I have a love/hate relationship with chicken nuggets. I hate that America stuffs their children with terrible mystery nuggets and I love to eat these mystery nuggets or their close cousin the finger of chicken. Who knew chickens had nuggets and fingers?
I have solved this love/hate problem by coming up with a way to make a wholesome chicken nugget that tastes like you are going to hell or at least Jenny Craig, but is actually not that bad for you.
Baked Parmesan Chicken Bites
6-8 chicken tenders cut into 3-4 chunks (Trader Joe’s sells a pack of frozen/glazed tenders that defrost in water in about 20 minutes.)
1 cup plain or seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 stick of butter (don’t worry, you don’t end up eating a 1/4 stick. Chillax.
1 T dry Oregano (if using plain crumbs)
1 t or more garlic powder
freshly ground sea salt and pepper
Pre-heat oven or toaster oven to 450
Spray an aluminum-lined cookie sheet with oil
Melt butter
Combine crumbs, cheese and spices/herbs. Crush oregano between fingers to release the oils. It makes a world of difference.
Toss chicken bites in butter
Throw a few into the crumbs and coat
Arrange on baking sheet and leave room between bites… crowding, especially in a toaster oven, will create steam and ruin the crunch
Bake chunks for 15 minutes, check after 7 if you would like.
Serve for the kids with organic ketchup or organic jarred marinara or as an appetizer with freshly grated parmesan on top and marinara for dipping
I dig you, you are STILL one a kind