Homemade Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets (Baked, Lectin-Free)

These homemade gluten-free chicken nuggets are a healthy and nutritious alternative to the usual fast-food options.

Prepared with pasture-raised chicken and a handful of wholesome ingredients, and baked to perfection, these chicken nuggets ensure your little ones enjoy their favorite food without the nasties found in conventional nuggets.

Why bother making chicken nuggets at home when the alternative is so convenient (and even tasty)?

Fast food chains often market chicken nuggets as a healthier choice for children, but they rarely disclose the whole truth about what’s in them. In fact, it’s uncommon to find any restaurant offering chicken nuggets made with breasts from pasture-raised chickens.

The labels may read “organic”, “free-range”, or “all-natural”, but these terms have become nebulous and often misleading. Regardless of these labels, many poultry are still raised in cramped, dimly lit spaces, and fed with grains rather than allowed to roam freely in pastures, as they should.

Dr. Steven Gundry, author of The Plant Paradox, aptly said, “You are what you ate, ate.” This underscores the importance of choosing your food source wisely. If you’re consuming chicken, opt for the best pasture-raised chicken available.

Larger farms like Primal Pastures and Pasture Steps in the U.S. provide nationwide delivery. Local small-scale farmers also offer pasture-raised chicken if you seek them out. While most farms still supplement with grains, the amount is minimal, making it a far healthier choice compared to fast-food nuggets or conventionally-raised chicken.

What are conventional chicken nuggets made of?

What, then, is in those ubiquitous fast-food chicken nuggets? As highlighted by sources like WebMD, these include TBHQ (a petroleum-derived preservative), autolyzed yeast extract (a source of MSG), genetically modified corn, dimethylpolysiloxane (an anti-foaming agent), hydrogenated soybean oil, high levels of sodium, bleached wheat, and dextrose (a form of sugar).

Surprisingly, 60% of the ‘meat’ constitutes fat, blood vessels, ground bone, and gristle. Moreover, these nuggets are deep-fried in hydrogenated vegetable oil that has been reheated and reused multiple times.

With these facts in mind, we can make the conscious decision to serve healthier, homemade gluten-free chicken nuggets to our children. By controlling what goes into our food, we can ensure our loved ones are consuming high-quality, nutrient-dense meals that support their wellbeing.

Let’s set our children up for a future of healthier eating habits, one homemade chicken nugget at a time.

Ingredients you need for homemade gluten-free chicken nuggets

• 1 lb (approximately 400 grams) of pasture-raised chicken breasts
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Hungarian paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 2-3 eggs from pasture-raised hens
• 2/3 – 1 cup almond flour
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup cassava flour
• Avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil for greasing

How to make gluten-free chicken nuggets

1. Preheat the oven to 400F (200C). Lightly grease a baking sheet with avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil.
2. Cut the chicken breasts into small, bite-sized strips about 2 inches long and less than 1 inch thick.
3. In a bowl, combine the salt, pepper, Hungarian paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Toss the chicken strips in the seasoning mix until they are evenly coated.
4. Place the almond flour and cassava flour in two separate shallow bowls or plates.
5. In a different bowl, beat the eggs and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
6. Dredge the seasoned chicken pieces first in the cassava flour, ensuring a thin, even layer.
7. Dip each floured piece into the seasoned beaten eggs, then roll in the almond flour for the final coat.
8. Arrange the coated chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet, in a single layer. If desired, you can also use parchment paper for easy clean-up.
9. Bake the chicken nuggets in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden and crispy. The cooking time may vary depending on the size of the nuggets. Turn the nuggets over halfway through baking, approximately after 15 minutes, to ensure even cooking on both sides. They will have a golden brown crust.

How to serve homemade chicken-nuggets

For the perfect accompaniment to your homemade chicken nuggets, our favorite dipping sauce is a honey mustard sauce.

Start with a base of healthy homemade mayonnaise, combine it with prepared mustard, and add a touch of zesty freshness with lemon juice and red wine vinegar. Amplify the flavors with garlic and onion powder, and add a dash of warmth with curry powder.

To infuse a subtle sweetness into the sauce, incorporate one teaspoon of local, raw honey. For those adhering to a low-carb diet, alternatives like Yacon syrup or Allulose syrup serve as excellent substitutions.

When served with honey mustard sauce, these chicken nuggets make for a fantastic finger food. Add some nutrition with crunchy vegetable sticks – consider options like carrots, celery, radishes, and cucumbers (peeled and deseeded).

If you want a more substantial meal, serve these nuggets alongside a bowl of our creamy mashed trio of cauliflower, celeriac, and parsnip. This combination promises not just a delicious, but also a balanced, wholesome meal.

I hope you love this gluten-free chicken nugget recipe. For another breaded chicken recipe, check out our Easy, Gluten-Free Chicken Schnitzel.

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