Homemade Chicken Nuggets and Oven Fries

My kids don't always eat everything that I make for dinner. For instance, you'd never see them putting down a big plate of Steak with Melon Relish or Chicken Marsala. And you'd never ever see them wolfing down a Pesto Chicken Foccacia Sandwich! So, sometimes I make two dinners. Like for instance today I had Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps (recipe coming soon!) and the kids had this...Homemade Chicken Nuggets and Oven Fries! Oh, they smelled excellent, too. I really wish I wasn't banning carbohydrates today. The kiddos gobbled them all up anyway, so there wasn't any left for me.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets

3 large chicken breasts
1 cup mozzerella cheese
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp Lawry's Seasoning Salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 dash cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon Parsley Flakes
1 cup panko bread crumbs (or crushed Rice Chex for gluten free)

Boil chicken breasts for about 30 minutes until they are completely cooked through. When they are done, cut the breasts into large chuncks and place in a food processer. Pulse 3-4 times until chicken is broken up and slightly chunky. Then add cheese, egg, and seasonings. Pulse until all ingredients are throughly mixed and it forms a paste almost.

Place panko crumbs or cereal into a bowl with any desired seasonings.

Scoop out a heaping tablespoon and roll into a ball, then flatten ball to about 3/4" thick to form a nugget. Press both sides of nugget into the Panko/cereal and place on a baking sheet. Repeat until all chicken is gone.

Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes, turning nuggets after 15 minutes. Both sides of nuggets should be golden brown.

Oven Fries

4 potatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
Freshly Cracked Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Dill

Skin potatoes and cut into fries about 3/4" x 3/4". I usually get about 12 fries from each potato when I cut them. Place potatoes in a large bowl that has a lid and add oil, salt, pepper and dill. Put on lid and shake until all potatoes are coated. Spray a non-stick pan with cooking spray (I've found even through potatoes are covered in oil they still stick so the cooking spray helps a lot when flipping them!) Place potatoes in a single layer on sheet and bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes, flipping potatoes over after 15 minutes for even browning. Fries are done when they are tender.

*Note that the fries and the nuggets have the exact baking temps and times so you can get it all done on one pan at the same time!

Enjoy!!