Guilt-free Chicken Nuggets
Most kids love McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets. I’m sure many grown-ups do too. But, they are so unhealthy. Happily, not my skinny ones! No deep frying here…I’m using skinless, white meat chicken and baking them. The bread crumb coating has a wonderful flavor similar to barbecue potato chips. Each 6 chicken nugget serving has only 214 calories and 4 grams of fat.  Great to make for lunch or dinner. I also like to serve them as an appetizer. Everybody is going to LOVE them!!!
Helpful Tips About this Recipe
Makes 4 servings (6 nuggets per serving)
Food Facts
Chicken McNuggets were introduced at McDonald’s in 1983. They are small pieces of processed chicken meat that have been battered and deep fried. Chicken McNuggets are one of the most popular trademarked items on the McDonald’s menu.
Shopping Tips
You’ll find Panko bread crumbs in most supermarkets either with all other bread crumbs or in the Asian section.
Serving Tips
These little nuggets are great to serve for dinner. In addition, they make a terrific appetizer and would be yummy to pack in a lunch.
WW Freestyle SmartPoints 3-Blue
WW SmartPoints 5-Green
WW POINTS PLUS 5
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Food Facts
Chicken McNuggets were introduced at McDonald’s in 1983. They are small pieces of processed chicken meat that have been battered and deep fried. Chicken McNuggets are one of the most popular trademarked items on the McDonald’s menu.
Shopping Tips
You’ll find Panko bread crumbs in most supermarkets either with all other bread crumbs or in the Asian section.
Serving Tips
These little nuggets are great to serve for dinner. In addition, they make a terrific appetizer and would be yummy to pack in a lunch.
WW Freestyle SmartPoints 3-Blue
WW SmartPoints 5-Green
WW POINTS PLUS 5
Â
| SKINNY FACTS: for 6 chicken nuggets 214 calories, 4g fat. 1.6g sat. fat, 55g chol, 29g protein, 16g carbs, 390mg sodium, 1g fiber, 4g sugar |
| FACTS:Â for Freestyle SmartPoints 82 calories, 1g sat. fat, 2g protein, 3g sugar |
Guilt-free Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- Olive oil cooking spray
- 1â…“ cups Panko bread crumbs, see shopping tips
- 1 pound (2 large) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken breast tenders cut into 24 even bite-sized pieces
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika or sweet paprika
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon reduced-fat butter or Smart Balance Light
- 2 egg whites
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a baking pan with olive oil spray.
- Melt butter in a small shallow bowl. Let cool slightly and mix in egg whites. Add bread crumbs in another shallow bowl and toss with brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, chili powder, black pepper and garlic powder. Dip chicken pieces in egg mixture, then dredge chicken in bread crumbs and place on baking pan. Continue until all chicken has been coated. Spray top of chicken with olive oil spray.
- Bake chicken for 10 minutes. Turn over, spray with a little more olive oil spray. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, if desired. Bake an additional 7-8 minutes or until chicken is cooked and golden brown.
- Serve with barbecue sauce, ketchup or light ranch dressing on the side, if desired.
Nutrition
Serving: 6nuggetsCalories: 214kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 29gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1.6gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 390mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gBlue Smart Points: 3Green Smart Points: 5Plus Points: 5
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!