Crunchy Asiago Chicken Nuggets.
Like, it’s own food group.
It’s inexplicably a salty, savory, melt-in-your-mouth group of food.
Remember those big fenced in sections of brightly colored balls you used to play in as a little kid? Or as a teenager? Or… last week as a 28 year old freak who wears too much eye makeup? They are smack dab in the center of amusement parks and I think, even… McDonalds? Hmmm. Ew.
Yeah, first… I think those are pretty gross right? Tons of fun and a kid’s dream come true. I used to love the things. But then some grown ups told me they are filled with disease. Germ city. Right? I know you know and you know that I know and we still want to ignore it and play in them anyway. And then I heard on the news or something that they are usually filled with snakes? Okay. Deal breaker. For real, legit snakes slithering through those ball pens. That may seriously be the best dream come true turned into terrible, horrible nightmare. Ugh. The news ruins everything. So do grown ups.
But whatever… just imagine if those things were filled with cheese. It would be cheese up to your knees. Unless you’re really tall. Then it would be up to your ankles. You’d have to bend down more to eat your cheese. Thank goodness I’m short and have tree trunks for legs.
If I had to pick a favorite cheese I would cry. Because I could never, ever do it. I’d throw a full out tantrum. Without going in to too much detail, it’s in the realm of the asiago-sharp cheddar-gorgonzola-gruyere-brie family. Something like that.
Which explains these chicken nuggets! This is definitely a meal that helps marriage communication over here. I love cheese. He loves chicken. He also loves cheese, but would probably eat the square slices of goo wrapped in plastic if I didn’t pluck a Benjamin off of our money tree out back and come home with five different bricks of coagulated milk.
I also make chicken nuggets to make up for my misdoings like that. It works. You should try it. Chicken nuggets with super powers. I like.
Crunchy Asiago Chicken Nuggets
serves 2-4
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 cups low-fat buttermilk
2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 cup seasoned regular bread crumbs
1/3 cup flour (any is fine, I used whole wheat)
1/2 cup freshly grated asiago cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup dijon mustard
1/4 cup honey
2-24 hours before serving, cut chicken breasts into nugget-like chunks. Season with the salt and pepper then add to a bowl and pour buttermilk over top. Let soak for at least 2 hours or overnight.
When ready to bake, heat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, then lay a wire rack on top and spray with non-stick spray. Add honey and mustard to a bowl and mix, then set aside. Add bread crumbs, flour, cheese, garlic powder and paprika to a bowl and mix thoroughly. Remove each nugget directly from the buttermilk to the bread crumb mixture and coat, then set on the wire rack. Repeat with the rest, then spritz each nugget with olive oil or non-stick spray. I usually just use Pam because I like the “spritz” it gives.
Bake for 7 minutes, then remove pan from oven and gently flip each nugget with kitchen tongs and spritz again with oil or spray. Bake for 7 minutes more, then serve hot with honey mustard.Â
Off to water that tree… it’s gonna be hot today!
162 Comments on “Crunchy Asiago Chicken Nuggets.”
My daughter would love these! (as would I :) )
These look delish!!! Seeing how this is all my kids ever want – seems a lot healthier – and more yummy to boot!! BTW – love the new look!!
I haven’t had chicken nuggets for ages. I guess I never to thought to make them myself. Those look so yummy, I am craving them now. I think I just may have to add this to the list for next week.
BTW, love the new click to print option! :)
Cheese is definitely a food group. This means that Wensleydale with cranberries covers 2 food groups, which makes technically makes it a superfood.
Oh yes. Anytime fruit is involved, it’s healthy.
They look wonderful. How could anyone (other than the non meat eaters) not love something that’s breaded and cheese’ed…they look wonderful.
And I love that blue bowl!!
Any idea where that bowl is from? I keep reading foodie blogs and the different bloggers have some of the most interesting random bowls I’ve ever seen.
Not Jessica obviously but I love Anthropologie (look for sales!), Pottery Barn sales, Target, thrift/antique stores, yard sales, just cute AND cheap :)
I think that bowl is from Pier 1 if I am remembering correctly. :)
Yum!!!!!
Mmm, nuggets! I might have to make some for dinner tonight : D
I love the new blog, the white along with your pictures is an awesome look. May I make a suggestion? I’m not really loving the font for some reason. You should change it to one more fun, like you, perhaps? :) Still looks great regardless, though!
