If you have a picky eater at home (or you’re often in need of last-minute, low-lift dinners for lazy weeknights), odds are, frozen chicken nuggets are a staple in your kitchen. But before you settle for a brand you already know—or whatever’s on sale—hear us out: These protein-packed morsels differ greatly from bag to bag. To find the best frozen chicken nuggets for every need, we tested a variety to bring you the tastiest, crispiest and juiciest of the bunch. Read on for our six favorites.
The 6 Best Frozen Chicken Nuggets of 2024, According to Our Taste Test
Ready your ketchup
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How We Chose the Best Frozen Chicken Nuggets
We rounded up 16 types of frozen chicken nuggets from ten popular brands, then prepared them all in a conventional oven according to package instructions. Then, we determined our favorites for every palate by ranking them on the following five factors:
- Value: Are the frozen chicken nuggets worth what they cost given their ingredients and taste?
- Quality: Are the frozen chicken nuggets made with authentic ingredients (or weird fillers)?
- Flavor: Do the frozen chicken nuggets taste good, and like the package claims?
- Crunch: Are the frozen chicken nuggets crispy on the outside? Is the breading crunchy or soggy?
- Juiciness: Are the frozen chicken nuggets tender and juicy on the inside? Are they dry or mealy?
Read on for the six best frozen chicken nuggets, according to our taste test.
Best Frozen Chicken Nuggets Overall
1. Great Value Fully Cooked Chicken Nuggets
What We Like
- very juicy and large
- affordable
What We Don’t Like
- could be crunchier
Great Value
- Value: 20/20
- Quality: 17/20
- Flavor: 18/20
- Crunch: 18/20
- Juiciness: 19/20
TOTAL: 92/100
No shade, but we were kind of shocked to find that Walmart’s store brand came out on top. Incredibly juicy and tender, decently crispy and well-seasoned, these nuggets made from breast and rib meat are bigger and more affordable than many others we tested. Best of all, they’re a steal at 18 cents per ounce, and each bag boasts a whopping 11 servings. Pass the ketchup, will ya?
Best Frozen Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets
2. Perdue Panko-Breaded Dino Chicken Nuggets
What We Like
- juicy and decently crisp
- kid-friendly
What We Don’t Like
- could be more flavorful
Perdue
- Value: 19/20
- Quality: 18/20
- Flavor: 17/20
- Crunch: 18/20
- Juiciness: 18/20
TOTAL: 90/100
One bite of these prehistoric nugs and we’re transported to our elementary school cafeteria. Made from breast and rib meat and without added hormones or steroids, these bites are seasoned with garlic, onion and white pepper for a mild, kid-friendly taste. Affordable, juicy and coated in crispy breading, they’re sure to satisfy even the pickiest (or should we say discerning) tykes at your table. (P.S.: If you value crunch more than anything, dinosaur-shaped nuggets are the way to go. We found that the tiny, craggy legs and heads turned out significantly crispier across the board compared to round nuggets.)
Best Gluten-Free Frozen Chicken Nuggets
3. Tyson Naturals Gluten-Free Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets
What We Like
- very crunchy gluten-free breading
What We Don’t Like
- take a long time to bake
Tyson
- Value: 18/20
- Quality: 17/20
- Flavor: 18/20
- Crunch: 19/20
- Juiciness: 19/20
TOTAL: 91/100
Most chicken nuggets are coated in a wheat-based breading or batter, so if you’re allergic, you’ll need to shop for a gluten-free variety. Luckily, there are a handful to uncover at the supermarket, including this impressively crunchy number. Made with breast and rib meat, the nuggets are coated in a breading of corn, rice and brown rice flours that’s seasoned with garlic and onion. They’re also free of added hormones and steroids and have juicy, succulent interiors.
Best Frozen Chicken Nuggets for a Crowd
4. Wellsley Farms Chicken Nuggets
What We Like
- great bargain
- large quantity for big-batch preparation or crowds
What We Don’t Like
- lacking crispness
Wellsley Farms
- Value: 20/20
- Quality: 16/20
- Flavor: 17/20
- Crunch: 15/20
- Juiciness: 19/20
TOTAL: 87/100
This massive five-pound bag from BJ’s is just right for a game-day crowd or large family. The breast-and-rib-meat nuggets are coated in corn flour breading. While they’re super juicy, large and decently seasoned, they lack a bit in the crispness department. Nevertheless, you can’t go wrong with a dinner that costs 46 cents per serving. If you’re looking for a bargain that won’t disappoint flavor-wise, this is it.
Best Spicy Frozen Chicken Nuggets
5. Just Bare Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Spicy Bites
What We Like
- flavorful and well-seasoned
- high quality meat
What We Don’t Like
- lacking crispness
Just Bare
- Value: 19/20
- Quality: 19/20
- Flavor: 18/20
- Crunch: 15/20
- Juiciness: 19/20
TOTAL: 90/100
If you regularly douse your chicken nuggets in sriracha or chipotle mayo, these fiery bites are right up your alley. Made with all white meat (and without added hormones or steroids), these nugs are seasoned with a “spice extractive,” aka salt, paprika and celery seed, to satisfy your spicy cravings. These tasted the most like “real” chicken in our opinion, and they’d be great for a wrap or sandwich. They do take 23 minutes to cook through (most nuggets we tested took 10 to 13), but we promise they’re worth the wait—if you can take the heat, that is.
Most Kid-Friendly Frozen Chicken Nuggets
6. KidFresh White Meat Chicken Nuggets
What We Like
- high-quality meat
- contains hidden vegetables
What We Don’t Like
- small size
- mild taste
KidFresh
- Value: 18/20
- Quality: 20/20
- Flavor: 17/20
- Crunch: 18/20
- Juiciness: 18/20
TOTAL: 91/100
These frozen chicken nuggets have a whole wheat flour breading that masterfully disguises puréed cauliflower and onion, so you may think your picky eater won’t enjoy them—but we promise they’ll be none the wiser. Made with white meat only, these bites boast a slightly sweet, oniony flavor that’s decidedly kid-friendly. Their small size is also great for younger eaters, while their moist interior and crispy breading appeal to adults just as well.
Honorable Mentions
We tested many more frozen chicken nuggets than those listed. While the aforementioned brands are our favorites, here are some honorable mentions that are also worth adding to your cart, in alphabetical order:
- Banquet Original Chicken Nuggets
- Target Good & Gather Chicken Breast Nuggets
- Target Good & Gather Whole Grain Dinosaur-Shaped Nuggets
- Trader Joe’s Chicken Drummellas
- Tyson Dino Fun Nuggets
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The PureWow100 is a scale our editors use to vet new products and services, so you know what’s worth the spend and what’s total hype. Learn more about our process here.