Almond-Crusted Chicken Nuggets
These Almond-Crusted Chicken Nuggets deliver 35g protein and 390 calories per serving — a substantial protein hit for lunch or pre-workout meals. Batch-preps 6 servings quickly on the stovetop, making it viable for mid-week meal prep rotation. High protein density helps you hit daily targets while keeping portion sizes manageable for active lifters.
Ingredients
- •Almonds(170g)
- •1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt, Or More To Taste
- •Paprika, Smoked(5g)
- •Garlic powder(3g)
- •¼ teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper
- •Egg, Whole, Large(50g)
- •¼ cup water or milk
- •Flour, All-Purpose, White(120g)
- •Chicken Breast, Boneless Skinless(680g)
Boneless skinless. Buy in bulk and freeze — Costco rotisserie packs work too.
- •Cooking spray (per 1-second spray)
Non-stick spray (PAM or store brand). Saves calories vs. pouring oil.
Instructions
- 1Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.
- 2Add almonds to a food processor. Pulse repeatedly until the almonds are finely ground.
- 3Add the ground almonds into a small bowl, along with the salt, smoked paprika, black pepper and garlic powder. Whisk to combine. Taste, and season with extra salt and pepper or seasonings if desired. (This will be the main flavoring for your nuggets, so make sure it tastes like you want it to!)
- 4In a second bowl, whisk together the egg and water (or milk) until combined.
- 5In a third bowl, add the flour.
- 6Now set up your assembly line for coating the chicken nuggets — (1st) chicken, (2nd) flour, (3rd) egg, (4th) almonds, (5th) baking sheet.
- 7Dip a piece of the chicken completely in the flour until it is completely coated, shaking off the excess flour. Then dip the chicken in the egg until completely coated, then dip it in the almond mixture, then place it on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
- 8Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside, flipping the nuggets once halfway through cooking. (If you want a crispier coating, you can bake the chicken for 6-8 minutes, then turn on the broiler for 1-2 minutes to crisp up the crust. Just watch the chicken carefully so that the almond crust does not burn, and be sure that the chicken is cooked through on the inside.)
- 9Remove and serve immediately with your desired dipping sauce.
Nutrition — Per Serving
390
calories
35g
protein
19g
fat
- Carbohydrates
- 22g
- Saturated fat
- 2.0g
- Sodium
- 64 mg
- Dietary fiber
- 3.9g
6 servings per batch · ~171g each
Macro data sourced from USDA FoodData Central
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How much protein does Almond-Crusted Chicken Nuggets have per serving?
Each serving contains 35g of protein with 390 calories, providing a moderate protein-to-calorie ratio. The complete macros are 19g fat and 22g carbs, making this a balanced lunch option.
How long does Almond-Crusted Chicken Nuggets take to prepare?
Quick prep time on the stovetop produces 6 servings per batch, so a single cooking session covers most of a week's lunches. The batch size makes this efficient for Sunday meal prep when you need multiple similar portions.
Is Almond-Crusted Chicken Nuggets good for muscle gain?
At 35g protein and 390 calories per serving, these nuggets work well as a secondary meal or snack during muscle gain phases where you're spreading protein intake across multiple eating opportunities. The carbohydrate content supports energy levels alongside the moderate protein dose.
