Just 3 ingredients and 30 minutes is all it takes to make these cheesy crunchy baked Goldfish Chicken Nuggets that the kiddos will go crazy over!
Three Ingredients, Happy Kids
Three ingredients and 30 minutes gets you a great dinner that everyone will love! My Goldfish Chicken Nuggets are convenient, delicious and they get a rockstar dinner on the table with no fuss. If you have little ones in the house, you’ve probably always got these ingredients on hand. They’ll be ready to eat in no time!
Obsessed with Goldfish Crackers
Like most kids, mine are obsessed with goldfish crackers. They could eat a whole big box of them every day if I would let them. I do keep them around for special snacks, but I have to keep them hidden or else they would see them and be begging for them all day, every day! I don’t blame them; they’re awesome and addicting!
My boys also love chicken nuggets! They could eat them every day for lunch and dinner and be begging for more. We definitely eat our fair share of Chick-fil-A, but I also like baking chicken nuggets here at home for a healthier fix to their chicken nugget obsession.
A few weeks ago, I asked Baker what he wanted for dinner and he said “goldfish”! Of course, he did! I told him we don’t eat goldfish for dinner, so he then requested chicken nuggets. I wasn’t in the mood to haul them all to Chick-fil-A, so I decided to bake some at home and asked Baker if he wanted to help. He’s quite the little helper in the kitchen and it makes me so so happy!
Creative Cooking!
We didn’t have any panko on hand so I had to get creative and before we knew it, Baker was crushing goldfish to coat our chicken in. He was thrilled! Chicken nuggets coated in goldfish are like a dream come true for him!
Little pieces of chicken coated in creamy ranch dressing then covered in cheesy goldfish cracker crumbs before being baked to juicy crunchy perfection! These easy little nuggets were such a hit with the boys and myself! I couldn’t stop eating them. So, so yummy! I pretty much won my boys over forever with these tasty little nuggets. They’re a win for everyone!
Ingredients and Supplies
Ingredients:
- Boneless skinless chicken tenders: protein source that makes these nuggets filling. Cut into pieces the size of about two bites.
- Ranch dressing: adds a delicious tanginess to the chicken while helping the crushed Goldfish crackers stick to each piece. You can substitute Caesar dressing or a creamy Parmesan dressing for a slightly different flavor. Use your favorite store-bought dressing or make my homemade ranch dressing for even more flavor.
- Goldfish crackers: finely crushed Goldfish crackers create a crispy, cheesy coating that makes these baked chicken nuggets extra flavorful and fun to eat. You can substitute other flavors of Goldfish crackers, crushed Cheez-Its or even buttery Ritz crackers for a delicious variation.
Supplies:
How to Make Goldfish Chicken Nuggets
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken in the ranch dressing. Let set for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place the Goldfish crackers in a large resealable baggie.
- Crush finely.
- Shake excess dressing off each piece of chicken and place into the bag of crushed goldfish. Seal and toss chicken in the crushed goldfish until each piece is completely coated.
- Place nuggets evenly across the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and goldfish crumbs start to lightly toast.
- Serve with more ranch dressing for dipping, if desired.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover chicken nuggets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Make baked nuggets in advance and freeze them! To freeze, allow to cool completely after baking. Then place in the freezer in a single layer on a sheet pan or platter until just frozen. Remove from pan and place in a sealed container or baggie to return to the freezer for up to 2 months.
To reheat, place in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in the middle rack of the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes.
More Hot Meals in Minutes
Get family dinner on the table in about 30 minutes with My Favorite Hot Meals in Minutes. These delicious and quick dinner recipes are perfect for weeknight meals when time is short and the crowd is hungry.
If you make my Goldfish Chicken Nuggets, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see. If you’re on Facebook, be sure to join my Friends of The BakerMama group to connect and share all the fun and yummy recipes of mine that you make! 😍 I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the ideas I share. Enjoy!
xoxo,
Goldfish Chicken Nuggets
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Yield: 6
- Category: Main
Description
Just 3 ingredients and 30 minutes is all it takes to make these cheesy crunchy Goldfish Chicken Nuggets that the kiddos will go crazy over!
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken tenders, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 3 cups goldfish crackers, finely crushed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken in the ranch dressing. Let set for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, finely crush the goldfish in a large resealable baggie. Shake excess dressing off each piece of chicken and place into the bag of crushed goldfish. Seal and toss chicken in the crushed goldfish until each piece is completely coated.
- Place nuggets evenly across the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and goldfish crumbs start to lightly toast.
- Serve with more ranch dressing for dipping, if desired.
The chicken nuggets with the gold fish topping. You said ranch dressing. I was wondering if it was the liquid kind or the powdered. I love chicken and I look for easy recipes or few ingredients and not fried.
Hi, Debra! The liquid kind. It helps the coating stick! Hope this helps. ❤️
I was looking for something to do with a bag of smashed up goldfish and what do you know…10+ years later this recipe still slaps hah! My kids ate an entire chicken breast worth of nugs! Thank you!
Hi, Melanie! YES! Kid approved! I’m so glad they enjoyed them (and made your life easier 😂). Thank you for sharing!
I can count on one hand the foods my son actually eats and he couldn’t finish this fast enough. Thanks for sharing!
That’s so awesome, Danielle! Love that he loves them so much. My boys gobble them up too. 🙂
Maegan, These were a hit with my 5 kiddos! Thanks!
Yay Traci! That makes me so happy! Glad y’all loved them!
This one made my day! Such fun pictures. My boys would absolutely love these, such a great idea!