3-Step Chicken Zucchini Nuggets

Recipe posted in: Flex Meals & Snacks, Lunches & Dinners, Appetizers, Main Courses

Fast food and weight loss don’t typically go hand in hand. However, with this Nutrisystem-approved dish, you can enjoy homemade chicken nuggets that taste better than the drive-thru classic. We keep the “fast” in the fast food with this simple diet-friendly recipe that requires just three easy steps and six healthy ingredients. These crispy, lightened up chicken bites are so good, the whole family will want in on the nugget action!

An Easy Chicken Nugget Recipe

In addition to being a family-friendly dinner option, these Chicken Zucchini nuggets are a great snack for your party appetizer table. Serve them up with a sugar-free ketchup or barbecue sauce and watch as the platter disappears. Your guests will love this healthy spin on a fast food favorite and will be shocked when you tell them how easy they were to prepare.

For the first step, get started by placing two cups of grated zucchini into a cheesecloth or kitchen towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. In a large bowl, combine the grated zucchini with one pound of lean ground chicken, one teaspoon of cumin, one teaspoon of onion powder and a half-teaspoon of black pepper.

Finally, shape the mixture into nugget-sized pieces and place them on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time. For a faster alternative, you can sauté the nuggets on the stove top with olive oil for about five minutes per side.

Healthy Hacks

Feel free to mix up the flavor of your chicken nuggets with different herbs and spices! Go Italian with oregano and garlic powder or pump up the heat with cayenne pepper. Most spices and herbs are considered Free Foods on the Nutrisystem program, so you can use as much or as little as you’d like.

Pro Tip: Check out our extended Nutrisystem Grocery Guide for a comprehensive list of Free Foods and have fun experimenting with your favorite flavors.

One serving of these Chicken Zucchini Nuggets contains 118 calories (or 138 calories if using the optional olive oil). They count as one PowerFuel and half of a Vegetable serving on the Nutrisystem program. Add half of an Extra if you sauté them in the olive oil.

More Healthy Chicken and Zucchini Recipes

Love chicken nuggets? Click the link below to try out five more chicken nugget recipes that fit into your weight loss plan!

Love Chicken Nuggets? 5 Recipes You Need to Try Right Now

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The mild taste of zucchini makes it the perfect addition to many meals. Get inspired by these other nutrient-packed recipes:

Healthy, homecooked dinners are a great way to exercise your Flex meal muscles and practice for life after weight loss. However, it can be hard to prepare a meal every night with your busy schedule. That’s why Nutrisystem makes balanced meals that are perfectly portioned for weight loss! Even better, we deliver them directly to your door. Our menu is filled with tasty chicken and veggie dinners, such as our Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast and Chicken Enchiladas. Learn more about Nutrisystem weight loss plans!

Servings: 6

Calories per Serving: 118 (138 calories if using optional olive oil)

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 PowerFuel and ½ Vegetable

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. lean ground chicken
  • 2 cup grated zucchini
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • Optional: 1 Tbsp. olive oil if sautéing nuggets on stove top (Counts as ½ Extra per serving)

Directions:

  1. Place grated zucchini in a cheesecloth or kitchen towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
  2. In a bowl, combine zucchini, chicken, cumin, pepper and onion powder.
  3. Shape the mixture into nugget-sized pieces and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time. You could also sauté on the stove top with oil for 5 minutes per side.
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