Seriously delicious Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets baked in the oven or air fryer are made with super easy homemade rice flour! You have to try it!
Serve them with Air Fryer French Fries or Baked Sweet Potato Fries for a fun kid-friendly meal.
Who knew that a simple mix of rice flour and seasoning can make a delicious, crunchy gluten-free breading for chicken nuggets? I was mind-blown to find that out! And of course, as usual, I had to make this as easy as possible, so I set out to see if I can make the rice flour myself, without buying it. Indeed I can!! All I needed was my blender.
These Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets are so easy to make and an absolute hit with my whole family! Just look at that coating. Crispy, golden and delicious!
HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN-FREE CHICKEN NUGGETS?
Start with slicing a boneless skinless chicken breast into 1/2″ slices, then each slice into 2 to 3 nuggets. Next, in a small bowl, melt butter. In another bowl, whisk together rice flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Dip each chicken nugget in butter and then in flour mixture. Place on a baking sheet. Bake nuggets for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. If you are using an air fryer, like I did, set the temperature to 390 degrees F. Air fry for 7 to 8 minutes or until golden.
Classic breading is made by dipping each piece of meat or vegetable in wet ingredients and then in dry ingredients. I tested this recipe with eggs and with butter. The nuggets dipped in eggs came out dry and stuck to the pan. The nuggets dipped in butter were juicy, golden and didn’t stick to the pan. Therefore, I recommend using melted unsalted butter or you can try olive oil too.
HOW TO MAKE RICE FLOUR AT HOME?
I was super excited to find out that I can make rice flour myself, in my kitchen, without trying to find it in the store and let’s face it, pay too much for it. All I had to do is pull out my blender. It took less than 10 seconds for the rice to be blended into a fine flour! #winning
1 cup of rice grain = approx. 1.5 cups of rice flour (this will depend on how fine you will blend it)
Rice flour can be used in place of wheat flour in baking, to make a breading for meat or vegetables, in pancakes, as a thickener for stews and soups, etc.
We don’t have a gluten-free only diet but I love trying various recipes, especially if I can make something my family loves, healthier. My Air-Fryer Chicken Nuggets were a huge hit and this gluten-free version is equally fantastic!
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GLUTEN-FREE CHICKEN NUGGETS (MADE WITH HOMEMADE RICE FLOUR) RECIPE
More delicious recipes: www.crunchycreamysweet.com
- 1 large boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1/2 cup rice flour See note how to make it
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
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Preheat oven to 390 degrees F or an air fryer to 390 degrees F.
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Slice chicken breast into 1/2" slices, then each slice into 2 to 3 nuggets.
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In a small bowl, melt butter. In another bowl, whisk together rice flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
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Dip each chicken nugget in butter and then in flour mixture. Place on parchment paper lined baking sheet OR air fryer basket.
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Bake nuggets for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Air-fry for 7 to 8 minutes or until golden.
Homemade Rice Flour: place 2 cups of long grain white rice in a blender. Blend on high speed for 10 seconds. Check to see how fine it is. If needed, blend for few more seconds. Store in an air-tight container. 1 cup of rice grain = approx. 1.5 cups of rice flour (this will depend on how fine you will blend it)
I tested this recipe with eggs and with butter. The nuggets dipped in eggs came out dry and stuck to the pan. The nuggets dipped in butter were juicy, golden and didn't stick to the pan. Therefore, I recommend using melted unsalted butter or you can try olive oil too.
Jocelyn says
I just made these for my very picky son. He is a big critic on chicken nuggets and I have tried many many many gluten free chicken nugget recipes. This is the only one he’s eaten. The only change I made was half rice flour and half gf seasoned panko breadcrumbs. Definitely will make again! Do these freeze well? If so I will make a huge batch.
Laura says
The meat came out tasty and nuggets cooked to a nice golden color. Only issue was I think I won’t use the rice flour next time because it was pretty grainy. Is there another type of flour that would work better here?
Rachael says
These didn’t brown at all and still tasted like flour.
Ada says
I deep fried mine and they were great..lot easier.
Bill Williams says
Stay away from these. There are better GF options. The nuggets didn’t brown, even with an extra 10 minutes, and the butter used as a binder was not enough to prevent these from tasting like chicken nugget sized lumps of flour.
Anna says
Hi Bill! I am sorry you didn’t like the chicken nuggets. You can use any gluten-free flour you like and/or are familiar with. Rice flour is just so easy to make at home and we liked the flavor and texture. If your nuggets tasted like “lumps of flour” then maybe you coated them too much. Try to shake of the excess next time. Also, adding 10 more minutes of baking time will dry out the meat and the nuggets won’t be tasty at all. Lastly, these nuggets won’t be as brown as once coated in breading.
Chris says
Just saw this recipe As I am Celiac it catches y eye when I see any recipes for Celiac. I already had cut up pieces from another dish so I will try this tonite. Chris
Debbie says
I tried this. They didn’t brown, and taste like raw rice flour. What did I do wrong? I can send a picture if you like. I did a 3nd batch with GF panko.They came out good. I think I prefer my recipe using eggs, GF panko and drizzling a little bit of oil on the nuggets before putting in the air fryer. Less oil is used. Thanks for the attempt at a new GF recipe.
emily says
Same here, mine didnt brown .
heather says
Oh wow this makes me want chicken nugget so badly! I love that these are gluten free too since my husband has Celiac Disease. Definitely going to try these!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
I hope he loves these! Thanks, Heather!
Sandra says
This is such a great idea! A new favorite for my kids!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Thanks, Sandra!
Abeer says
I love baked nuggets! They are so perfect for my kids!
Jacque Hastert says
Love that these are baked and not fried. Makes for a healthier dinner for the kiddos.
Demeter says
So easy to make in the air fryer! Great for busy weeknights!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Yes! So easy with the homemade rice flour.
Patricia says
I love the idea of making your own rice flour! Thank you for the info! Also, what a fab dish! So fun for the little ones & bigger ones, too!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Thank you, Patricia! I hope you will get a chance to make them!
Delaney says
My grandma would love these nuggets!
Jocelyn says
These are going to be my favorite thing!