How to Make Chicken McNuggets at Home: The Ultimate Copycat Recipe That Tastes Just Like McDonald’s!

Ever found yourself craving those iconic McDonald’s chicken nuggets but don’t want to make the drive-thru run? I’ve been there too! Today, I’m sharing my favorite copycat recipe that’ll let you enjoy those crispy, tender nuggets without leaving your kitchen. Trust me, these homemade McNuggets are so spot-on that your family might think you made a secret McDonald’s run!

Why Make Homemade McNuggets?

Before diving into the recipe, let’s talk about why making your own nuggets is totally worth it:

• Save money: McDonald’s prices keep rising (goodbye dollar menu!), and feeding a family gets expensive
• Healthier option: Control the ingredients and use fresh oil
• No heat lamp: Enjoy them hot and fresh every time
• Family fun: Kids love helping shape the nuggets!

As a mom who loves both saving money and making my kids happy, this recipe has become a staple in our house. It’s not just for kids though – adults love these too!

What You’ll Need

Let’s gather everything we need to make these amazing nuggets:

For the Chicken Mixture:

• 2 chicken breasts (or 1 pound ground chicken)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 egg

For the Dry Coating:

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Egg Wash:

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup cornstarch

Additional:

• Vegetable oil for frying
• Your favorite dipping sauces (ranch, honey mustard, barbecue)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the Chicken

1. Process the chicken: If using chicken breasts, cut them into small cubes first. Then use a food processor or blender to grind the chicken into small pieces. Process in batches if needed.

   Chef’s Tip: You can save time by using pre-ground chicken, but grinding your own chicken breasts ensures you get just white meat for that authentic McNugget taste!

2. Season the chicken Place your ground chicken in a mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper Add 1 egg to help bind it together

3. Shape the nuggets This is where it gets a little messy! With wet hands (this prevents sticking) shape the chicken mixture into nugget shapes that resemble the McDonald’s ones. I like to make some boot shapes, round ones, and the classic bell shape!

4. Prep for freezing: Place the shaped nuggets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

5. Freeze Pop the nuggets in the freezer for at least 30 minutes, but 2 hours is better. This step is SUPER important – it helps the nuggets keep their shape during frying!

Creating the Coating

While your nuggets are freezing, prepare the coating mixtures:

1. Make the dry mixture: In a shallow dish, combine flour, cornstarch, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well.

2. Prepare the egg wash: In another shallow dish, beat eggs with water and cornstarch until well combined.

Coating and Frying

1. Heat the oil: In a large skillet, heat about 2-3 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, test by dropping a tiny bit of flour in – it should sizzle immediately.

2. Double-dip the nuggets: Take your frozen nuggets and dip them first in the dry mixture, then the wet mixture, and then back in the dry mixture again. This creates that signature crispy coating!

3. Fry in batches: Carefully place a few nuggets at a time into the hot oil (don’t crowd the pan!). Fry for about 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (7-8 minutes total).

4. Drain: Remove with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.

5. Serve hot: These are best enjoyed immediately with your favorite dipping sauces!

Air Fryer Option

Wanna make these even healthier? You can totally use an air fryer instead of deep-frying:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F
2. Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray
3. Place nuggets in a single layer (don’t overlap!)
4. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray
5. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through
6. Check that they reach an internal temperature of 165°F

Helpful Tips for Perfect Nuggets

• Sticky situation: The chicken mixture can be super sticky! Keep wetting your hands with water while forming the nuggets or wear food-safe gloves.

• Frying frozen nuggets safely: Remove any ice crystals before frying, add nuggets to oil carefully, fry in small batches, and use tongs or a slotted spoon.

• Make ahead option: You can freeze the uncooked nuggets for up to 2 months! Just layer them with parchment paper in a freezer bag so they don’t stick together.

• Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Complete Your McDonald’s Experience

Want the full McDonald’s experience? Here’s what my family likes to do:

• Serve with Ore-Ida Shoestring French Fries (they taste most like McDonald’s fries!)
• Pour Coca-Cola in glass bottles (sometimes called Mexican Coke) for that authentic McDonald’s Coke taste
• Make a Big Mac pizza for a full McDonald’s-themed dinner night

Why These Are Better Than the Real Thing

I’ve made these nuggets countless times, and honestly, they’re even better than the original! The chicken is fresher, the coating is crispier, and you know exactly what’s going into them. Plus, my kids think I’m basically a kitchen wizard when I serve these up.

This recipe makes about 40-48 nuggets (depending on size), which is perfect for my family of five with some leftovers for lunch the next day.

Dipping Sauce Ideas

What’s a chicken nugget without sauce? Here are some favorite dipping options:

• Classic ranch dip
• Honey mustard
• Barbecue sauce
• Copycat Chick-fil-A sauce
• Sweet and sour sauce
• Buffalo sauce for spice lovers

Final Thoughts

Making homemade McDonald’s chicken nuggets might seem like a lot of work at first, but once you try them, you’ll be hooked! Yes, you need to plan ahead a little since they need freezing time, but the result is so worth it. My family actually prefers these over the real thing now!

Until next time, happy cooking and enjoy those crispy, delicious nuggets!

~Your Favorite Food Blogger

Chicken nuggets are made by grinding white chicken meat with water, salt, and other seasonings into a paste, shaping it into forms, coating it in a series of batters and breadings, partially frying it to set the coating, and then flash-freezing it for shipment to restaurants.

McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets are primarily made from white boneless chicken, a mixture of vegetable oils (including canola, corn, and soybean oil), and a flour-based batter. Other ingredients in the chicken include water, salt, and seasonings like yeast extract, spices, and lemon juice solids. The batter and breading contain various flours and starches, along with leavening agents like baking soda and sodium acid pyrophosphate. The specific ingredient list can vary by country, but modern recipes for McNuggets in the U.S. contain no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.