GF Chicken Nuggets Recipe

My kids are pretty spoiled when it comes to food. I've never been one for the overprocessed quasi-meat-like substances.

Big example. Prefab chicken nuggets. Yukkkkkk!

Here's how we do it around this house.

GF Chicken Breast Nuggets

3lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1c Zesty Italian Dressing
1c GF Flour Mix or 1/3c Brown Rice Flour + 1/3c Corn Starch + 1/3c Tapioca Flour
1t Seasoning Salt
1t Lemon Pepper
1t Baking Powder (to help with browning)
1/2t Garlic Powder
1/2t Onion Powder
1/2t Cumin

3c Oil and pot and slotted spoon or Cookie sheet, spray grease and spatula.

Cut chicken into bite sized pieces. Throw into a closed container with the Italian Dressing and shake to coat. Let sit in the fridge for at least a half hour. Mine usually sits from noon until 4pm. It's ok.

Put GF Flour and spices in a ziplock bag. Shake to mix.

Fried Chicken Version:
Put about 3 cups of oil (I love the peanut oil when I'm getting expensive and frisky) in a medium sized pot and put on medium heat. You'll know the oil is ready when a few drops of water flicked into the pot pop in the oil.

Toss some chicken a piece at a time into the flour bag and shake when you've got 15 in.
Gently transfer the chicken pieces into the hot oil, a piece at a time, shaking the loose flour off and into the bag. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes per batch.

Be sure to check your chicken! Take the largest piece out, put it on paper bag or paper towels to drain. Cut into it...is it pink? If it is, leave the chicken in for 2 more minutes and check it again.
I check every batch, always the largest chunk just to be certain it's cooked thoroughly.

Cook more than 15 at a time if your pot permits, mine doesn't. You don't want the chicken crowded in there.

If you're not into deep frying things, that's cool too. We usually do ours in the oven, but fried chicken is a special treat.

Baked Chicken Version:
Preheat the oven to 375.
Spray grease on a cookie sheet.
Toss some chicken a piece at a time into the flour bag and shake when you've got 15 in.
Transfer the chicken pieces onto the cookie sheet, a piece at a time, shaking the loose flour off and into the bag. Continue until all chicken is coated.
Spray grease on the chicken itself when you've gotten them all onto the sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Find three large pieces of chicken from different parts of the pan.
Cut into them, does the juice run clear? Are they pink?
Pop em back in the oven if you have any doubts. Raw chicken is BAD.

Serve with a side of french fries and some fresh fruit or broccoli and cheese. Happy kids.