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 slightly 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 hardly ever meet a rooster nugget I don’t like, however this pecan crusted rooster received me over fully with the primary chunk. It’s all concerning the breading! There’s just a little 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 Rooster So Good
- Higher than store-bought. My entire household LOVES rooster nuggets. Once 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. Purpose #2? Attaining the most effective texture with out deep-frying (as a lot as I really like fried rooster). This one took some take a look at runs, however ultimately, these pecan crusted rooster nuggets baked up golden and scrumptious with a fraction of the trouble (and mess) of frying in oil.
- Fast and simple. Since there’s no deep-frying concerned, this pecan crusted rooster makes an incredible weeknight dinner possibility. Hardly any mess, no fussing. Simply scrumptious, juicy, flavor-packed rooster nuggets sizzling from the oven in half-hour!
Components You’ll Want
The components checklist 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 right down to the recipe card for the printable components with the complete quantities and recipe particulars.
- Rooster – Cubed rooster breast halves work finest on this recipe. You could possibly use boneless, skinless rooster tenders or thighs, too. Minimize the rooster into even-sized 1” items.
- Tortilla Chips – These might be salted or any taste you’d like. I typically use the leftover bits within the backside of the chip bag!
- Spices – I take advantage of chili powder and oregano along with salt and black pepper.
- Pecans – You can even make this recipe with sliced almonds if pecans are out of inventory the place you’re.
- Milk – As a substitute 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’ve within the fridge. Buttermilk additionally works!
The way to Make Pecan Crusted Rooster 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 just a few instances, add the pecans, and pulse once more till you’ve superb 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. Organize the pecan crusted rooster on a greased and lined baking sheet. Bake at 400ºF for 12-Quarter-hour, flipping midway by means of. When the rooster is cooked by means of and crispy, you’re able to serve.
Use the Air Fryer
When you personal an air fryer, you possibly can cook dinner this pecan crusted rooster utilizing the identical methodology I take advantage of for my air fryer rooster nuggets. It’s fast and simple:
- Cook dinner the nuggets at 360ºF for 7 minutes, flip, and cook dinner for an additional 5 minutes till crispy.
- Put together and coat the rooster as directed.
- Organize the rooster contained in the air fryer. Work in batches, and don’t overcrowd the basket.
Recipe Ideas
- Preheat the oven. Just remember to absolutely preheat the oven to a sizzling 400ºF earlier than you bake your pecan rooster. Excessive warmth is essential to rapidly 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 can be about 1 to 1 ½ inches in dimension.
- Verify the rooster for doneness. An instant-read meat thermometer is your finest good friend relating to testing all the things from rooster to steak for doneness. Rooster is cooked when the inner temperature reads 165ºF.
- Use one other reduce of rooster. Make pecan crusted rooster tenders following the cooking instructions for my baked rooster tenders. You could possibly even bread entire rooster breasts and bake them in line with my oven fried rooster recipe.
- Substitute the tortilla chips. When 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 an incredible 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 recent 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 all the time 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 means of.
Extra Simple Rooster Recipes
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Prep. Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil. Calmly grease it with cooking spray and put aside.
Make the pecan breading. Place chips, chili powder, and oregano in a meals processor or blender. Course of till effectively floor. Add pecans and pulse just a few instances, or till finely floor. Switch the combination to a plate.
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.
Bake. Place coated rooster nuggets on the beforehand ready baking sheet. Bake for 12 to fifteen minutes, or till the rooster is cooked by means of, turning as soon as midway by means of cooking.
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 supplied as courtesy. Values might differ in line with the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
