McDonald's style chicken nuggets

McDonald's style chicken nuggets is a medium French recipe that serves 4. 430 calories per serving. Recipe by Chef Michel Dumas on YouTube.

Prep: 20 min | Cook: 35 min | Total: 1 hr 10 min

Cost: $14.05 total, $3.51 per serving

Ingredients

  • 1000 g Ground chicken (70 % breast, 30 % thigh) (Skinless, boneless)
  • 3 units Eggs (2 for the batter, 1 for the coating)
  • 15 g Onion powder (For the coating)
  • 15 g Garlic powder (For the coating)
  • 12 g Smoked paprika (10 g for the coating, 2 g for the Big Mac sauce)
  • 225 g Cornstarch (200 g for the coating, 25 g for the sweet‑salty sauce)
  • 200 g All‑purpose flour (For the coating)
  • 1 g Salt (About 1 g, adjust to taste)
  • 500 ml Frying oil (vegetable oil) (For a depth of about 1 cm)
  • 150 ml Water (sweet‑salty sauce) (Base of the sauce)
  • 150 g White sugar (For the sweet‑salty sauce)
  • 90 ml White vinegar (80 ml for the sweet‑salty sauce, 10 ml for the Big Mac sauce)
  • 50 ml Soy sauce (For the sweet‑salty sauce)
  • 30 g White onion (About ¼ of a small onion, finely chopped)
  • 100 ml Garlic mayonnaise (If you don’t have, prepare mayonnaise + 1 clove garlic)
  • 1 units Garlic clove (For the Big Mac sauce (if you make homemade mayo))
  • 15 ml Dijon mustard (For the Big Mac sauce)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken

    Remove the skin and bones, cut the breast and thighs into pieces, then coarsely chop the chicken. Set aside.

    Time: PT10M

  2. Blend the chicken with an egg

    Place the ground chicken in the food processor, add one egg, close the lid and blend until a homogeneous paste forms.

    Time: PT5M

  3. Form the balls and coat with starch

    With slightly damp hands, form balls of about 30 g. Roll them in cornstarch, tap to remove excess and set on a tray.

    Time: PT7M

  4. Prepare the coating

    In a bowl, mix 1 egg, 200 g flour, 10 g smoked paprika, 15 g garlic powder, 15 g onion powder and 1 g salt until a thick batter forms.

    Time: PT5M

  5. Heat the oil

    Pour the oil into a pan with a depth of 1 cm, heat to 350 °F (180 °C). Use a thermometer to check the temperature.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: 180°C

  6. Coat and fry the nuggets

    Pierce each ball in the centre with a fork, dip it in the coating, then gently place it into the hot oil. Fry 2‑3 min each side until golden, then turn once more for an additional 1 min.

    Time: PT12M

    Temperature: 180°C

  7. Drain and keep warm

    Remove the nuggets with a slotted spoon, place on paper towels, then put them in a 100 °F (38 °C) oven to keep warm.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: 38°C

  8. Sweet‑salty sauce

    In a saucepan, combine 150 ml water, 150 g sugar, 80 ml white vinegar, 50 ml soy sauce and 25 g cornstarch. Bring to a boil while whisking, then reduce heat until a smooth thickening is achieved.

    Time: PT10M

  9. Homemade “Big Mac” sauce

    Finely mince the white onion. In a bowl, mix the garlic mayonnaise, mustard, 10 ml white vinegar, 2 g smoked paprika and the minced onion. Incorporate well.

    Time: PT5M

  10. Plating and serving

    Arrange the hot nuggets on a plate, accompany with the sweet‑salty sauce and the Big Mac sauce. Serve immediately.

    Time: PT2M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
430
Protein
25 g
Carbohydrates
30 g
Fat
20 g
Fiber
2 g

Dietary info: non‑vegetarian, contains gluten, contains soy

Allergens: egg, milk (mayonnaise), gluten, soy, mustard

Last updated: April 7, 2026

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McDonald's style chicken nuggets

Recipe by Chef Michel Dumas

Homemade chicken nuggets, crispy and flavorful, reproducing the taste of the famous McDonald’s nuggets. Served with two homemade sauces – a creamy sweet‑salty sauce and a spicy “Big Mac” sauce – they offer a restaurant‑quality fast‑food experience, entirely made by hand.

MediumFrenchServes 4

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
44m
Prep
22m
Cook
10m
Cleanup
1h 16m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$14.05
Total cost
$3.51
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Prepare the chicken
  • Form the balls and coat with starch
  • Heat the oil
  • Coat and fry the nuggets
  • Sweet‑salty sauce

Safety Warnings

  • Very hot oil can cause severe burns – wear kitchen gloves and use a thermometer
  • Handle the knife carefully when cutting the chicken
  • Ensure the chicken reaches 74 °C (165 °F) internal temperature before serving

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