It's Crazy Cooking Challenge time! This month's challenge was FRIED CHICKEN. To be honest, this month's challenge truly was a challenge for me ... 'cause I'm not a fry-er. Nope. I prefer to bake my chicken, and leave my frying to KFC!
But the point of The Challenge is to step outside our comfort zone and try new things, right? So, a-steppin' I went.
I gave several fried chicken nugget recipes a try, and fell in love with these Honey Chicken Nuggets from Yummy Inspirations. Of course, being a beekeeper, I was instantly intrigued that the nuggets were marinated in honey. I'm always on the lookout for new recipes using honey.
And the honey in these chicken nuggets far exceeded my expectations! First, it made the chicken so super tender. Usually I use the ol' southern trick of marinating my chicken in buttermilk, which makes it wonderfully moist and tender. Well, I now know that honey does the same thing! And second, the honey gives a delicious sweetness to the flavor of the nuggets. Mmm, mmmm, good. I didn't expect the honey flavor to come through so much in the finished nuggets.
I actually liked the nuggets best dipping sauce-less. But you can also serve 'em up with a quick-and-easy honey mustard dipping sauce on the side. All I do for my honey mustard is mix together a little spicy brown mustard and pure honey, using a little more honey than mustard. It's so good! And so easy.
So, if you're looking for a really tender and wonderfully flavorful chicken nugget, give these little 'honeys' a try! (I know, I know ... bad pun ... I just couldn't help myself.)
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Pan-Fried Honey Chicken Nuggets
Source: Adapted from Yummy Inspirations
1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 T. honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. panko bread crumbs
Pinch of salt
Oil for frying
Marinate the chicken:
Cut the chicken into 'nugget-sized' pieces. Place chicken pieces in a shallow bowl drizzle with honey; stir to coat. Place chicken in the refrigerator to marinate in the honey for at least one hour.
Prepare the breading process:
Place beaten egg in a bowl. Combine flour, panko, and salt in a pie plate or ziptop baggie (I like the baggie method, but either way works just fine!).
Bread the chicken:
Remove a piece chicken from the honey marinade and dip it in the egg.
If using a pie plate for your flour mixture - Roll the egg-dipped chicken nugget in the flour mixture, coating completely; set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces.
If using the ziptop baggie method - Drop the egg-dipped chicken nugget into the baggie. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces. Once all chicken pieces are in the baggie, seal the baggie. Gently shake the baggie, ensuring that all chicken pieces get completely coated.
Fry the chicken:
Heat a little oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, place the nuggets in the pan and cook until golden on both side and cooked through, approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side.
Enjoy!
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Enjoy visiting the other Crazy Cooking Challenge participants through the linky party below. Mmmmmm ... Looks like there are some fabulous fried chicken choices!