Fry-Free Chicken Nuggets

What you need: 

• 1 1/2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons butter 
• 1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk 
• salt and pepper 
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Wash everyone's hands thoroughly.
3. Have your child measure breadcrumbs and pour them into the plastic bag or mixing bowl.
4. Next, measure Parmesan cheese and add to bread crumbs. Reseal bag and shake to mix thoroughly (or mix with a spoon in mixing bowl).
5. Melt butter in a small saucepan.
6. Place melted butter in a shallow bowl. Measure and add buttermilk. Sprinkle in salt and pepper. Mix well with spoon and set aside.
7. Help your child rinse chicken breasts and pat them dry with paper towels.
8. Place chicken breasts on cutting board. Parents only: cut chicken into 12 to 14 equal pieces.
9. Now let your child dip each chicken piece into the buttermilk mixture and turn to coat all sides. Let extra buttermilk drip off, and place 3 coated pieces at a time into bag of breadcrumbs. Seal bag and shake, or mix in bowl, until chicken pieces are evenly coated.
10. Place nuggets on an ungreased baking sheet. Repeat with all remaining pieces. Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw foods.
11. Bake nuggets 4 to 5 minutes, until golden on top side.
12. Parents only: Remove pan from oven. Use tongs or fork to turn over each nugget.
13. Return nuggets to oven and bake 4 to 5 more minutes until golden brown.
14. Parents only: Remove pan from oven. Using tongs or fork, move nuggets to plates. Serve immediately with BBQ sauce, ketchup, honey mustard, or other yummy sauces for dipping.

Learning benefits: 

• basic cooking skills
• math/measuring
• reading and following a recipe