Baked Parmesan Chicken Nuggets

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 cup dried breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt (can substitute regular salt)
• Large pinch dried Italian seasoning
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces

Method

1. Preheat the ovenPreheat the oven to 450°F.Position a rack in the center.
2. Pat the chicken pieces dry:Pat the chicken pieces with paper towels. Patting the chicken pieces dry will help the chicken have crispy breading when baked.
3. Prepare the butter and breadcrumbs: In a small bowl, stir the minced garlic into the melted butter. In another bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley, salt, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and black pepper.
4. Dredge the chicken pieces: Piece by piece, dip the chicken pieces into the melted butter mix. Then dredge into the Parmesan breadcrumb mixture to coat. Note: if your chicken pieces are cold, they may cause the melted butter to thicken, leaving too much butter sticking to the chicken pieces. If you see this happening, just reheat the butter.
5. Place the chicken on the roasting pan: Place coated chicken pieces on to a 9- x13-inch (or larger) roasting pan. Try to leave a little room between each piece for air circulation. (You may need to use more than one roasting pan.) Drizzle with any remaining garlic butter.
6. Bake, then serve: Bake uncovered at 450°F for 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 165°F. Note that the chicken will get much more browned on the bottom side than on the top, especially if you’re using a non-stick pan. Let cool slightly before serving.