Dinosaur Shaped Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Veggies
Dinosaur Shaped Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Veggies
Ingredients
For the Chicken Nugget Mixture
- 1 pound ground chicken, lean
- 1/2 cup zucchini, grated and squeezed dry
- 1/4 cup carrot, finely grated
- 1/4 cup spinach, finely chopped
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Breading
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
For Cooking
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, or cooking spray, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, grated zucchini (ensure it's well-squeezed to remove excess moisture), grated carrot, finely chopped spinach, 1 large egg, plain breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix everything thoroughly with your hands until well combined, but do not overmix.
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
Set up your breading station. Place the all-purpose flour in a shallow dish, the 2 beaten eggs in another shallow dish, and the panko breadcrumbs in a third shallow dish.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Take a small portion of the chicken mixture (about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons) and flatten it into a disc. Use dinosaur-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Gently remove the excess mixture around the cutter. If you don't have cookie cutters, simply form the mixture into small nugget shapes. Repeat until all the mixture is used.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Dredge each dinosaur nugget first in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip it into the beaten egg, allowing any extra to drip off. Finally, coat it generously in the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure they adhere. Place the breaded nuggets on the prepared baking sheet.
⏱️ 7 min
- 6
Lightly spray the tops of the nuggets with vegetable oil or cooking spray. Bake for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 400
- 7
Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces like ketchup, honey mustard, or barbecue sauce. Enjoy your prehistoric meal!
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Dinosaur Shaped Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Veggies
Ingredients
For the Chicken Nugget Mixture
- 1 pound ground chicken, lean
- 1/2 cup zucchini, grated and squeezed dry
- 1/4 cup carrot, finely grated
- 1/4 cup spinach, finely chopped
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Breading
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
For Cooking
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, or cooking spray, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400 - 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, grated zucchini (ensure it's well-squeezed to remove excess moisture), grated carrot, finely chopped spinach, 1 large egg, plain breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix everything thoroughly with your hands until well combined, but do not overmix.
⏱️ 8 min - 3
Set up your breading station. Place the all-purpose flour in a shallow dish, the 2 beaten eggs in another shallow dish, and the panko breadcrumbs in a third shallow dish.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Take a small portion of the chicken mixture (about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons) and flatten it into a disc. Use dinosaur-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Gently remove the excess mixture around the cutter. If you don't have cookie cutters, simply form the mixture into small nugget shapes. Repeat until all the mixture is used.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Dredge each dinosaur nugget first in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip it into the beaten egg, allowing any extra to drip off. Finally, coat it generously in the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure they adhere. Place the breaded nuggets on the prepared baking sheet.
⏱️ 7 min - 6
Lightly spray the tops of the nuggets with vegetable oil or cooking spray. Bake for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 400 - 7
Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces like ketchup, honey mustard, or barbecue sauce. Enjoy your prehistoric meal!
⏱️ 2 min