How can I serve picky eaters?

Serve nuggets with a dipping sauce. The dish's recipe suggests serving nuggets and vegetable fries as a kid-friendly meal. Do not alter the breading ingredients specified in the recipe. Serving nuggets with a dipping sauce allows picky eaters to enjoy a meal they otherwise might not like.

Can I double this chicken nugget recipe?

Yes, the recipe includes instructions for making two and three batches. Arrange baking sheets and cooling racks so you have enough room to bake one batch of breaded nuggets. Too many nuggets on baking sheets and cooling racks can keep the nuggets from fully cooking and browning. Flip nuggets after 10 minutes, even when preparing multiple batches for a family meal.

Should I use a wire rack?

A wire rack is recommended for the crispiest chicken. A wire rack set in a baking pan can be used with breaded chicken pieces. Other options include baking on parchment paper in a baking pan. Breaded chicken pieces will bake well on parchment paper. Leave space between pieces of breaded chicken on parchment paper and flip them over to brown the second side.

Can I marinate the chicken overnight?

Yes, you can soak chicken in dill pickle juice overnight to reach the 8- to 12-hour prep time for this recipe. Remove the pickle juice before adding egg and almond flour breading. There's no need to soak the chicken longer in pickle juice. Think about when you'll bake the chicken to decide how long to soak the chicken. Cutting the chicken into pieces can help you get more benefit from the pickling step.

Why is my breading not sticking?

Breaded coating will stick to the chicken if each piece is first dipped in egg and then coated evenly with almond flour. Do as instructed and remove excess egg from the chicken before coating it with flour. Too much egg will prevent even coating by the breading. Roll chicken nuggets in seasoned flour gently before cooking.

Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets with Crispy Almond Flour Breading

By Mason BrooksOct 9, 2026

Prep

720 min

Cook

30 min

Total

750 min

Servings

Jump to recipe

For a family dinner, these baked chicken nuggets are a tasty variation on a traditional meal, with a crunchy-browned coating made from almond flour. Bite-sized pieces of chicken breast are marinated in dill pickle juice and seasoned with garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, and other spices rather than deep-fried.

Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets with Crispy Almond Flour Breading

The pickle juice marinade is the best choice because it adds flavor to the chicken during baking. Drain the chicken before dipping it in a beaten egg and almond flour mixture. Season the almond flour coating with garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, and black pepper. Almond flour is used instead of other types of flour for the coating.

In addition to baking time, look for a golden-brown, crispy coating and fully cooked chicken in the nuggets. Flip the nuggets at the 10-minute mark to promote even browning. Other issues with this recipe include dense, underbrown nuggets from too much egg. Try wiping away the excess egg before rolling the nuggets in almond flour.

Serve nuggets with honey mustard, vegan ranch, healthy barbecue sauce, or healthy Chick-Fil-A sauce. Good side dishes for an informal meal include sweet potato fries, turnip fries, jicama fries, macaroni and cheese, roasted Brussels sprouts, sautéed green beans, and kale crunch salad.

Why you'll love this recipe

Recipes for families include a traditional nugget dish made with chicken breast and a crispy coating baked on.
Nuggets can be served with other side dishes such as fries, vegetables, and macaroni and cheese.
Picky eaters might be more willing to try nugget-style food. Pickle juice and almond flour seasonings can add flavor to food without other ingredients.
Eight ingredients make this recipe easy to shop for, You can season fish using pantry staples like almond flour and eggs in place of a commercial breading mix.
A wire rack product is helpful for home cooks who want a crisper coating on their nuggets, as it allows better air circulation for nuggets baked on a sheet pan.
The 8- to 12-hour marination time is appropriate for dinner, since chicken can marinate overnight in pickle juice and be breaded and baked for dinner later.
Leftover chicken nugget ideas are flexible, The chicken nuggets can be eaten with dipping sauces or side dishes such as vegetables, salad, and macaroni and cheese.

Instructions

Marinate chicken in pickle juice for 8-12 hours.

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Place almond flour, paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper in a small bowl and stir to combine.

Crack the egg into another shallow bowl and whisk.

One by one, dredge each chicken nugget in the egg, wiping off any excess, then dip it into the almond flour mixture.

Roll each nugget until completely covered, then place coated nuggets on a baking pan lined with parchment paper or on a wire rack set over a baking sheet.

Bake for 20-30 minutes, flipping the nuggets once at the 10-minute mark, until golden brown, crisp, and completely cooked through.

Remove the nuggets from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before serving.

FAQ

Serve these small items with a dipping sauce and other sides. Ideas for dipping sauces include honey mustard, vegan ranch, healthy BBQ sauce, and healthy Chick-Fil-A sauce. Other sides to serve with these items include sweet potato fries, turnip fries, jicama fries, mac and cheese, roasted Brussels sprouts, green beans, and kale crunch salad. Offer small bowls of dipping sauce for guests to help themselves.

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Dinner Chicken High Protein Gluten Free Kid Friendly