These crispy baked cornflake chicken nuggets are a healthy, homemade alternative to store-bought nuggets. Perfect for kids' lunches, family dinners, or meal prep. You can bake them in the oven or make them in the air fryer, and they freeze beautifully for later use.
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A Quick Look At The Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Cornflake Chicken Nuggets (oven bake or air fry)
🕒 Ready In: Prep Time - 10 minutes, Cook Time - 20 minutes
👪 Serves: 4
🍽 Calories: 447 calories per serving
🥣 Main Ingredients: Chicken Breasts, Flour, Egg, Cornflakes
📖 Dietary Info: High in protein, lower in fat when baked, kid-friendly, gluten-free option available, freezer-friendly for meal prep.
👌 Difficulty: Easy
Summarise & Save This Content On
These cornflake chicken nuggets are one of my kids' all-time favourite dinners. They're baked, not fried, making them a healthier homemade alternative to processed chicken nuggets.
They're also a great recipe to make with kids - from crushing the cornflakes to coating the chicken, it's hands-on, fun, and always a little messy.
I absolutely love using cornflakes as breading, the flavour and crunch is soo good!
- Chloe
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✔️ Why should you try it?
- Healthier than processed nuggets - baked, not deep-fried.
- Super crispy coating - cornflakes add unbeatable crunch.
- Oven or air fryer friendly.
- Freezer-friendly meal prep.
🛒 Ingredient notes
A full ingredients list along with Metric and US Customary measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Chicken Breasts - skinless and boneless, cut into large bite-sized chunks. Chicken thighs can be used instead for juicier nuggets.
Cornflakes - any brand works well. Crush them using a rolling pin in a food bag, keeping the crumbs fairly chunky for extra crunch.
Parmesan - finely grated Parmesan adds savoury flavour to the coating. Grana Padano is a great alternative.
Dried Thyme - adds a subtle herby flavour without overpowering the nuggets.
Smoked Paprika - I love smoked paprika and use 1 teaspoon for gentle smoky flavour and colour. Sweet paprika can be used instead.
Plain Flour - a light coating helps the egg and cornflake crumb stick to the chicken.
Eggs - two medium eggs, lightly beaten, help bind the coating.
Salt & Pepper - season to taste to enhance the overall flavour.
Need to substitute an ingredient?
Have an allergy or dietary preference? Let AI customise the recipe for you.
📖 Variations
Cheesy Nuggets - Add an extra 2-3 tablespoons of finely grated Parmesan to the cornflake crumb.
BBQ Nuggets - Add garlic powder and a little extra smoked paprika for a smoky BBQ flavour.
Herby Lemon Nuggets - Swap the thyme for mixed herbs or oregano and add a little lemon zest.
Spicy Nuggets - Add a pinch of chilli flakes or cayenne pepper for extra heat.
Gluten-Free Nuggets - Use gluten-free cornflakes or Rice Krispies and gluten-free plain flour.
Rice Krispies Nuggets - Swap the cornflakes for crushed Rice Krispies for a lighter, crispier coating.
Air Fryer Cornflake Nuggets - Cook at 200°C / 400°F for 15-17 minutes, spraying lightly with oil for extra crispiness.
🔪 Instructions
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
Prep: Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°F / Gas Mark 6, or preheat the air fryer to 200°C / 400°F.
One: Pat the chicken pieces dry with kitchen paper to help the coating stick.
Two: In a shallow bowl, mix crushed cornflakes (or Rice Krispies), grated Parmesan, dried thyme, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Three: Lightly dredge each chicken piece in plain flour.
Four: Dip the floured chicken into beaten eggs, ensuring it's fully coated.
Five: Press the chicken into the cornflake mixture so each piece is evenly coated.
Six: Oven - Arrange nuggets on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through. Air Fryer - Place nuggets in a single layer in the basket and cook for 15-17 minutes, shaking halfway through, until crispy and cooked through.
Top Tips
- Make sure each piece of chicken is fully coated in flour first, then egg, so the cornflake crumb sticks.
- Chicken thighs work well as a cheaper, juicier alternative to breasts. Cut all pieces roughly the same size for even cooking.
- Prepare nuggets ahead of time and keep on a tray in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Spray lightly with oil before baking or air frying for extra crispiness.
- Don't overcrowd the pan or air fryer basket - it prevents the coating from crisping.
- For a crunchier coating, press the cornflake mixture firmly onto each nugget.
- Frozen crumbed nuggets can be cooked straight from the freezer; just add 2-3 minutes to cooking time.
- Pair with fun dips like honey mustard, ketchup, or yogurt sauce to make them extra kid-friendly.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Serve these crispy cornflake chicken nuggets with healthy, family-friendly sides like roast potatoes, sweet potato fries, or carrot fries. Add a refreshing crunch with apple coleslaw or a simple green salad for a balanced, filling meal.
For a more classic comfort-food twist, pair with baked beans, cheesy potato wedges, or oven-baked fries. These combinations make a perfect kids' lunch, family dinner, or meal-prep-friendly option.
Storage
Store - cooked nuggets can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Make-Ahead - prepare and crumb the chicken in advance, place on a tray in the fridge, and bake or air fry when needed.
