Chicken Parm Bites

I have this thing about fast food--I don't find it all that fast...and I can usually do without the side of attitude that seems to accompany almost every meal. In a pinch (or to please D), I'll settle for a kid's meal, usually chicken nuggets [if you're stuck in a similar situation, Chick-fil-a  will upgrade your drink size when you opt out of a toy!] Naturally, my rare desire to indulge in such a meal came on a Sunday when no nuggets would be available. I raided my kitchen and opted instead to save both time and money and make an adult (but kid friendly) bite sized treat, chicken parmesan nuggets.

Chicken Parm Nuggets (makes about 2 dozen nuggets you can feel good about eating)

• 2 medium chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
• 1/4 c flour
• 1/2 c Italian style bread crumbs
• 1/4 c grated parmesan cheese
• 1 c marinara sauce (jarred or homemade)
• 1 egg, beaten with 1 tbsp water
• canola or olive oil cooking spray

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Add the flour to a medium shallow dish. Add the breadcrumbs + 3 Tbsp grated cheese to a second shallow dish. Beat the egg with the water in a small bowl. Coat the chicken first in the flour and shake off the excess. Dip the nugget into the egg mixture and then into the breadcrumbs. Shake off the excess. Place the nugget on a baking sheet. Repeat with all the chicken. Spray the sheet filled with chicken lightly with the cooking spray. Bake the nuggets for 15 minutes, flipping once halfway through.  Add the remaining cheese to the sauce to dip. 

This recipe in total takes about 20 minutes and can be served for a family lunch or dinner or even to entertain. The flavors are adult enough to feel a little fancy, but familiar enough to please even the pickiest of little eaters, too. Skip the drive-thru and make your own nuggets in just as much time. You can decide how much attitude to serve along side.