Don't be a Chicken

I'll be heading back to school in a couple of weeks, so I've been searching for healthy, delicious lunches that I can bring from home. Let's be honest here, the smell of chicken nuggets always calls to me whenever I pass a cafeteria. So what better way to curb my cravings and stay healthy (and within my budget) than by baking some homemade chicken nuggets?

Baked Chicken Nuggets, Makes About 12 Nuggets
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 lb)
4 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp parmesan cheese
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
1/2 tbsp dried parsley
salt, garlic, and pepper to taste

In order to make these chicken nuggets, you'll have to set up a station of sorts. Place the vegetable oil in one bowl. Mix the panko, plain bread crumbs, and parsley in another bowl. Get out some baking sheets and grease with vegetable oil or cooking spray. Line everything up in this order: bowl of vegetable oil, bowl of bread crumbs, and baking sheets. Now, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Season your chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic to taste. Then, cut the chicken breasts into 1 to 2 inch chunks. Dredge the chicken first in oil, then in the bread crumb mixture. Make sure to coat each piece of chicken completely in oil, and then press the bread crumbs on with your fingers. Line on a baking sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the oven. Then, flip the chicken over and bake for 4 to 5 more minutes or cooked through. Serve with dipping sauce.

If you're thinking this recipe is a little too involved, don't chicken out! These healthy chicken nuggets were simple and took me all of 10 minutes to prepare. These crunchy, mouth-watering little bites would be a great addition to kids lunches or serve great as an afternoon snack. So go ahead, bake up a batch of these chicken nuggets and put them on a plate!