Description
Baked homemade Dino Nuggets & Volcano Ketchup made with ground chicken, panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and a quick smoky-sweet ketchup dipping sauce. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and a family favorite that kids ask for again and again.
Ingredients
Dino Nuggets — Meat Mixture:
1 lb ground chicken breast
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
Coating:
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp paprika
2 large eggs, whisked
Cooking oil spray
Volcano Ketchup:
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Dash of hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
1. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup panko, milk, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir and let sit 1 minute to absorb.
2. Add the soaked breadcrumb mixture to the ground chicken in a large bowl. Mix gently with your hands until just combined. Do not overmix.
3. Line a 9×13-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Press the chicken mixture into an even layer about 1/2 inch thick. Top with another sheet of parchment and smooth gently.
4. Freeze for 60 minutes until firm enough to cut cleanly.
5. Remove from freezer. Peel off top parchment and use dinosaur cookie cutters to cut shapes. Place cutouts on a separate parchment-lined tray. Re-press scraps and cut more shapes, or form into round nuggets.
6. Preheat oven to 375°F. In one bowl, whisk together 1 cup panko, Parmesan, flour, and 1/2 tsp paprika. In a second bowl, whisk eggs.
7. Dip each nugget in the breadcrumb mixture, then the egg, then back in the breadcrumbs. Place on parchment-lined tray.
8. Spray tops generously with cooking oil spray. Bake 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and internal temp reaches 165°F.
9. While nuggets bake, stir together ketchup, honey, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and hot sauce (if using) in a small bowl.
10. Serve nuggets warm with volcano ketchup for dipping.
Notes
The freezer step is essential for keeping the dino shapes intact during coating and baking.
Use an instant-read thermometer to confirm the nuggets reach 165°F internally.
The volcano ketchup is mild without hot sauce — perfect for young kids. Add sriracha or Tabasco for adults who want some heat.
Cooked nuggets store in the fridge up to 3 days or freezer up to 3 months.
Air fryer option: 390°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Kid-Friendly Dinners
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 nuggets + 1 tbsp volcano ketchup
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 85mg