When you’re in the mood for a fun, flavorful, and healthier twist on a classic comfort food, Baked Teriyaki Chicken Nuggets are the way to go. These crispy, golden nuggets are packed with sweet and savory teriyaki flavor, offering the perfect combination of crunchy exteriors and tender, juicy chicken inside, all without the need for deep frying.
What sets these chicken nuggets apart is the teriyaki sauce. While traditional nuggets often get their flavor from breadcrumbs or seasonings, these are marinated in a rich teriyaki glaze. The sauce, with its balance of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a touch of sweetness from honey or brown sugar, infuses the chicken with layers of umami flavor. After baking, the chicken nuggets take on a slightly caramelized, sticky coating that’s irresistible.
The best part about Baked Teriyaki Chicken Nuggets is how easy they are to prepare. Simply cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, marinate them in the sauce, coat with breadcrumbs or panko for extra crunch, and bake until golden. You’ll get the crispy texture you crave from fried nuggets, but without all the oil and mess. Plus, because they’re baked, they’re much lighter and healthier, perfect for serving as a snack, an appetizer, or a main dish.
These nuggets are incredibly versatile too. Serve them with steamed rice and a side of vegetables for a full meal or offer them with a tangy dipping sauce, like extra teriyaki or even a creamy garlic sauce, for a fun snack. They also make great additions to salads or wraps, adding protein and flavor in every bite.
Whether you’re preparing a weeknight dinner for the family or looking for a crowd-pleasing appetizer, Baked Teriyaki Chicken Nuggets bring big flavor with minimal effort. They’re a delicious, guilt-free alternative to traditional fried chicken nuggets, and they’re sure to be a hit with both kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless (450 g) , skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce (120 ml)
- 1/4 cup honey (60 ml)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp ginger grated
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (120 g)
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (30 g) , grated
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- In a small bowl, whisk together the teriyaki sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger.
- In a separate bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper.
- Dip each chicken nugget into the teriyaki sauce mixture, then coat it in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing down gently to adhere the breadcrumbs.
- Place the coated chicken nuggets onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or sprayed with cooking spray.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the chicken nuggets are golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve the baked teriyaki chicken nuggets with additional teriyaki sauce for dipping, if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
The garlic and ginger really make it taste “restaurant-y.” I served it with rice and broccoli and everyone went back for more.
Baked teriyaki chicken nuggets? Sounds weird but I gave it a shot. They were actually pretty good!
These nuggets are so tasty! I can’t believe how easy they were to make! My kids loved them. 😍
Easy and yummy! But what is panko? Can I use regular crumbs?
Nuggets = happiness! Can’t wait to make these again!
Absolutely! You can’t beat homemade nuggets! I also added some chili flakes for a kick. So good!
My husband said they tasted like cardboard, but I think he’s just picky. I liked them!
Maybe he was too critical! I thought these were delicious, why not try seasoning them differently next time?
These are ok, nothing special. Chicken’s chicken, i guess.
These chicken nuggets are amazing! My kids loved them!
I’m so glad you liked them! They were a hit at my party too! 🎉
Really? I tried making them and they turned out kind of dry. Maybe I did something wrong?
So I followed the recipe but my chicken was still kinda pink. Is that normal?
Baked? Who has time for baking? Just buy them frozen. 😂
I followed it pretty much exactly, but mine tasted a little too sweet. I’ll reduce the honey next time or add more garlic/ginger to balance.
These were fantastic! My kids loved them, and I loved how easy they were to make. Definitely a keeper!
Okay… I may have measured the honey wrong (oops). Mine came out sweeter than planned, but my kid still loved them. Fix the ratio and it’s probably perfect.
Ha! I’ve totally done the “oops” honey thing too 😅 If it’s sweeter, I’d just nudge the honey down a bit next time and keep the rest the same—probably spot on like you said.
What’s teriyaki?? Sounding fancy and complicated… is it spicy? I don’t want my chicken to be spicy!!
Are you sure this is teriyaki? When I think teriyaki, I think soy sauce, not honey.
These nuggets were a hit at my family dinner! Very tasty!
