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These tortilla chip crusted chicken nuggets are crispy, golden brown, and packed with flavor thanks to a food processor full of crushed tortilla chips and a handful of bold spices. An easy, kid-friendly chicken recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights or even game day snacking! 30 minutes and 8 simple are all you’ll need for this fun recipe.
Table of Contents
- Tortilla Chip Crusted Chicken Nuggets Baked Recipe
- Why you’ll love this easy chicken recipe
- Watch me make this tortilla chip chicken nugget recipe
- Recipe tip
- Serving suggestions
- Meal prep & storage
- Substitutions, optional variations & dietary adjustments
- Frequently asked questions
- Tortilla Chip Crusted Chicken Nuggets – Easy Baked Recipe
- Save this recipe to Pinterest and make it later!
Tortilla Chip Crusted Chicken Nuggets Baked Recipe
If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for new ways to sneak a delicious chicken dish onto the dinner table that the whole family will actually eat.
These tortilla chip-crusted chicken nuggets check every box: crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and coated in a crunchy tortilla chip breading that tastes way better than anything from the freezer section.
My kids go crazy for these, and honestly? So do I!
Next time you’re craving a fun recipe with a little Tex-Mex flair, give this one a try.
It’s a perfect way to use up that half-empty bag of tortilla chips sitting in your pantry too!
Why you’ll love this easy chicken recipe
Handful of simple ingredients – You only need a handful of pantry staples: chicken breasts, corn starch, an egg, tortilla chips, and a few spices you probably already have on hand.
Baked, not fried – These chicken nuggets go straight from a baking sheet into a hot oven, so you get that golden brown, crispy exterior without a mess of oil on the stove.
Whole family approved – Kids love dunking these in their favorite dips, and adults love the great flavor from the taco-inspired seasoning blend. It’s a winner-winner dinner the whole family loves!
Great for meal prep – Make a double batch and reheat throughout the week for easy lunches, toss leftovers into a bowl with rice and veggies, or enjoy over salad!
Simple ingredients you’ll need
Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list and step-by-step instructions.
- Chicken breasts – Cut into nugget size pieces so they cook quickly and evenly.
- Corn starch – The first layer in our breading station – it helps everything else stick to the chicken.
- Egg – Beaten and used as the egg wash between the corn starch and the tortilla chip breading.
- Tortilla chips – Blended in a food processor until fine, these give the nuggets their signature crunch and delicious chicken dish flavor.
- Chili powder, paprika, garlic powder & sea salt – This simple spice blend gives the tortilla chip breading serious flavor without any extra work.
How to make tortilla crusted chicken nuggets
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Set up your breading station with 3 shallow dishes: one with corn starch, one with the beaten egg, and one with the blended tortilla chips mixed with chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
- Roll each piece of chicken first in the corn starch, then dunk it in the egg wash, then coat it in the tortilla chip breading, pressing gently so it sticks.
- Place the coated nuggets in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. *For extra crispy nuggets, spray with olive oil cooking spray before baking.*
- Bake for 15 minutes, flip, and bake for 5 more minutes, until the chicken reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F and the nuggets are golden brown and crispy.
- Dunk ’em in your favorite dips and enjoy!
Watch me make this tortilla chip chicken nugget recipe
The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!
Recipe tip
- Don’t skip the cornstarch layer – it’s what helps the egg wash (and the tortilla chip breading) stick to the chicken instead of sliding right off.
- Pulse the tortilla chips in the food processor until they’re fine crumbs. Larger chip pieces won’t stick as well and can burn before the chicken finishes cooking.
- Use a wire rack on top of your baking sheet if you have one on hand – it helps air circulate underneath the nuggets for extra crispy edges.
- A meat thermometer is the easiest way to know your chicken reaches a safe internal temperature without drying it out.
Serving suggestions
These tortilla chip crusted chicken nuggets pair wonderfully with:
- Sour cream or homemade ranch dressing for dunking
- Mexican rice
- A simple side salad
- Fresh cilantro and lime juice squeezed on top
- Hot sauce for the adults at the table
- Guacamole or salsa
Meal prep & storage
Store leftover nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-6 days.
To reheat, warm them in the oven or air fryer until heated through – this keeps that crispy tortilla chip breading from turning soggy in the microwave.
These also freeze well! Freeze cooled nuggets in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 6 months.
Substitutions, optional variations & dietary adjustments
Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this tortilla-crusted chicken recipe.
If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!
Chicken breasts – Chicken tenderloins or chicken strips to make chicken fingers work great here too, just adjust the bake time slightly depending on thickness.
Cornstarch – Swap the corn starch for arrowroot powder or a gluten-free flour to keep this recipe gluten-free.
Tortilla chips – Feel free to swap in your favorite flavor, like lime or spicy tortilla chips, for a different flavor twist. For a gluten-free option, double check your chip brand’s label. Don’t have chips on hand? Use bread crumbs instead.
Seasonings – Swap the spice blend for taco seasoning or fajita seasoning if that’s what you have in your pantry. Use different spices and herbs to try different flavors!
Cooking method – These can also be made in the air fryer at 400 degrees F for about 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and cooked through.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! You can bread the chicken nuggets ahead of time and store them in the fridge for a few hours before baking, or freeze them raw (breaded) for an easy freezer meal.
Yes, a food processor is the easiest way to get fine, even crumbs. A rolling pin and a zip-top bag work in a pinch too!
Make sure to press the chips firmly onto each piece of chicken, and don’t skip the corn starch and egg wash layers – they’re what help everything stick.
Absolutely! This is one of those fun recipes that gets kids excited about dinner, especially when they get to help with the dunking and dredging.
More family friendly dinner recipes you’ll love
Tortilla Chip Crusted Chicken Nuggets – Easy Baked Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb chicken breast, cut into nugget size pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 egg
- 4 oz tortilla chips, blended in a food processor
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Set up 3 shallow bowls: one with corn starch, one with beaten egg, and one with the blended tortilla chips mixed with the chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
- Roll each piece of chicken first in the corn starch, then the egg wash, then the tortilla chip breading.
- Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a single layer. *For extra crispy nuggets, spray with oil before baking.*
- Bake for 15 minutes, flip, and bake for 5 more minutes, until chicken is cooked through and nuggets are golden brown and crispy.
- Dunk 'em in dips and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Save this recipe to Pinterest and make it later!
If you try this easy recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!
XO
Heather
