Turn Basic Chicken Nuggets Into An Asian-Inspired Meal With This Condiment

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Crispy, crunchy, and perfectly tender, chicken nuggets are a go-to for many kids and adults alike. And while dressed nuggets are nothing new (we've been singing the praises of making your own easy saucy nuggets for a while), they're easily improved with an Asian twist. If you're in the mood for a veritable fried poultry flavor blast, you can upgrade frozen chicken nuggets by tossing them in teriyaki sauce as soon as you take them out of the oven or the air fryer. Teriyaki's balance of sweetness and saltiness works perfectly against the crispy canvas of a chicken nugget, and we have a feeling this dish will have you craving even more bold Asian flavors.

The hack is pretty simple. Cook your nuggets a little on the crispy side — this helps keep them from getting soggy after you hit them with the teriyaki sauce. Pour some teriyaki sauce into a bowl (you can make your own teriyaki sauce with just two ingredients if you don't happen to have any of the bottled version on hand), toss them, and serve immediately. If you prefer them with a bit of spice, drizzle some sriracha on top for good measure. Once they're good and saucy, the real nugget fun begins.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying your freshly tossed teriyaki nuggets on their own, but you can certainly add some additional Asian-inspired ingredients to round out your plate and create a more filling meal. To start, try topping off your teriyaki nuggets with a generous sprinkle of sesame seeds for some crunch. Green onions are a great topper too, and they add just the right amount of bite to stand up to the sweetness of teriyaki sauce. You might even incorporate some crunchy, fermented foods like pickled daikon radish or kimchi for crisp tanginess.

Enjoying your teriyaki nuggets over rice is a great, simple way to enjoy this Asian-inspired dish. Add in some steamed or stir-fried vegetables common in Asian cuisine — think napa cabbage, bok choy, snow peas, or even something like La Choy Sliced Bamboo Shoots. Add your vegetables and your teriyaki nuggets to a bowl of steamed or fried rice, and you'll have a homemade Asian-style meal on your dinner table in no time.