I used soy sauce instead of teriyaki and they were still good! Experiment, folks!
These nuggets are super yummy! My kids loved them and asked for seconds.
I’m so glad to hear your kids loved them! These nuggets are a hit in our house too! 😋
These nuggets are liiike sooo good! But I had some trouble with the sauce… it’s sticky. 😂
This is just chicken and breadcrumbs, not real teriyaki. Disappointed.
These turned out way better than I expected—crispy outside, juicy inside. The honey-teriyaki combo is chef’s kiss. Will make again for sure.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about baking nuggets with panko only. But it actually browned nicely. I added a tiny bit more pepper and it popped.
I tried this and it was good, but mine didn’t brown as much at 425… maybe my oven runs cool? I left them like 20 min and still kinda pale, lol.
Honestly same—panko-only sounds like it’d get dry, but “golden brown” is what I want. I’ll definitely try adding a bit more pepper though.
I don’t think this recipe is authentic. Teriyaki chicken is usually grilled, not baked.
Not bad, but 425°F seems high—my nuggets browned fast before the middle was fully done. I ended up adding ~5 minutes. Still tasty though.
Honestly, I think this is just fried chicken in disguise. Not buying it.
Teriyaki? What’s that? I used BBQ instead lol! Still got eaten!
BBQ is good too! As long as it tastes good, right? 😄
Super easy to make! Even I could do it and I’m not a chef.
I made these last night and my kids loved them! Super easy and taste so good. Thanks for sharing!
I tried making these but they didn’t turn out crispy at all. Maybe I did something wrong.
Did you make sure to press the breadcrumbs on really good? That helps them get crispy! I love these nuggets!
Yummy! But I think I need more sauce. Teriyaki could be a little more kicky, u know?
Just made it. My husband said they were ‘kinda bland’. Maybe more salt next time? 🤔
I think adding more salt could really enhance the flavor! You might want to also try some garlic powder or even a dash of soy sauce for extra taste! 😊
Bland? Really? I thought they were good. Maybe your taste buds are off? 😂
I wasn’t sure about the honey. Seems weird for chicken. But they turned out good!
Wow! Who needs takeout when you can make these at home! Yum!
Totally agree! This sounds way better than takeout. Can’t wait to try it!
Yummy!! I would never thought of honey and teriyaki together!
Just okay, they turned out a bit dry. I think I overbaked them.
Good but needed more flavor. I added some chili flakes. Next time, I’ll marinate the chicken longer.
Chili flakes? Really? I think that might ruin the teriyaki taste. It’s supposed to be sweet, not spicy! 🤔
I think marinating longer is a great idea! Flavor is everything in chicken, right? Thanks for sharing your results!
These are the best chicken nuggets ever! My kids loved them!
The sauce dip smelled amazing, but mine got kinda sticky and the coating fell off a bit. Next time I’ll pat the chicken dry first and maybe spray the tops.
That sticky issue totally makes sense—if the chicken has extra moisture, the sauce can glue the panko instead of letting it crisp. Patting dry first is a great call. I’d also try not over-dipping (like quick dunk), and make sure the nuggets aren’t touching so they brown evenly.
Great recipe! Serve with rice and veggies for a full meal. Love it!
Meh. The teriyaki sauce is good, but coating everything by dipping was messy and slow. Frying might be the move for me.
Didn’t have parmesan so used cheddar. Still turned out yum! 🙂
Cheddar is a bold choice! Glad it turned out! Gonna try it too. 😄
My chicken was undercooked after 15min… next time longer cook needed.
Delicious! I added sesame seeds on top before baking. Yum!
What can I use instead of panko? I can’t find it anywhere!!
You can use regular breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes. They work pretty good too!
I tried using oat flour once and it was a disaster. Just stick to bread crumbs!!!
Easy recipe! I used chicken thighs instead and they were juicy. Great for a quick dinner. 😋
I followed the recipe but my chicken turned out dry. I think I maybe overbaked them? Not sure if I’ll try again.
These nuggets are amazing! So juicy and full of flavor. My kids loved them!