Freeze - uncooked, crumbed nuggets freeze well for up to 3 months. Bake or air fry straight from frozen, adding 2-3 extra minutes to cooking time.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Yes - you can swap in crushed Rice Krispies for a lighter, crispier coating, or use panko breadcrumbs.
Yes - you can crumb the chicken ahead of time and keep it in the fridge on a tray until you're ready to cook. This makes dinner prep easy and gives the coating a chance to set before baking or air frying.
Reheat in a 180°C / 350°F oven or in the air fryer for a few minutes until warm and crispy again. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the coating soggy.
Yes. Use gluten‑free cornflakes or Rice Krispies and gluten‑free plain flour to make the recipe gluten‑free.
Troubleshooting guide
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Coating falling off the chicken | Pat the chicken dry, dust with flour before egg, press the cornflake crumb firmly, and let the nuggets rest for a few minutes before cooking. |
| Nuggets not crispy | Avoid overcrowding the tray or air fryer basket, lightly spray with oil, and make sure the oven or air fryer is fully preheated. |
| Coating soggy after baking | Use dry chicken, avoid excess egg, and bake or air fry at the correct temperature (200°C / 400°F / Gas Mark 6) so the crumb crisps up. |
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Recipe
Baked Cornflake Chicken Nuggets
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Equipment
- Rolling Pin
- Baking Paper
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken Breasts cut into bite size chunks
- 125 g Cornflakes crushed
- 25 g Parmesan grated
- ½ teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- 2 Eggs beaten
- 3 tablespoon Plain Flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°F / Gas Mark 6, or preheat the air fryer to 200°C / 400°F.
- Pat the chicken pieces dry with kitchen paper to help the coating stick.4 Chicken Breasts
- In a shallow bowl, mix crushed cornflakes (or Rice Krispies), grated Parmesan, dried thyme, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.125 g Cornflakes, 25 g Parmesan, ½ teaspoon Dried Thyme, 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika, ½ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- Lightly dredge each chicken piece in plain flour.3 tablespoon Plain Flour
- Dip the floured chicken into beaten eggs, ensuring it's fully coated.2 Eggs
- Press the chicken into the cornflake mixture so each piece is evenly coated.
- Oven - Arrange nuggets on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through. Air Fryer - Place nuggets in a single layer in the basket and cook for 15-17 minutes, shaking halfway through, until crispy and cooked through.
Notes
- Variations: I sometimes use different seasonings to flavour the cornflake crumb. My personal preference is a mixture of dried thyme, Parmesan and smoked paprika, but cayenne pepper and chilli flakes would be good if you like things spicy.
- Air Frying: The cornflake chicken nuggets can also be cooked in an air fryer for 15-17 minutes.
- Make-Ahead & Freezing: Crumb the chicken ahead or freeze uncooked for up to 3 months; bake straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes.
- Cooking Tips: Pat chicken dry, press the crumb on firmly, don't overcrowd the baking tray or air fryer, and lightly spray with oil for extra crispiness if desired.
Laura Lynch says
The cornflakes really elevate these. They turn out so crunchy. Love it!
Beth Sachs says
We love them too!
Bronwyn says
Hi I have been using cornflake crumbs for ever and they make the crumbs so much better I use them on Lamb cutlets also should try them
Danielle Wolter says
We had thee this weekend and they came out so great! The chicken was juicy and flavorful, and I love how crunchy the cornflakes were.
Beth Sachs says
Glad you enjoyed them Danielle!
kim says
What a great recipe! This was so easy and tasty. The whole family gobbled up!
Beth Sachs says
One of my kids favourites!
Alexandra says
These were so crunchy and delicious, and easy to make! Love this recipe!
Gina says
These remind me of childhood, my mom used to make something very similar. Just love the crunch!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
These sound so delicious - with a lovely crunch! A healthy way for kids to enjoy chicken nuggets for sure.
Emily Liao says
These homemade nuggets were so good! Loved the cornflakes as it added such a delicious crisp texture to it.
Beth Sachs says
I'm so pleased you enjoyed them Emily!
Emily says
My kids loved these cornflake chicken nuggets! I love fuss-free kid friendly recipes like this, I'm keeping it in our rotation!
Beth Sachs says
Great to hear. My kids request these at least once a week!
Jessica Formicola says
I made these for my kids yesterday and they loved them! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Katie says
This looks like something that my family would love!
Rebecca - Glutarama says
You're a genius with that cornflakes idea. Just tried this for a topping for a tuna pasta bake I was making and it was DELICIOUS. Will now be giving these a go too.
Beth Sachs says
Such a good idea Rebecca. I might give that a go too!
Chloe Edges says
I absolutely love using cornflakes as breading, the flavour and crunch is soo good!
Michelle Rolfe says
Great quick dinner for after school! My teens love chicken done in panko but I'm sure they would love these as well. Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare. Michelle
Cat | Curly's Cooking says
These look absolutely delicious! My husband would eat the whole batch though!
Gumby says
Beth,
Your comment - "You can prepare the homemade chicken nuggets ahead of time, and pop them in the fridge on baking trays, until needed."
Do you coat them with the crumbs and spices and set them in the fridge unbaked? Doesn't this make the coating soggy? I'd like to make these the day ahead of when I plan to serve them.
Beth Sachs says
The oven will crisp the crumb up so you can definitely make it the night before.