Chicken Nuggets

Become a fried chicken legend with Joshua Weissman's recipes.

Prep
1 hour, 20 minutes
Cook
15 minutes
Total
1.5 hours
Serves
8
people
Chicken Nuggets
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Ingredients

For a deeper look watch "Making McDonald's Happy Meal at Home."

Chicken Nuggets:

  • Cooking spray 
  • 1.5 lbs (680g) boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips
  • ⅓ lb (136g) pork fatback, cut into 1” (2.5cm) pieces
  • 1.75 tsp (6g) fine sea salt
  • 1 tsp (3g) MSG (optional)
  • 1.5 tsp (7g) granulated sugar

Thin Batter:

  • ¼ cup (33g) cornstarch
  • 1 cup (240ml) water

Flour Mixture:

  • 3 cups (450g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tbsp (22g) kosher salt
  • ½ tsp (2g) MSG, (optional)
  • 1 tsp (3g) ground white pepper
  • 1 tsp (2g) celery powder

Tempura Batter:

  • ½ cup (75g) cornstarch
  • ¾ cup (103g) all-purpose flour
  • 1.25 tsp (4g) baking powder
  • ¼ tsp (1g) baking soda
  • 1 cup (240ml) chilled water
  • 2 large eggs

Assembly:

  • 14 cups (3.3L) vegetable oil, for frying
  • Frozen chicken nuggets
  • Thin batter
  • Flour mixture
  • Tempura batter
  • Kosher salt, to taste

Directions

Chicken Nuggets:

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray.
  1. Using a meat grinder or food processor, finely grind the chicken breasts and pork fatback together. Transfer to a large bowl if using a food processor. 
  2. To the ground meat, add in the salt, MSG, and sugar and mix until well combined. 
  3. Shape your nuggets into approximately 1.25” (3cm) long ovals that are about ½” (12mm) thick. Place on the prepared baking sheet. 
  4. Freeze the nuggets for 15-20 minutes or until stiff.

Thin Batter:

  1. In a medium bowl whisk together the cornstarch and water until evenly combined, the mixture should have the consistency of milk. Set aside. 

Flour Mixture:

  1. In a medium bowl whisk together all the ingredients until evenly combined. Set aside. 

Tempura Batter:

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk in the chilled water and the eggs until a smooth batter forms. Set aside. 

Assembly:

  1. Fill a 7-quart, heavy bottomed pot just over halfway with vegetable oil. Heat to 350℉ (175℃). Line a baking sheet with a cooling rack and paper towels and place that next to the hot oil.
  2. Dip the frozen nuggets into the thin batter followed by the flour mixture. Shake the nuggets to remove any excess flour.
  3. Next, dip the nuggets into the tempura batter and then immediately place in the fryer. Fry the nuggets, in batches so as not to overcrowd the oil. Fry for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown all over and cooked through  to an internal temperature of 165℉ (74℃).
  4. Remove the nuggets to the paper towel lined sheet pan and season with salt to taste. Repeat with the remaining chicken nuggets.