This pecan-crusted rooster recipe makes the BEST home made, crispy rooster nuggets ever! They’re lightened up with a scrumptious, crunchy coating of crushed pecans and tortilla chips, and baked relatively than fried.
I’m a BIG fan of crispy rooster (who isn’t?), and I’m simply over right here fuelling my obsession with recipes like parmesan rooster tenders, crunchy cornflake rooster, and this flavor-loaded sizzling honey rooster!
I not often meet a rooster nugget I don’t like, however this pecan crusted rooster gained me over utterly with the primary chunk. It’s all in regards to the breading! There’s somewhat nutty sweetness from pecans, paired with salty, tortilla chip crunch. It’s BEYOND good. Crunchy, flavorful, and 100% home made. Make this pecan crusted rooster for dinner, lunch, as a snack, and even as an superior appetizer (I see you, Soccer Sunday!). And always remember the honey mustard sauce.
What Makes This Pecan Crusted Hen So Good
- Higher than store-bought. My entire household LOVES rooster nuggets. After I first got down to make “lightened-up” home made nuggets, I knew they wanted to have the identical irresistible crunch as our freezer aisle and quick meals favorites. This pecan crusted rooster delivers!
- Baked, not fried. Aim #2? Reaching the perfect texture with out deep-frying (as a lot as I really like fried rooster). This one took some check runs, however in the long run, these pecan crusted rooster nuggets baked up golden and scrumptious with a fraction of the hassle (and mess) of frying in oil.
- Fast and straightforward. Since there’s no deep-frying concerned, this pecan crusted rooster makes an important weeknight dinner choice. Hardly any mess, no fussing. Simply scrumptious, juicy, flavor-packed rooster nuggets sizzling from the oven in half-hour!
Elements You’ll Want
The components listing for this pecan crusted rooster couldn’t be shorter. You want simply 4 objects plus your most well-liked seasonings. I’ve included my notes right here. Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for the printable components with the total quantities and recipe particulars.
- Hen – Cubed rooster breast halves work finest on this recipe. You can use boneless, skinless rooster tenders or thighs, too. Minimize the rooster into even-sized 1” items.
- Tortilla Chips – These may be salted or any taste you’d like. I typically use the leftover bits within the backside of the chip bag!
- Spices – I exploit chili powder and oregano along with salt and black pepper.
- Pecans – You may as well make this recipe with sliced almonds if pecans are out of inventory the place you might be.
- Milk – As an alternative of an egg wash, I dip the rooster items in milk earlier than coating them with breading. Works like a allure. Be happy to make use of whichever dairy or non-dairy milk you might have within the fridge. Buttermilk additionally works!
Learn how to Make Pecan Crusted Hen Nuggets
This straightforward rooster nuggets recipe seems persistently scrumptious within the oven, and the steps are tremendous easy! Comply with alongside right here:
- Put together the breading. Begin by including the tortilla chips, chili powder, and dried oregano to your blender or meals processor. Pulse a couple of instances, add the pecans, and pulse once more till you might have tremendous crumbs. Add the breading to a shallow bowl or plate.
- Bread the rooster. Add the milk to a bowl. In the meantime, season the rooster with salt and pepper, and dip the items into the milk, then into the breading. Roll it round within the crumbs to coat.
- Bake. Prepare the pecan crusted rooster on a greased and lined baking sheet. Bake at 400ºF for 12-Quarter-hour, flipping midway by. When the rooster is cooked by and crispy, you’re able to serve.
Use the Air Fryer
Should you personal an air fryer, you possibly can prepare dinner this pecan crusted rooster utilizing the identical technique I exploit for my air fryer rooster nuggets. It’s fast and straightforward:
- Cook dinner the nuggets at 360ºF for 7 minutes, flip, and prepare dinner for one more 5 minutes till crispy.
- Put together and coat the rooster as directed.
- Prepare the rooster contained in the air fryer. Work in batches, and don’t overcrowd the basket.
Recipe Ideas
- Preheat the oven. Just remember to totally preheat the oven to a sizzling 400ºF earlier than you bake your pecan rooster. Excessive warmth is vital to shortly crisping up the skin whereas the within stays juicy.
- Minimize the rooster into even-sized items. This ensures that the rooster bakes evenly. I normally goal for items which might be about 1 to 1 ½ inches in dimension.
- Test the rooster for doneness. An instant-read meat thermometer is your finest buddy on the subject of testing every part from rooster to steak for doneness. Hen is cooked when the interior temperature reads 165ºF.
- Use one other minimize of rooster. Make pecan crusted rooster tenders following the cooking instructions for my baked rooster tenders. You can even bread entire rooster breasts and bake them based on my oven fried rooster recipe.
- Substitute the tortilla chips. Should you don’t have tortilla chips to mix up for the breading, you possibly can swap in potato chips, Ritz crackers, Panko crumbs, or common breadcrumbs.
Serving Strategies
This crispy pecan crusted rooster goes nice with a facet of dipping sauce(s). We’re honey mustard followers in our home, however why cease there? Serve these with barbecue sauce or cool and creamy ranch dressing for dipping, or any sauce you’d like. They make a tremendous recreation day or Tremendous Bowl appetizer subsequent to our favourite pizza dip!
In any other case, if I’m serving crispy rooster for dinner, I’ll make a fast facet of air fryer fries and a contemporary avocado salad, with a fudgy brownie for dessert.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerate. Retailer leftover pecan crusted rooster hermetic within the fridge for as much as 4 days. The breading will get a bit soggy over time, however leftovers are nice to get pleasure from chilly or reheated in salads and wraps for simple lunches.
- Reheat. I at all times advocate reheating breaded rooster within the oven or air fryer, because it helps crisp up the skin once more. For even crispier outcomes, place the rooster on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Heat the rooster at 350ºF, till it’s heated by.
Extra Straightforward Hen Recipes
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Prep. Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil. Frivolously grease it with cooking spray and put aside.
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Make the pecan breading. Place chips, chili powder, and oregano in a meals processor or blender. Course of till properly floor. Add pecans and pulse a couple of instances, or till finely floor. Switch the combination to a plate.
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Bread the rooster. Pour milk right into a bowl. Season the rooster items with salt and pepper. Dip the rooster first into the milk, after which roll it within the crumb combination to coat.
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Bake. Place coated rooster nuggets on the beforehand ready baking sheet. Bake for 12 to fifteen minutes, or till the rooster is cooked by, turning as soon as midway by cooking.
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End and serve. Take away the rooster from the oven and let it relaxation for a couple of minutes earlier than serving.
Serving: 1nugget | Energy: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 4g | Fats: 4g | Saturated Fats: 0g | Ldl cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 61mg | Potassium: 98mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Dietary data is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could differ based on the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
