skinless chicken thighs can be substituted.

• Honey - Brings the nuggets' signature honey flavor and tenderizes the chicken.

• An egg - Dipping the chicken in beaten egg helps the flour/panko coating adhere well to the chicken. 

• Flour - All-purpose flour creates the base of chicken nugget coating.

• Panko bread crumbs - These coarse Japanese-style bread crumbs add texture and crunch to the nuggets' flour-based coating.

• Salt - A pinch sprinkled over the chicken itself and in the flour/panko coating nicely seasons the nuggets and enhances their flavor.

• Oil for frying - Vegetable, canola, and peanut oil all work great for pan-frying.

How to Make Honey Chicken Nuggets:

To get a batch of Honey Chicken Nuggets going, start by marinating the chicken in honey.

Cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs, if you prefer dark meat chicken) into nugget-sized pieces, sprinkle with a little salt, and place the chicken pieces in a shallow bowl. Drizzle with honey, give everything a little stir to get the chicken good and coated, and then refrigerate for at least an hour.

Once the chicken has marinated, the next step is to bread the chicken with a mixture of flour and panko bread crumbs. Dipping the chicken first in beaten egg helps the coating mixture better adhere.

To pan fry the nuggets, heat some oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the nuggets in small batches until they're golden on both side and cooked through, approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Remove cooked nuggets from the pan and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.

Then you're ready to enjoy the Honey Chicken Nugget deliciousness! So good, they're sure to be a hit with the whole family.

If you're looking for a really tender and wonderfully flavorful homemade chicken nugget recipe, give these little "honeys" a try! I know, I know -- really bad pun -- but I truly just couldn't help myself.

Check out these other super tasty chicken recipes:

• Honey BBQ Chicken Sliders
• Easy Chicken Parmesan Sliders
• Home Shake & Bake Chicken Thighs
• Oven Barbecue Chicken Thighs
• Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Balsamic Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
• Easy Baked Chicken Cacciatore
• More main dish recipes

Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love to have you back soon!

homemade chicken nuggets recipe, honey chicken nuggets recipe, chicken nuggets with honey recipe

Main Dishes

American

Yield: About 20 nuggets

Author: Tracey | The Kitchen is My Playground

Honey Chicken Nuggets

Marinating in honey is the secret for these tasty homemade Honey Chicken Nuggets. Coated in panko and then pan-fried, the honey makes the chicken nuggets so tender and flavorful!

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 20 MinInactive time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 30 M

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 2 T. honey
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 c. panko bread crumbs
• Salt
• Oil for frying (such as vegetable, canola, or peanut oil)

Instructions

Marinate the Chicken:

1. Cut the chicken into nugget-sized pieces. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
2. Place chicken pieces in a shallow bowl and drizzle with honey; stir to coat.
3. Place chicken in the refrigerator to marinate in the honey for at least one hour.

Bread the Chicken:

1. Place beaten egg in a bowl. Combine flour, panko, and a pinch of salt in a pie plate or ziptop baggie (I like the baggie method, but either way works just fine).
2. Remove a piece of chicken from the honey marinade and dip it in egg.
3. If using a pie plate for your flour mixture - Roll the egg-dipped chicken nugget in the flour mixture, coating completely; set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces. If using the ziptop baggie method - Drop the egg-dipped chicken nugget into the baggie. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces. Once all chicken pieces are in the baggie, seal the baggie. Gently shake the baggie, ensuring that all chicken pieces get completely coated.

Fry the Chicken Nuggets:

1. Heat a little oil (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup, depending on the size of your pan) in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
2. When oil is hot, place the nuggets in the pan and cook until golden on both side and cooked through, approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side.
3. Remove from pan and place on a paper towel-lined plate.

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