A quick and easy homemade baked chicken nugget recipe!
These baked chicken bites are incredibly delicious — crispy on the outside and tender inside. A little butter gives them a rich, savory flavor that’s a hit with both kids and adults. They’re quick to prepare and require just a handful of common ingredients.
For this simple recipe you’ll need about 3–4 boneless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces, 2 eggs, 1/2 stick of butter cut into pieces, roughly 2 cups of crushed Ritz crackers, and seasoning to taste.
The Ritz crackers are already lightly salted, but I like to add garlic powder and Italian seasoning to the crumbs before coating the chicken. Feel free to customize the spices to match your taste — smoked paprika, black pepper, or a pinch of cayenne all work well.
This buttery, crunchy chicken is versatile: serve it as a snack with your favorite dipping sauce, or pair it with a salad or steamed vegetables for an easy weeknight dinner. Both kids and adults love the texture and flavor.
How to size the chicken: You can leave the breasts whole, slice them into strips, or cut them into bite-size nuggets. Cutting into smaller pieces gives you more crunchy coating in every bite, which is my preference.
Famous Butter Ritz Chicken Recipe (Nugget Style)
Ingredients
- 3-4 boneless chicken breasts (cut into bite-size pieces)
- 2 eggs (beaten)
- 2 cups crushed Ritz crackers
- 1/2 stick butter (cut into pieces)
- seasoning to taste
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking dish.
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Place beaten eggs in one shallow bowl and the crushed crackers in another. Season the cracker crumbs with garlic powder, black pepper, and/or Italian seasoning to taste.
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Dip each piece of chicken in the eggs, then coat with the cracker crumbs, pressing lightly so the crumbs adhere.
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Arrange the coated chicken in the prepared baking dish. Scatter the pieces of butter evenly over the top so they melt and baste the crumbs while baking.
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Bake on the middle rack for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the center. Internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
Notes
- To crush crackers easily, place them in a large zip-top bag and roll a rolling pin over them until finely ground. You’ll need around two sleeves of Ritz to get 2 cups of crumbs.
- Avoid dropping raw chicken directly into the crumb bowl — crumbs can become soggy and won’t stick well. Instead, dip the chicken and then use dry hands to press or sprinkle crumbs onto each piece.
- If you prefer whole-breast servings, leave the chicken breasts intact and bake longer until fully cooked. Nugget-size pieces roast faster and give more crunchy coating per bite.
Don’t forget to pin and save these yummy baked chicken nuggets for later! 🙂
