- September 22, 2023
- 30 Minute Meals
Buffalo Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Make the ultimate game day treat with our Buffalo Chicken Nuggets recipe! These bite-sized pieces of tender chicken are coated in a zesty and fiery buffalo sauce, delivering an irresistible combination of spicy and savory flavors. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply craving a mouthwatering snack, these nuggets are sure to satisfy your craving for that classic buffalo wing taste in a convenient and addictive form.
Why This Recipe Works:
Game Day Perfection: This buffalo chicken nuggets recipe is perfect for game day or any get together where you need to feed a crowd! They are surprisingly easy to make and the recipe can be doubled or even tripled to make for a lot of people!
Spicy & Savory: The ground chicken here will be seasoned up and coated in a flavorful breading and pan-fried to perfection. Make your own homemade buffalo sauce by combining butter and hot sauce, or just buy a bottle of buffalo sauce at the store! I like to coat these crispy chicken nuggets in the spicy sauce and then dip them in ranch and blue cheese!
Easy Buffalo Wings: These are basically like boneless buffalo wings! Instead of going through the process of making buffalo wings, you can make this buffalo chicken nuggets recipe for all the same flavors and none of the mess!
Supplies Needed:
- Mixing Bowls
- Food Processor
- Skillet
Ingredients:
Chicken Nuggets:
- Ground Chicken: Ground chicken or ground turkey both work great for these nuggets!
- Salt & Pepper: To taste.
- Spices: Garlic powder and smoky paprika will season up the meat of these nuggets to perfection.
Breading:
- Corn Flakes Cereal: The combo of cornflakes and panko adds a savory and sweet flavor and the ultimate crunchy texture!!
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Add some panko to balance out the flavors of the cornflakes.
- Salt & Pepper: To taste.
- Smoky Paprika: Smoky paprika adds a depth of flavor to both the meat and breading mixture.
- Avocado Oil: I like to use avocado oil to pan fry these buffalo chicken nuggets, but you can use a different oil if you have that on hand. I would avoid olive oil, though!
Buffalo Sauce:
- Butter: Butter cuts the spice of the hot sauce a little bit and adds a little creaminess!
- Hot Sauce: Use a hot sauce that is based on cayenne pepper. Something like Frank’s Hot Sauce would work well.
- Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing: Serve ranch and blue cheese on the side to dip!
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Nuggets:
Making The Buffalo Nuggets:
- Prep the Meat: In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken and the spices and mix well. Set the bowl in the fridge to keep it chilled.
- Prep the Breading: Next, in a food processor, pulse the corn flakes (nothing else) until they are a similar size to the panko bread crumbs.
- Combine Cornflakes and Panko: Remove them and pour them into a large bowl. Combine the cornflakes with the panko bread crumbs and the additional spices. Use a whisk to combine everything together.
- Create Nuggets: With slightly wet hands, scoop out the chicken into 1 inch balls (almost like you are making a meatball). Lightly roll it and flatten it to create a nugget shape.
- Dip in Breading: Place the chicken nugget directly into the bowl of the cereal panko mixture and toss to coat. Set the chicken nugget aside on a baking sheet and repeat this process until all of the nuggets are made.
Cooking Instructions:
- Heat the Oil: In a large frying pan, add enough avocado oil to the inside so it just covers the bottom (don’t use all of the oil to pan fry- you will need more as you cook in batches). Heat the oil over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Sear the Nuggets: Reduce the heat to medium and carefully place the nuggets into the pan. Don’t overcrowd the bottom of the pan (cook 7-8 at a time) and let them sear for 3-4 minutes.
- Flip: Flip the nuggets when they are golden brown on the bottom and continue to pan fry and cook an additional 3-4 minutes as needed. The internal temperature of chicken nuggets should reach 165 F.
- Remove: Remove the cooked nuggets from the pan and repeat this process until they are cooked. Keep the cooked nuggets on a wire rack lined baking sheet to keep them crispy all over.
- Make Sauce: Make the buffalo sauce by melting butter in a small pot and whisk in the buffalo sauce. Cook for a few minutes until heated through.
- Toss & Serve: Place the nuggets in a large bowl and toss all the buffalo sauce over the chicken nuggets. Plate the chicken nuggets and serve with your favorite dressings and enjoy!
What To Serve With Buffalo Chicken Nuggets:
You can serve your homemade buffalo chicken nuggets with the classic sides like celery, carrot sticks, ranch and blue cheese! These pairings work great when you are serving these as an appetizer or game day snack.
But, you can also serve these as a full meal with a few different sides! Try serving them with homemade jicama fries or smoked potatoes with a side of corn on the cob! Dice them up and throw them in with a salad for a healthy and protein packed meal!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! You can substitute the buffalo sauce with BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or any of your favorite wing sauces. Instead of tossing them in the sauce, leave out lots of different sauces and dip them in each for variety!
Store any leftover chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop them in a warm oven or air fryer to make sure they get super crispy!
More Appetizer Recipes to Try:
- Air Fryer Cheese Curds
- Mini Hot Dog Sliders
- Grilled Chicken Nuggets Recipe
- Crispy Cajun Chicken Tenders
- Fiesta Corn Dip
- Bacon Wrapped Hatch Chili Poppers
Buffalo Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken Nuggets:
- 2 lbs. Ground Chicken
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Black Pepper
- 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp. Smoky Paprika
Breading:
- 2 cups Corn Flakes Cereal
- 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Black Pepper
- 1 tsp. Smoky Paprika
- 1 cup Avocado Oil for pan frying
Buffalo Sauce
- 3 tbsp. Butter
- 1 cup Hot Sauce
- Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing as desired for dipping
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken and the spices and mix well. Set the bowl in the fridge to keep it chilled.
- Next, in a food processor pulse the corn flakes (nothing else) until they are a similar size to the panko bread crumbs.
- Remove them and pour them into a large bowl. Combine the corn flakes with the panko bread crumbs and the additional spices. Use a whisk to mix everything together.
- With slightly wet hands, scoop out the chicken into 1 inch balls (almost like you are making a meatball). Lightly roll it and flatten it to create a nugget shape.
- Place the chicken nugget directly into the bowl of the cereal panko mixture and toss to coat. Set the chicken nugget aside on a baking sheet and repeat this process until all of the nuggets are made.
- In a large frying pan, add enough avocado oil to the inside so it just covers the bottom (don't use all the oil to pan fry- you will need more as you cook in batches). Heat the oil over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium and carefully place the nuggets into the pan. Don't overcrowd the bottom of the pan (cook 7-8 at a time) and let them sear for 3-4 minutes.
- Flip the nuggets when they are golden brown on the bottom and continue to pan fry and cook an additional 3-4 minutes as needed. The internal temperature of chicken nuggets should reach 165 F.
- Remove the cooked nuggets from the pan and repeat this process until they are cooked. Keep the cooked nuggets on a wire rack lined baking sheet to keep them crispy all over.
- Make the buffalo sauce by melting butter in a small pot and whisk in the buffalo sauce. Cook for a few minutes until heated through.
- Place the nuggets in a large bowl and toss all the buffalo sauce over the chicken nuggets. Plate the nuggets and serve with your favorite dressings and enjoy!