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Hidden Veggie Chicken Nuggets Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 694 reviews

These Hidden Veggie Chicken Nuggets are a delicious and nutritious way to sneak vegetables into your meals. Made with ground chicken, finely grated zucchini, carrots, and cauliflower, these nuggets are tender inside with a crispy golden-brown coating. Perfect as a healthy snack or main dish, they feature a savory blend of Parmesan cheese, garlic, onion powder, and paprika. Baked to perfection, they deliver all the flavor and crunch of classic nuggets with added fiber, vitamins, and lean protein.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Nuggets:

  • 2 lbs (about 900g) Ground Chicken (breast or mix of thigh and breast meat)
  • 1 cup Zucchini, finely grated (about one medium zucchini)
  • 1 cup Carrots, finely grated (about two medium carrots)
  • 1 cup Cauliflower Florets, riced or finely grated
  • 1/2 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 large Egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt (or to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper (or to taste)

For the Breading/Coating:

  • 1 1/2 cups Panko Breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil or Avocado Oil
  • Olive Oil Spray or Avocado Oil Spray, for spritzing before baking

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Vegetables and Workstation: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Finely grate zucchini, carrots, and cauliflower using a box grater or food processor. The fine texture hides the veggies effectively.
  2. Squeeze Out the Moisture: Place grated zucchini and cauliflower into a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and twist tightly over the sink to remove as much liquid as possible. This step prevents soggy nuggets. Add grated carrots directly to the bowl.
  3. Combine the Nugget Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix ground chicken, squeezed zucchini and cauliflower, grated carrots, 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, beaten egg, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
  4. Mix Gently but Thoroughly: Using hands or a spatula, gently combine until just mixed to avoid a tough texture. Stop when no visible streaks remain.
  5. Prepare the Crispy Coating: In a shallow dish, combine 1 1/2 cups Panko breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon paprika. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive or avocado oil, tossing with fingers until evenly coated.
  6. Shape and Coat the Nuggets: Form mixture into 1.5 to 2 tablespoon-sized nuggets in your desired shape. Press nuggets firmly into the breadcrumb coating, ensuring an even layer on all sides.
  7. Arrange on Baking Sheets: Place coated nuggets on parchment-lined baking sheets spaced apart to prevent steaming. Use two pans if needed to avoid overcrowding.
  8. Bake to Golden Perfection: Spritz tops lightly with olive or avocado oil spray. Bake for 20-25 minutes in the preheated oven, flipping halfway at about 12 minutes. Nuggets are done when golden brown, crispy outside, and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Notes

  • Do not skip squeezing out excess moisture from zucchini and cauliflower to avoid soggy nuggets.
  • Using a food processor with a grating attachment speeds up prep and creates a fine shred.
  • Make nuggets uniform in size for even cooking; a cookie scoop helps portioning.
  • Tossing panko coating with oil before breading creates a crispy, browned crust mimicking fried texture.
  • These nuggets freeze well before or after baking; bake from frozen by adding 10-15 minutes to cook time.
  • To make gluten-free, substitute all breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives and verify spice labels.
  • For air fryer cooking, preheat to 375°F (190°C), cook nuggets in single layer for 10-14 minutes, flipping halfway.

Keywords: chicken nuggets, hidden veggies, healthy chicken nuggets, baked nuggets, kid-friendly dinner, ground chicken recipe, vegetable nuggets, homemade chicken nuggets, gluten-free option

Find it online: https://cookwithlea.com/hidden-veggie-chicken-nuggets-recipe/