I might be the world’s biggest fan of frozen lightly breaded chicken breast bites. I’ve tried every version from every store both baked and air fried. I’ve used them to make everything from chicken parm sandwiches and chicken caesar wraps to honey sesame chicken and breakfast burritos.
And in this post, you’ll find all my creations using frozen chicken nuggets in one place. Just keep scrolling and get ready for the ideas to flow.
One quick note before you get to the recipes. My two favorite frozen chicken breast nuggets are Kirkland and Just Bare. Perdue Farms also makes a completely baked nuggets product that’s quite good, and it might be the only option that doesn’t set the breading by frying.
The recipes below work with any frozen chicken bites. Most call for air frying, but there are a few that bake the chicken alongside veggies on a sheet pan. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Take a look for yourself!
1. Firecracker Chicken and Broccoli
An easy sheet pan recipe for roasted broccoli and crispy baked chicken nuggets with a sweet and spicy firecracker sauce. This combo makes great rice bowls with sliced green onion and toasted sesame seeds.
- Calories: 475
- Protein: 33g
- Carbs: 61g
- Fat: 12g
Recipe: Firecracker Chicken Nuggets and Broccoli
2. Chicken Caesar Wraps
Chopped chicken nuggets and romaine lettuce, light caesar dressing, crunchy parmesan crisps, and shaved parmesan are wrapped in high fiber tortillas.
- Calories: 305
- Protein: 27g
- Carbs: 31g
- Fat: 14g
Recipe: High Protein Chicken Caesar Wraps
3. Bang Bang Chicken and Brussels Sprouts
Frozen chicken bites and brussels sprouts are baked together on sheet pans then finished in a low calorie bang bang sauce. Served over rice with green onions and toasted sesame seeds, this combo makes amazing protein bowls.
- Calories: 310
- Protein: 25g
- Carbs: 26g
- Fat: 14g
Recipe: Bang Bang Chicken Nuggets and Brussels Sprouts
4. Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches
Frozen chicken nuggets make surprisingly great chicken parm, and these sandwiches are the perfect example. Air fried nuggets are stuffed inside sandwich rolls, topped with marinara and cheese, and finished right in the air fryer.
- Calories: 670
- Protein: 50g
- Carbs: 59g
- Fat: 26g
Recipe: Air Fried Chicken Parm Sandwiches
5. Chicken Alfredo Lasagna
Layers of chopped chicken nuggets, blended cottage cheese alfredo, lasagna noodles, and cheese. So creamy, cheesy, and rich for a high protein lasagna.
- Calories: 500
- Protein: 43g
- Carbs: 31g
- Fat: 24g
Recipe: Protein Packed Chicken Alfredo Lasagna
6. High Protein Dynamite Chicken
A 5-ingredient recipe for air fried nuggets tossed in a low calorie sauce that’s creamy, tangy, sweet, and spicy. Great for snacking or making protein bowls with rice and roasted veggies.
- Calories: 230
- Protein: 22g
- Carbs: 15g
- Fat: 10g
Recipe: Dynamite Chicken Nuggets
7. Crispy Chicken Breakfast Burritos
Frozen chicken nuggets are baked on a sheet pan alongside frozen hash browns then wrapped in flour tortillas with cheese and scrambled eggs before toasting in a pan until golden brown.
- Calories: 365
- Protein: 25g
- Carbs: 31g
- Fat: 16g
Recipe: Chicken Breakfast Burritos
8. Crunchy Buffalo Ranch Chicken Wraps
Creamy buffalo ranch coleslaw, leafy greens, cheese, and chopped air fried chicken nuggets are wrapped in tortillas or flatbreads.
- Calories: 400
- Protein: 40g
- Carbs: 50g
- Fat: 17g
Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Nuggets Wraps
9. Chicken Flatbread Pizza
Chopped nuggets are tossed in a Calabrian chili pepper, balsamic, and honey sauce then baked on a flatbread with fresh mozzarella cheese.