Which font are you talking about?
Oh my gosh, new blog look is AMAZING! So clean and bright and eye-catching. Sets of your pictures so well :)
Thank you!!
Exactly. The new layout is superb! It makes me want to pull up a chair and eat a while! :)
So glad you like it!
This looks yummy & I love your new layout! ;)
Thank you!
Yep…I’m definitely making these!
I love this recipe! I so enjoy reading you blog.You make me smile, Truly a pleasure. Cheers!! *Kelly
Thank you for reading Kelly!
I used to love chicken nuggets what I was little. What a fun adult version! Thanks! Can’t wait to try :)
Great recipe. I still can’t get over how sleek your new site it. Love it.
Those look really delicious. I want to make them now.
my daughter would love you!
these sound really, really good!
Im not really a big cheese person (dont hate me!!) I am a fan of parmesan cheese, and that’s about it. however, I can see these being an exception- they sound and look amazing!
You could definitely sub parmesan for asiago!
I love asiago cheese! these look incredible!
goodness…I go on vacation for a week and come home to a completely new blog design. I love it girl!
Thanks girl!
Love the new design! Looks great! Change is fun :)
Something about chicken nuggets just brings me back to when I was 5…and I love that (minus the whole weird boot shaped nuggets from McDonald’s – those still creep me out a bit)!
I’m with you on the cheese. I should probably just start a separate savings account for my cheese habit. I can call it “Mo’ Cheddar, Yo”. I love the new look, by the way!
Those look DELICIOUS! I love the new layout too.
Wow, those looks so good and I haven’t had chicken nuggets in forever. Mmmm..
wow! This looks tasty and I don’t even like chicken nuggets! haha I love cheese too1
These look great! :)
If I wasn’t a vegetarian, I would be all over these! Maybe I’ll make them for my bf. :)
And I LOVE your new site design…so girly and pretty!!!
Thank you!! :)
Love – Love – Love! the new site!
This is painful to look at
Those look….really good.
These look so great! And I LOVE the new site–adorable!
These look so good! Your site looks amazing! You have amazing pictures!
yumm…i love breaded chicken tenders, reminds me of my childhood. I love the asiago twist! I will have to make these….And I have to say that I LOVE your new look….i love the “cleanliness”
Mmmmmm….cheese. ::drool::
your new site is FABULOUS! i think it’s perfectly fitting and i just love the clean design!
I remember eating chicken nuggets all the time as a kid. These look SO much better!
The site looks amazing! And I’m trying these nuggs soon, I just made some for the first time last week and this little variation sounds so tasty!
I love the photos in this post – especially the cheese grater one.
These look incredible, and I KNOW the hubby would LOVE for me to make them :-)
mmmm those look great! I think I will have to print that baby out!!
Now I have a serious craving for chicken nuggets. And I must ask…what are you dipping them in? Along with cheese, dip is it’s own super important food group, you know.
Ah, just reread the recipe. Honey Mustard.
Thank you. I feel better now.
Also, try refrigerating your nuggets for an hour or two after coating but before baking…the breading gets even crazy yummier somehow.
These look delish!! Can’t wait to try. I always love me some chicken nuggets! Yes, the more cheese the better. And, love your new site!! :)
These look amazing- I will be making them for sure. By the way, I love the new design…so cute!
Yum. Just, yum.
I usually read through my Google reader and, as such, have just seen the redesign – beautiful! And I’m gonna eat the heck out of some crunchy asiago chicken nuggets.
Um, yum.
I think they would taste amazing with tofu. Asiago+tofu=tasty??? I shall have to see.
This looks yummy….you have a lovely blog…I am having a giveaway in my blog..Y dont you check and join that
http://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com/2011/05/chocolate-recipe-and-chocolate.html
Love the new site design and you have some wonderful photography in this post! However, I agree with the idea of a font change. It should be smoother to go with the serenity-color scheme you got going on. Try something like Calibri, Corbel, Futura,or Lucida Sans.
These chicken nuggest would be right up my alley. This weekend, while drooling over the cheese at Costco, my daughter referred to me as a “cheese slut.” :0)
“nuggets”
I made these last night and they were fantastic! I literally ran to the kitchen to see if I had everything for this recipe and I was so glad that I did. This recipe is definitely a keeper! Thanks!