When it’s midnight, and your guests are hungry for something fun, make these Midnight Chicken Nuggets. They’re quick, easy, and super crunchy!

This week is all about sleepover foods. I don’t remember having many sleepovers when I was growing up. I can probably count on one or maybe two hands the number of them I had. But the few that I did have were pretty memorable.

I had a sleepover birthday party with my best friend in elementary school, Stacy. I can’t remember her last name, but I was devastated when she moved away. We did everything together. I told her everything I thought and felt and who I had a crush on. You, things girls did as best friends. And I look back fondly on that one night and wish I could have captured that friendship forever.

I remember it was a Friday and we stayed up to watch that music video show that was on late at night on Friday. For the life of me I can’t remember what it was called. But, we started to get hungry. And, well, with the parents in bed it was up to us to find something to eat. So, we did.

I grew up in a time where chicken nuggets were super popular. And all their dipping sauces were just awesome. Consequently, every time we went to that restaurant, I ordered their nuggets and that’s what I wanted to have at my birthday party. I know. I look back on it and wonder what I was thinking, but hey! I’m sure all kids go through phases like this.

So, there we were, standing in the kitchen, looking for the left over chicken nuggets and the sauces. We combined the honey mustard with the barbecue sauce, microwaved the nuggets, and happily sat and nibbled nuggets while watching videos like Duran Duran and other 80’s faves. Later that night, we lined up all my stuffed animals, took pictures, and then just died in our sleeping bags from all the fun.

Now, those nuggets looked NOTHING like these. And, I’m sure with my mad skills in the kitchen even at a young age, I would have been able to put together some delicious bites like these. It’s a simple, oven baked, chicken recipe and I was helping with fried chicken by that time. Not always cooking in the cast iron skillet, but usually dredging and prepping the chicken. Even if your kids aren’t old enough, these come together so quick and easy any parent would be happy to whip up a batch for the hungry guests.

The rest of the sleepovers were not as memorable. I remember being sick for one and sleeping through the movies before the midnight tag began, and the other one involved much loved Korean fried rice, which has been a staple fried rice recipe I’ve used for years.

What’s your most memorable sleepover? What did you serve?

Midnight Chicken Nuggets

Name: Midnight Chicken Nuggets
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound chicken tenders, cut into 2 inch pieces; 1/2 cup flour; 2 teaspoons garlic salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 1 cup toasted panko bread crumbs

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

When it's midnight, and your guests are hungry for something fun, make these Midnight Chicken Nuggets. They're quick, easy, and super crunchy!

Ingredients

1 pound chicken tenders, cut into 2 inch pieces
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup toasted panko bread crumbs

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400.
Combine the flour with the spices in a shallow dish.
Place the egg and the panko in shallow dishes.
Dredge the chicken in the flour, then the egg, then the panko before placing on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 400 for 10 minutes, turn the nuggets over, and bake an additional 10 minutes.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauces like honey mustard, ranch, or Buffalo.