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The 6 Best Frozen Chicken Nuggets of 2024, According to Our Taste Test

Ready your ketchup

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best frozen chicken nuggets: 16 types of frozen chicken nuggets on parchment on a baking sheet
Taryn Pire

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.

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The Best Frozen Chicken Nuggets of 2024, at a Glance

1

Best Frozen Chicken Nuggets Overall

Great Value Fully Cooked Chicken Nuggets

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2

Best Frozen Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets

Perdue Panko-Breaded Dino Chicken Nuggets

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3

Best Gluten-Free Frozen Chicken Nuggets

Tyson Naturals Gluten-Free Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets

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4

Best Frozen Chicken Nuggets for a Crowd

Wellsley Farms Chicken Nuggets

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5

Best Spicy Frozen Chicken Nuggets

Just Bare Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Spicy Bites

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best frozen chicken nuggets: 16 bags and boxes of frozen chicken nuggets
Taryn Pire

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:

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taryn pire

Food Editor

  • Contributes to PureWow's food vertical
  • Spearheads PureWow's recipe vertical and newsletter
  • Studied English and writing at Ithaca College