- Calories: 395
- Protein: 32g
- Carbs: 35g
- Fat: 16g
Recipe: Calabrian Chicken Flatbread Pizza
10. Not-So-Fried Chicken Tacos
Think: fried chicken tacos without all the calories. Chopped chicken nuggets on cheese crusted tortillas with pickle de gallo and low calorie ranch.
- Calories: 275
- Protein: 19g
- Carbs: 22g
- Fat: 13g
Recipe: High Protein Baked Chicken Tacos
11. Korean BBQ Chicken Tacos
Crispy chopped chicken is tossed in a homemade gochujang BBQ sauce and served on cheese crusted tortillas.
- Calories: 310
- Protein: 21g
- Carbs: 32g
- Fat: 11g
Recipe: Crispy Korean Chicken Tacos
12. Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta
Protein pasta and creamy blended cottage cheese pesto, crispy baked and chopped chicken nuggets, parmesan, and pistachios.
- Calories: 420
- Protein: 30g
- Carbs: 46g
- Fat: 14g
Recipe: Creamy Pesto Cottage Cheese Pasta
13. Honey Chipotle Chicken Sandwiches
Homemade sticky sweet and spicy honey chipotle sauce is perfect for coating air fried or baked chicken nuggets. This recipe sandwiches the sauced chicken inside a toasted baguette with low calorie ranch spread, pickle de gallo, and a honey drizzle.
- Calories: 495
- Protein: 32g
- Carbs: 75g
- Fat: 9g
Recipe: Honey Chipotle Chicken Sandwiches
14. Honey Chipotle Chicken Tacos
The same honey chipotle sauce makes amazing chicken tacos when combined with warmed tortillas, guacamole, pickled onions, and queso fresco.
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 23g
- Carbs: 42g
- Fat: 11g
Recipe: Air Fried Honey Chipotle Chicken Tacos
15. Honey Chipotle Chicken Bites
Tacos and sandwiches are great, but there’s nothing wrong with serving the honey chipotle chicken on their own with fries or other appetizers.
- Calories: 250
- Protein: 22g
- Carbs: 30g
- Fat: 7g
Recipe: Honey Chipotle Crispy Chicken Bites
16. Black Pepper Chicken and Peppers
Air fried nuggets and bell peppers are tossed in an umami black pepper sauce. Perfect for making rice bowls.
- Calories: 265
- Protein: 24g
- Carbs: 27g
- Fat: 8g
Recipe: Air Fryer Black Pepper Chicken
17. Chicken and Waffles
What better way to add more protein to protein waffles than topping with air fried or baked chicken nuggets? And my 3-ingredient protein pancake mix in this recipe makes high protein waffles a breeze.
- Calories: 380
- Protein: 36g
- Carbs: 40g
- Fat: 8g
Recipe: High Protein Chicken and Waffles
18. Buffalo Chicken and Cauliflower Bowls
Sheet pan crispy buffalo chicken nuggets and ranch roasted cauliflower are served with mixed greens, fresh veggies, low calorie ranch, and blue cheese crumbles.
- Calories: 465
- Protein: 42g
- Carbs: 39g
- Fat: 18g
Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken and Cauliflower Bowls
19. Sweet and Sour Chicken Nuggets
Air fried frozen chicken nuggets, bell pepper, and onion are tossed with a low calorie sweet and sour sauce and served with rice.
- Calories: 200
- Protein: 15g
- Carbs: 22g
- Fat: 6g
Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken
20. Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Chickpea pasta, buffalo pasta sauce, blue cheese crumbles, and chicken bites make a great high protein pasta option.
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 24g
- Carbs: 29g
- Fat: 12g
Recipe: Easy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Final Thoughts
I hope this post inspires you to get creative with frozen chicken nuggets. You can easily customize the frameworks like sheet pan nuggets plus a veggie, tacos, sandwiches, and stir fries with your own sauces and pairings. Let me know in the comments if you have an idea or recipe you’d like to share.
And if you’re a fan of this roundup and easy high protein meals, be sure to check out my collections of high protein rotisserie chicken recipes or protein bowls next.
