Simple and Delicious: How to Cook Chicken Nuggets in the Oven Without Breading

When you suddenly want to eat roast chicken but don't have bread crumbs at home? Don't worry, I have developed a recipe for making delicious roast chicken without bread crumbs, and today I will share this exclusive secret with everyone!

How to cook chicken nuggets in the oven without breading

I particularly like the kind of roasted chicken that tastes similar to fried chicken but is healthy and low in calories, so I developed this method. The detailed tutorial is as follows:

Cut the chicken into pieces: First, we need to wash the chicken and cut it into even-sized pieces. If you want to be more low-fat, you can choose to use chicken breast.

Marinate the chicken: Put the chopped chicken into a bowl, add appropriate amount of lemon juice, salt, black pepper and olive oil in turn and mix well. Marinate for 20 minutes to allow the chicken to fully absorb the flavor.

Preheat the oven: While the chicken is marinating, you can start preheating the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (about 392 degrees Fahrenheit). Preheating the oven in advance ensures that the chicken is heated evenly during baking.

Arrange the chicken pieces: Place a layer of tin foil on a baking tray, brush a layer of olive oil on the surface, and then place the marinated chicken pieces neatly on it.

Roasted chicken: Place the baking tray in the oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes, keeping an eye on the chicken during the process, until the surface of the chicken turns golden brown and it is done.

Take out and enjoy: Take out the roasted chicken nuggets, let them cool slightly at room temperature, and then you can start enjoying them.

How long should I cook chicken nuggets in the oven?

The baking time of chicken nuggets in the oven depends on the size of the chicken nuggets and the power of the oven.

Normally, if the chicken pieces are small, only 2-3 cm long, they only need to be baked for 15-20 minutes in an oven at 200°C. Turn them over after about 10 minutes to ensure that both sides are evenly baked.

If the chicken pieces are larger, with a side length of 3-4 cm, then use an oven at 200-220°C for 20-25 minutes. Turn the chicken pieces over once during the baking process and observe them in the last few minutes. If the surface of the chicken pieces is a beautiful brown color and no blood seeps out when you poke them with chopsticks, then they are done.

If the chicken pieces are large, about 10 cm, then they will need to be baked in an oven at 200 - 220°C for about 40-50 minutes. Because the chicken pieces are relatively large, you need to constantly observe their condition during the baking process to avoid them being burnt.

Tips

Different brands of ovens have different power levels, so you can adjust the time according to the temperament of your own oven. If it is your first time, you can observe more frequently, adjust the time and temperature more often, and find the baking time that best suits your oven.

How do you make frozen nuggets crispy in the oven?

The method is very simple, as follows:

First preheat the oven to 200 - 220°C.

Then take out the frozen chicken nuggets. There is no need to thaw them. Place them directly on the baking tray and arrange them neatly. Make sure to leave some space between them and don't let them be too close to each other to ensure that the chicken nuggets are heated evenly.

Then you can start baking the chicken nuggets. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, then take out and turn the chicken nuggets over. The chicken nuggets will be colored at this time.

Then put the chicken nuggets back into the oven and continue baking for 10-15 minutes. During the baking process, the moisture inside the chicken nuggets will slowly be forced out and the skin will become more and more crispy.

For a better crisping effect, increase the oven temperature to 230 - 240°C in the last few minutes of cooking, but keep an eye on the chicken to avoid burning it.

When the surface of the chicken nuggets turns an attractive golden color and you can hear a crisp sound when you tap it lightly with chopsticks, it means that it has been baked to super crispy.

If you want to make the chicken nuggets more flavorful, you can brush a thin layer of oil on the chicken nuggets before baking, or sprinkle some seasonings such as salt, black pepper, and chili powder. This will make the crispy baked chicken nuggets taste better.

Is it better to cook chicken nuggets in the oven or air fryer?

Whether it’s better to cook chicken nuggets in the oven or in the air fryer depends on your personal preference and cooking needs.

Oven advantages:

Large capacity: Ovens usually have a larger capacity than air fryers, so if you need to cook a large amount of chicken nuggets, an oven would be a better choice.

More precise temperature control: Ovens usually have more precise and consistent temperature control, allowing you to adjust the temperature as needed, giving you more control over how well the chicken is cooked.

Versatility: The oven can not only cook chicken nuggets, but can also be used to make cakes, bread, barbecue and other delicacies, with more diverse functions.

Advantages of air fryer:

Save oil: The air fryer can cook crispy chicken nuggets without adding a lot of oil, which is healthier and saves oil.

Short cooking time: Air fryers generally have shorter cooking times than ovens because they cook food more efficiently by circulating hot air at high speeds.

Easy to operate: The operation of an air fryer is usually easier. You just need to put the chicken pieces into the frying basket, set the time and temperature, and wait for the delicious food to come out.

Personally, if I need to cook a large amount of chicken nuggets or other delicacies, I tend to use the oven, but if I want to cook some healthy and fuel-saving chicken nuggets quickly, I will choose the air fryer.

Is it better to fry or oven cook chicken?

Chicken nuggets can be fried or baked. From a health perspective, oven-baked chicken nuggets are better.

First, let's talk about frying chicken. Frying chicken is relatively fast. Cut the chicken into appropriate pieces, coat it with flour or egg liquid breadcrumbs, put it in hot oil, and fry it until golden and crispy. But you need to pay attention that frying will make the chicken absorb more fat, which is relatively unhealthy.

Relatively speaking, cooking chicken in the oven is much healthier. All you need to do is marinate the chicken and place it on a baking sheet, adjust the temperature and time, and let it slowly bake in the oven. The chicken baked in the oven will have a crispy skin and be tender and juicy inside.

At the same time, oven baking can better preserve the original flavor of the chicken, and you can also sprinkle various spices on the surface of the chicken to let the fragrance penetrate in. But oven cooking usually takes longer than frying.

Is an air fryer better than an oven for chicken thighs?

Air fryer

The air fryer cooks by circulating hot air. It is used to cook chicken thighs and can quickly make the skin of the chicken thighs crispy. Before baking, the chicken thighs need to be marinated and put into the air fryer for about 20-25 minutes.

The air fryer is convenient to use. It does not require preheating for too long or adding too much oil. It is relatively healthy and can force out the fat in the chicken thighs, making the skin crispy while the meat inside is still tender.

Oven

Cooking chicken thighs in the oven is also a good choice, because the oven space is relatively large, if you want to cook multiple chicken thighs at the same time, it will be more convenient. And the oven can make the chicken thighs heat more evenly, the baked chicken thighs are crispy and golden on the outside, and the meat inside is tender and juicy.

But the oven baking time may be a little longer, about 30-40 minutes, the actual time depends on the size of the chicken thighs and the power of the oven. During the baking process, you can add various sauces or spices according to your preferences to make the chicken thighs taste richer.

Summarize

I suggest that if you are only making 1-2 chicken thighs and want to eat them quickly, then the air fryer is a good choice; if you are preparing a quantity for a family and pay attention to even heating and deep fusion of flavors, then the oven is a better choice.