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    Homemade McDonald's Spicy Chicken Nuggets Recipe Made In Just 30 Minutes

    by Brendan Cunningham 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    If there's one thing that McDonald's knocks out of the park, it's their chicken nuggets, especially their spicy nuggets. Thankfully, with this recipe, you can make those same delicious spicy chicken McNuggets at home, and you only need a handful of ingredients and 30 minutes to do it! These copycat McNuggets aren't just super easy to make though, they're super delicious too. They've got a crispy crunchy exterior, a tender juicy interior, and just the slightest kick of spice that keeps you coming back for more after each and every bite.

    Spicy chicken McNuggets on a white plate with a container of dipping sauce in the background.

    Table of Contents

    • The Best Mcdonald's spicy chicken nuggets
      • Ingredients
      • How To Make McDonald's Spicy Chicken McNuggets
        • Step 1: Prep Work
        • Step 2: Bread The McNuggets
        • Step 3: Bake The McNuggets
        • Dipping Sauce Recipes
      • How To Store Spicy Chicken Nuggets
        • How To Reheat Chicken Nuggets
      • Wrapping It Up
    • More McDonalds Recipes
    • Homemade McDonald's Spicy Chicken Nuggets Recipe Made In Just 30 Minutes
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    The Best Mcdonald's spicy chicken nuggets

    The spicy chicken McNuggets from McDonald's are dangerously addictive. Honestly, I think they're probably the best of all McDonald's menu items. So it's no surprise they're so popular.

    Now, the only catch about the spicy McNuggets is that McDonald's only offers them for a limited time throughout the year.  And that's exactly why I decided to make a copycat version of them.

    Also, I may be a little biased, but I think this homemade version is even more delicious than the one you'd get at the restaurant. Just like my recipe for the classic McDonalds chicken nuggets is.

    Plus, these spicy nuggets are actually really easy to make at home. Just a few simple steps and about 10 minutes of prep are all they take. Then you just have to bake the chicken nuggets to crispy golden perfection and serve them with my McDonalds french fries and the dipping sauce of your choice - I'll go over a few delicious dipping sauces later on. 

    Oh, and since these are baked chicken nuggets, this recipe is way healthier than the spicy McNuggets you'd get from McDonald's!

    Spicy chicken McNuggets on a white plate with a container of dipping sauce in the background.

    Ingredients

    Believe it or not, you only need 6 ingredients to make these copycat spicy chicken McNuggets. All of which you could find at your nearest grocery store. Heck, you probably have all of them in your kitchen right now!

    Anyway, here's everything you'll need to make these homemade spicy chicken nuggets: 

    • 1 lb. chicken breasts cut into nugget shapes
    • 1 cup bread crumbs (regular or panko)
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese
    • ½ teaspoon chipotle seasoning or cayenne pepper
    • ¼ cup butter
    • Pinch of salt and pepper

    Pretty awesome, right? 

    And what's great about these ingredients is you can use almost every single one of them to make this McDonald's spicy chicken sandwich or these Zaxby's chicken fingers. So, if you end up with some extras, you'll definitely want to give that a try next!

    An assortment of ingredients for spicy chicken McNuggets including raw chicken, butter, breadcrumbs, and spices.

    How To Make McDonald's Spicy Chicken McNuggets

    As simple as the ingredient list is, the step-by-step process of making these spicy McNuggets is even easier.

    In fact, from start to finish the nuggets will take you less than 30 minutes to prep and cook.

    Anyway, now let's dive into how to make spicy chicken McNuggets!

    A bowl of bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and assorted spices on a white counter.

    Step 1: Prep Work

    First, before you do anything else, preheat the oven to 400° F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for later.

    Next, take out a large bowl and add the panko or regular bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and seasonings to it. Then, give it a mix until well combined.

    Tongs coating raw chicken nuggets in a bread crumb mixture.

    Step 2: Bread The McNuggets

    Now, if you haven't done so already, cut the chicken breasts into chicken nugget shapes - you can make them any size that you want. 

    Then, take the nuggets and dip them in the melted butter, and coat them completely in the breadcrumb mixture. 

    Repeat this dipping and breading method until all the McNuggets are breaded. 

    Uncooked spicy chicken nuggets on a baking sheet.

    Step 3: Bake The McNuggets

    After you bread each chicken nugget, place it on the baking sheet and sprinkle any remaining breadcrumb mixture on top.

    Now bake your spicy chicken McNuggets for about 20-25 minutes - or until the McNuggets are nicely golden brown, crispy, and fully cooked.

    You'll want the chicken to reach an internal temperature of 165°F.  

    Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, and enjoy!

    Cooked spicy chicken McNuggets on a baking sheet.