I tried these last night and my family didn’t like them as much. They thought they were a bit too sweet. 🤷♂️
These nuggets came out crispy and were gone in minutes! Definite keeper!
I don’t know about baking chicken nuggets. They should be fried, right?
These turned out way better than I expected—crispy on the outside but still juicy. The teriyaki-honey sauce is a winner. Will make again.
I tried this recipe and it was super easy! But they got a bit soggy. Maybe I didn’t bake long enough?
I added some chili flakes to the teriyaki sauce for a spicy kick, yum! Definitely gonna make these again!
Baaaaked chicken nuggets? No thanks. I like them fried! 😂
Fried is definitely good, but have you even tried these? They’re surprisingly tasty! 😋
Nah, baked will never be as yummy as fried. You can’t change my mind! 😂
The honey makes it too sweet for my taste. I prefer less sugar. Might try it without next time.
They turned out too dry for me. I think I baked them too long. Next time I’ll keep a closer eye on them.
Good flavor, but mine got a little sticky and the coating slid off some pieces. Next time I’ll let the sauce drip for a few seconds before dredging.
Oh wow, so easy to make! The kids loved them, especially with extra sauce.
I used BBQ sauce instead of teriyaki. Still tasted great! Gonna experiment more.
That’s a cool twist! BBQ sauce is always a good backup. Can’t wait to see what else you try!
So flavorsome! Can you replace chicken with tofu? Gonna try it next time.
Kids ate it all 😅
Nuggets?? They don’t even look like chicken!! what are panko breadcrumbs?? LOL
I was skeptical about dipping in sauce first—felt like it would get soggy—but the panko held up. Tasty and honestly better than frozen nuggets.
Good flavor, but mine didn’t brown as much as I expected. Next time I’ll spray the tops more (I only did the pan) and maybe bake 2-3 minutes longer.
I don’t know, 425°F seems kinda high. My oven is old and burns stuff like crazy.
5 stars for the idea, 3 stars for the execution… my oven runs hot so they browned fast. Still, they were good. Also i used whatever teriyaki sauce i had so, yeah 😅
What are panko breadcrumbs? Can I use regular ones?
Panko breadcrumbs are a type of Japanese breadcrumb that are crispier than regular ones! You can use regular ones, but they won’t give you the same crunch. Just try it with panko for the best results!
Yummm, best nuggets ever!! Gonna make again for sure!
Very delicious! Made them for a party and everyone asked for the recipe. Will make again!
Very easy to follow but took longer to cook than stated. They were still good tho.
I had the same issue! Took longer than expected, but they were super tasty! Maybe my oven’s slow? 🤔
Followed the recipe to the tee but they didn’t turn out like the pic…
Not gonna lie, mine stuck to the parchment a little and the coating fell off on a few pieces. Could be operator error, but I’d love clearer guidance on spray amounts.
Ugh, that’s annoying—but yeah, it’s probably the timing/amount of sauce and how hard the coating is pressed. I usually spray the nuggets lightly again before baking so the panko “sets.” Also make sure the parchment is flat and not wrinkled.
I love the flavors, but I think 12 minutes was a little short for my chunks. I baked closer to 18 and they were perfect. Still super tasty.
Followed the steps pretty much exactly. I didn’t press the breadcrumbs hard enough at first, but once I did, they browned nicely. Great quick weeknight meal.
My kids devoured these. I served with rice and cucumber like those takeout bowls, and everyone asked for seconds. Easy weeknight win.
Panko breadcrumbs? What even are those? Can I just use regular ones?
Is teriyaki even a real sauce? Can’t believe people eat this. Not for me.
I’m not usually a fan of baked nuggets, but these were crunchy enough. Would be even better with a spicy mayo dip!
Way too sweet for me. The honey + teriyaki combo was kind of dessert-ish, so I cut the honey in half next time. Still good though.
Totally get that—honey can push it into “dessert-ish” territory with teriyaki. Cutting it in half is a great fix. Did you notice if it also made the coating less sticky/browned?
I’m not good at cooking, but even I made them right! Thanks for the clear steps!
These came out really crisp for being baked! The teriyaki-honey glaze smells amazing while it cooks. I used a little extra ginger and it was perfect.