Baked Buffalo Chicken Nuggets - Baked buffalo chicken nuggets or "buffalo popcorn chicken" are the perfect, most delicious appetizer recipe! Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Having a pizza party and looking to make a fun side dish or appetizer to pair with your pizza? These Buffalo Chicken Nuggets are just the thing! These nuggets are so tasty with a light crunch on the outside, tender on the inside and tossed in mouthwatering spicy buffalo sauce.
We served our chicken nuggets with celery sticks and ranch dressing as an appetizer on pizza night. It was absolutely delicious! These nuggets are breaded and baked making them a lighter and healthier option than fried chicken. You can also toss them in a tortilla with shredded lettuce and your favorite dressing for a super tasty Buffalo Chicken Wrap.
This recipe serves about 4 people as an appetizer or side dish. So, if you are cooking for a large crowd, you can easily double this recipe! If you have leftovers, store leftover Buffalo Chicken Nuggets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
To reheat the nuggets, pop in the oven at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes. If you need more buffalo sauce, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a bowl and whisk in buffalo sauce. Toss the chicken into the toss when done baking. I'm so excited to share this recipe with you. Let's get cooking!
Ingredients you need to make baked Buffalo Chicken Nuggets:
Chicken Thighs - Boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts.
Panko - Panko Japanese breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs or corn flakes.
Cornstarch - This will help the egg stick to the chicken.
Egg - You'll need one egg. This will help the panko stick to the chicken nuggets.
Garlic Powder - To season the chicken.
Franks Red Hot Sauce - You can use any brand of buffalo hot sauce you prefer.
Butter - Salted or unsalted both work great in this recipe. The butter is used for the buffalo sauce the nuggets are tossed in after baking.
Tools to have on hand for this recipe:
- Mixing Bowls - To make the buffalo sauce and for the breading of the chicken.
- Baking Sheet - To bake your chicken on.
- Parchment Paper - To prevent the chicken from sticking to the baking sheet while baking.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons - For properly measuring all of the ingredients.
How to make Buffalo Chicken Nuggets in the oven:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cut chicken into 1 ½" cubes and pat dry. Place cubed chicken in a large bowl and sprinkle with cornstarch and garlic powder. Toss to fully coat the chicken.
In another bowl, add egg and whisk. Pour egg on top of the chicken and toss to coat.
In the last bowl, add breadcrumbs. Working with each piece of chicken, dip into breadcrumbs on both sides to fully coat. Repeat with all chicken nuggets and transfer to parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Place chicken nuggets in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Carefully flip chicken over and bake for another 10 minutes.
While the chicken is baking, whisk together melted butter and buffalo hot sauce. When the chicken is done baking, toss chicken into the buffalo sauce and toss to fully coat chicken.
Serve Buffalo Chicken Nuggets with homemade ranch dressing. Enjoy!!
*Try my absolute favorite homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe with your nuggets!
Main Courses to pair with these buffalo chicken:
Sheet Pan Pizza Recipe - A step by step guide to the perfect homemade pizza recipe made from scratch. Topped with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, pepperoni, sausage, and jalapeños.
Tomato Basil Pizza - Homemade pizza recipe made with fresh mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, fresh basil, garlic, and tomatoes.
Buttery Garlic Breadsticks - These breadsticks are soft, chewy, mouthwatering good! The dough is made from scratch then lathered in fresh garlic butter and baked to golden perfection.
Delicious appetizer recipes I think you'll love:
Fried Chicken Sliders - The most delicious baked fried chicken sliders served on toasted Hawaiian rolls with dill pickle chips, shredded lettuce and sriracha aioli.
Big Mac Sliders - The most delicious copycat Big Mac recipe in mini slider form! Layered just like a Big Mac with burger sauce, lettuce, beef patties, cheese, pickles and onions with three bun layers!
Fried Zucchini - “Zucchini Fries” are the perfect appetizer or side dish dipped in your favorite marinara sauce or ranch dressing.
Baked Potato Wedges - Seasoned potato wedges baked to golden perfection are the perfect appetizer or side dish. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces!
Buffalo Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Chicken Thighs
- ¾ cup Panko
- ¼ cup Cornstarch
- 1 Egg
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ cup Franks Red Hot Sauce
- 3 tablespoon Butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Cut chicken into 1 ½" cubes and pat dry. Place cubed chicken in a large bowl and sprinkle with cornstarch and garlic powder. Toss to fully coat the chicken.
- In another bowl, add egg and whisk. Pour egg on top of the chicken and toss to coat.
- In the last bowl, add breadcrumbs. Working with each piece of chicken, dip into breadcrumbs on both sides to fully coat. Repeat with all chicken nuggets and transfer to parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Place chicken nuggets in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Carefully flip chicken over and bake for another 10 minutes.
- While the chicken is baking, whisk together melted butter and buffalo hot sauce. When the chicken is done baking, toss chicken into the buffalo sauce and toss to fully coat chicken.
- Serve Buffalo Chicken Nuggets with homemade ranch dressing. Enjoy!!
Ashley Estrada
These are so easy and delish!!! Made them with the baked wedges as well and it was a perfect dinner. I even put some on my salad and it was great