Apple pie may be the archetypal American dessert but chicken nuggets may be the country’s most popular poultry product. Invented in 1963 by Cornell University food science professor Robert C. Baker the breaded bite-sized pieces of chicken became a mainstream staple. Just a few years prior to their invention the average American ate 28 pounds of chicken in 1960; projected consumption by 2024 is 103.2 pounds per person making it the most consumed protein in the United States (via the National Chicken Council ). While this dramatic increase isn’t entirely due to the rise of chicken nuggets they’ve become a staple in the American diet. As of 2023 5% of Americans ate nuggets every day while 18% ate them weekly according to Statista. And with so many chicken-focused chains popping up across the country from Raising Cane’s to Chick-fil-A both beloved for their sauces the popular food item is a prime target for innovation. You've probably heard of dino nuggets but what about spicy nuggets?
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
 Nick DiGiovanni | 2022-11-14 17:00:38 |  152,277,644 Views |
Fresh Chicken Nuggets
Two versions of the trendy fast food item launched on June 10 2024 at Wendy’s and KFC. While dipping chicken nuggets in delicious sauces is nothing new coating the morsels in it isn’t as common as it is with chicken wings. After all nuggets are beloved for their crispy breading that can become mushy as they absorb moisture. However whipping up a homemade version can be a recipe for success. If you’re interested in making your own saucy nuggets here are some tips to keep them from turning soggy.
Breaded chicken will definitely soak up sauce especially when compared to the unbreaded variety. While the pursuit of juicy yet crispy nuggets may seem like a losing battle making a few small changes to the way you coat them before cooking can prevent them from becoming overly sweet. Homemade chicken nugget recipes sometimes call for a coating of breadcrumbs to give them an irresistibly crispy exterior similar to chicken parmesan or schnitzel. However this isn’t the best option if you’re trying to minimize moisture. After all breadcrumbs are often used on meat dishes to absorb juices as they cook and keep the food from drying out.
Instead of a breading consider making quick-cooked sautéed chicken nuggets with a thicker coating that resembles fried chicken. As many fast food chains do including Chick-fil-A's nuggets you can keep the chicken moist by thoroughly coating bite-sized pieces with a flour-based batter (which can include cornstarch and all-purpose wheat or rice flour) while also limiting oil and moisture absorption (via the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture ). This can help keep the nuggets from getting soggy when they're fried and sauced while still maintaining a satisfyingly crunchy texture.