    Dipping Sauce Recipes

    Chicken nuggets are only as good as the sauce you pair them with. As promised, here's a list of delicious dipping sauce options that you can serve with these spicy nuggets:

    • Chick-Fil-A sauce
    • Big mac sauce
    • Wingstop ranch
    • Chipotle mayo
    • McDonalds schezuan sauce
    • McDonald's sweet and sour sauce
    • McDonalds breakfast sauce

    A bunch of chicken nuggets on a piece of parchment paper on a plate.

    How To Store Spicy Chicken Nuggets

    This recipe for McDonald's spicy chicken McNuggets will make about 4 servings or around 25 nuggets. So there will be plenty for you - and anyone you want to share with - for lunch, and maybe even some for dinner the later that day!

    Also, just so you know, these chicken nuggets are delicious leftovers, so you don't have to worry about making too many. In fact, I suggest making a double batch so you can freeze them to always have some spicy nugget delciousness on hand.

    Speaking of leftovers, to store these homemade chicken nuggets, just put them in an airtight container and you can store them in the fridge for up to 2 days.

    However, to keep them for even longer, you can freeze them. Just put the cooled chicken nuggets on a baking sheet and freeze them until solid. Then, once they're solid transfer them to a freezer-safe bag - or airtight container - for up to 3 months.

    Spicy chicken McNuggets on a sheet of parchment paper with a container of dipping sauce in the background.

    How To Reheat Chicken Nuggets

    To reheat your nuggets, just place them on a baking sheet and heat them in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes.

    Alternatively, you can also reheat them in an air fryer set to 400°F for 5 minutes or until thoroughly warm.

    Also, you can microwave your nuggets in 20-second increments until warm. This isn't my favorite reheating method though. The nuggets just don't stay as crispy as they do with the other reheating options.

    With all of that said though, whichever method you choose, you'll want to add on some extra time if you're starting from frozen chicken nuggets.

    And, of course, you can just eat the refrigerated chicken nuggets cold!

    Spicy chicken McNuggets on a white plate with a container of dipping sauce in the background.

    Wrapping It Up

    Well, that's how to make McDonald's spicy McNuggets at home!

    Now that you know how to make 'em yourself, there's no need to wait for McDonald's limited time serving them, to eat 'em!

    Anyway, if you give these copycat McNuggets a try, leave a comment below and let us know how it went.

    And, as always, don't forget to follow us on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram for more easy recipes. We post new ones every day on them.

    More McDonalds Recipes

    If you want to make some more McDonald's copycat recipes at home, we have a ton on the blog to try out!

    Check all of these recipes out:

    • McDonalds snack wraps
    • McDonalds McGriddle
    • McDonalds egg McMuffin
    • McDonalds steak bagel
    • McDonalds breakfast burrito
    Print

    Homemade McDonald's Spicy Chicken Nuggets Recipe Made In Just 30 Minutes

    Spicy chicken McNuggets on a sheet of parchment paper with a container of dipping sauce in the background.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    If there's one thing that McDonald's knocks out of the park, it's their chicken nuggets, especially their spicy nuggets. Thankfully, with this recipe, you can make those same delicious spicy chicken McNuggets at home, and you only need a handful of ingredients and 30 minutes to do it! These copycat McNuggets aren't just super easy to make though, they're super delicious too. They've got a crispy crunchy exterior, a tender juicy interior, and just the slightest kick of spice that keeps you coming back for more after each and every bite.

    • Author: Brendan Cunningham
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: McDonalds

    Ingredients

    Scale

    1 lb. chicken breasts cut into nugget shapes

    1 cup bread crumbs (regular or panko)

    ½ cup parmesan cheese

    ½ teaspoon chipotle seasoning or cayenne pepper

    ¼ cup butter

    Pinch of salt and pepper

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
    2. Mix the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and seasonings in a large bowl.
    3. Dip the nuggets into the melted butter, then coat them in the breadcrumb mixture.
    4. Place the chicken nuggets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle the remaining breadcrumb mixture on top. 
    5. Bake for about 20-25 minutes.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 285
    • Fat: 12
    • Carbohydrates: 19
    • Protein: 28

    Keywords: mcdonalds spicy chicken nuggets, mcdonalds spicy mcnuggets, mcdonalds spicy nuggets, mcdonalds spicy chicken nuggets, mcdonald's spicy chicken nuggets, spicy chicken mcnuggets recipe, mcdonalds spicy chicken nuggets recipe, mcdonalds spicy mcnuggets recipe, how to make mcdonald's spicy chicken nuggets, mcdonald's spicy mcnuggets ingredients,

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tyreek

      October 21, 2022 at 7:50 pm

      Yooooooooo these good!!!!’

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Nick

      October 22, 2022 at 10:11 am

      Amazing!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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