These hidden veggie nuggets are always a smashing hit with little ones. A vegetarian chicken nugget that is super easy to make, incredibly healthy and best of all, looks exactly like the real chicken nuggets kids love.
Kids love nuggets. Moms love nuggets. Everyone LOVES nuggets! They’re crunchy, easy to pick up with tiny hands and so fun to dip into delicious sauces. But… I try to hold off introducing really unhealthy food to my daughter until she’s old enough to see them in other kids’ lunchboxes and bluntly request them. So my toddler has never tasted a chicken nugget and I intend to keep it that way for as long as I can! So I decided to put a healthy twist on of the beloved chicken nugget: this hidden veggie nugget is entirely vegetarian and loaded with nutritious vegetables.
How to Make Hidden Veggie Nuggets
These vegetarian “chicken” nuggets are incredibly easy to make. You pretty much put everything in a food processor and pulse! Then carefully coat with breadcrumbs. It only takes about 20 minutes total to prepare and bake.
There are 2 secrets to make these hidden veggie nuggets perfect.
- Add some cheese. It helps achieve that nugget like texture the kiddos love. It also adds structure: the nuggets hold up better when the little ones pick them up and dip them. Little ones can run around with a nugget in their hands without leaving pieces everywhere (tried and tested!). The cheese also gives the nuggets a lot of flavor and helps hide those sneaky veggies.
- Season the breadcrumbs with some paprika so they are golden brown. This is the hack that will make them look exactly like real chicken nuggets (and help in hiding the veggies!). A little paprika goes a long way in giving the crumbs some color.
Are the vegetables really sneaky in these hidden veggie nuggets?
The hidden veggie nuggets are so good and do not taste like veggies at all! In this version I used carrots and broccoli but you could totally experiment with other vegetables. If you have a picky eater who won’t touch anything green, you can totally replace the broccoli with cauliflower. The white color of the cauliflower crumble will make the veggies impossible to pick out even by the pickiest eaters.
If you want to experiment with other veggies, can add some spinach or even replace the carrots with butternut squash.
Are the nuggets completely vegetarian?
YES! There is no meat in these veggie “chicken” nuggets at all. But you’re allowed to call them chicken nuggets if it’s going to entice your toddler to eat them…
Hidden Veggie Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cup carrots shredded
- 2 1/2 Cups broccoli florets steamed bur crunchy
- 1/3 Onion chopped
- 1 Garlic clove roughly chopped
- 1 Cup cheddar cheese
- 2 Eggs
- 2 Cups breadcrumbs
- 2 Tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 Tbsp oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a baking pan and set aside.
- Add the onion and garlic clove to a food processor and pulse until almost pureed. Add carrots, broccoli florets, cheddar cheese, eggs, salt and pepper, and 1 1/4 cups breadcrumbs and pulse until everything is incorporated. Set aside.
- In a small bowl combine the remaining breadcrumbs with the paprika and some salt and pepper.
- With the help of spoon shape each nugget. Press firmly into the breadcrumbs so they get completely coated.
- Transfer to a baking pan. Brush all the nuggets with the oil and take to the oven.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until golden.
