Sharing the easiest recipe for our family-favorite, gluten-free chicken nuggets – made with no gluten, no egg, and can be made dairy-free! This is on my meal plan every week!
You can call them chicken bites or chicken nuggets – either way, the kids will LOVE them.
A few years ago we made the decision to have one of our kids go gluten-free due to some health issues and it turns out it was the right choice, and I’m glad we tried it.
That being said, over the last few years I’ve done some trial and error in the kitchen to see what works, how I can recreate favorite foods at home, and just generally make things less processed.
When the girls were toddlers I used to make “shake and bake” chicken bites using cut-up chicken breasts & breadcrumbs and it was a family favorite dinner idea.
In my mini meatball recipe, I ended up swapping breadcrumbs for almond flour to make them gluten-free and so I decided to try that out with these chicken nuggets and the results were amazing.
More kid-friendly dinner ideas, here
FAQs
How to make gluten-free chicken nuggets from scratch
I’ve actually tested out a few different versions and have still found this to be the easiest with the best flavor and texture combo. I tested ground chicken and just thought it was too many steps and not realistic for a weeknight dinner.
For this recipe you really only need: chicken breast, almond flour, olive oil and seasonings. You’re making them “from scratch” but it’s really as easy as tossing everything together and cooking in the air fryer.
After following the recipe below, I use this air fryer to cook the chicken nuggets. It’s really hands-off cooking and they come out so good every time.
I definitely recommend using an air fryer to get that really crispy texture!
What you need to know about this healthy gluten-free chicken nuggets recipe:
- This recipe requires no breadcrumbs, no flour, and no egg – and you can easily leave out the small amount of parmesan cheese and sub in extra almond flour!
- I buy the almond flour in bulk at Costco (Kirkland brand) and that’s what I used here in this recipe
- These are on the meal plan at least once a week in our house and I usually serve them with fries or mashed potatoes and broccoli
- The recipe is very forgiving, so if it’s looking too wet, you can add more almond flour.
- I typically double the recipe so I can pack them in the kids’ lunchboxes the next day (they’ll eat them cold with ketchup!)
Here’s how to pack these chicken nuggets for lunches:
Luckily my kids will eat these cold! You could also try reheating in the morning and adding to a thermos.
These are the leak-proof dip containers I use for the ketchup.
Read: Ultimate Guide to Gluten-Free Lunchbox Ideas
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Here’s what you need to make these 5 ingredient homemade gluten-free chicken nuggets:
- Chicken breast
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Parmesan cheese
- Almond Flour
- Seasonings
That’s it!
Equipment needed:
- Air fryer
- Oil spray (I like Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray)
How to make 5 ingredient chicken nuggets:
- Cube the chicken breast into small pieces into a bowl (I use kitchen scissors)
- Toss with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt and pepper
- Add almond flour and parmesan cheese
- Mix together
- Spray air fryer basket and spread chicken onto basket
- Air fryer for about 15 minutes
- Serve with fries or mashed potatoes!
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Recipe notes:
- I am really big on freezer-friendly recipes but I actually found while testing these that they don’t really freeze well. The texture after reheating becomes very chewy.
- You can keep these nuggets in the fridge for a few days and reheat in the microwave or air fryer at a low temperature!
I’ve been making these on repeat for my girls and I’m so happy to share this quick weeknight dinner win with you.
Can’t wait to see you making these in your kitchen!
Tag me on IG @becauseisaidsobaby when you try the recipe and don’t forget to leave a rating/review below!
Best Homemade Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets for Kids
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts
- 1½ tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ cup almond flour
- 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Cube the chicken breast into small pieces into a bowl (I use kitchen scissors)
- Toss with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt and pepper
- Add almond flour and parmesan cheese
- Mix together
- Spray air fryer basket and spread chicken onto basket
- Air fry for about 15 minutes at 425 F
- Serve with fries or mashed potatoes!
Notes
- I am really big on freezer-friendly recipes but I actually found while testing these that they don’t really freeze well. The texture after reheating from frozen becomes very chewy.
- You can keep these nuggets in the fridge for a few days and reheat in the microwave or air fryer at a low temperature!
- This recipe is very forgiving so if you need to add more almond flour, or throw in another chicken breast and increase the seasonings and almond flour, it will still come out good!
- This recipe makes about 2-3 “servings” with sides – I usually serve half to my daughter for dinner and save the other half for her lunch the next day
- I air fried these at 425 F, but if your air fryer runs really hot, you can drop the temp down to 375 or 400 F, just make sure to check that the chicken is done!
Equipment
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
More Gluten-Free Ideas:
- The Ultimate Guide to Gluten-Free Lunchboxes
- Our Favorite Store-Bought Gluten-Free Snacks
- 4 Ingredient Mini Waffle Omelets
- Mini Banana Oat Muffins
- Healthy Mini Chicken Meatballs
Follow Marla on Instagram for more easy ideas for feeding your family
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