Description
Homemade BBQ Chip Chicken Nuggets are crispy, flavorful bites of chicken coated in a seasoned flour mixture, dipped in egg, and then crusted with crushed BBQ-flavored potato chips, fried to golden perfection. Served with BBQ sauce for dipping, these nuggets offer a delightful twist on a classic favorite with a smoky, tangy crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
Coating
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Breading
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 cups BBQ-flavored potato chips, crushed
For Cooking and Serving
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for frying)
- BBQ sauce (for dipping)
Instructions
- Prepare the coatings: In one shallow bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper thoroughly to create the seasoned flour mixture.
- Beat the eggs: In a second shallow bowl, beat the two large eggs well to ensure an even coating for the chicken pieces.
- Prepare the BBQ chip crust: Place the crushed BBQ-flavored potato chips in a third shallow bowl, ensuring the chips are crushed into small pieces for effective breading.
- Coat the chicken pieces: Take each chicken piece and first dredge it in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Then dip it into the beaten eggs, allowing excess to drip off. Finally, press the chicken into the crushed BBQ potato chips, making sure each piece is well coated with the chips.
- Heat the oil: In a large skillet or frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat until hot but not smoking.
- Fry the nuggets: Carefully add the coated chicken pieces into the hot oil in a single layer, cooking in batches if necessary. Fry each side for about 3 to 4 minutes or until the coating is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F/74°C).
- Drain and serve: Remove the nuggets with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Serve warm with BBQ sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Ensure chicken pieces are cut into uniform sizes for even cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the pan when frying to maintain oil temperature and crispiness.
- You can bake the nuggets at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes as a healthier alternative.
- For extra crispness, double dip the chicken by repeating the egg and chip coating steps.
- Use gluten-free flour if you want to make this recipe gluten free.
