The Best Frozen Chicken Nuggets, According to Our Taste Test

Who decided that chicken nuggets are for kids? Sure, they’ve never been exclusive to children’s menus and Happy Meals, but as adults, many of us have been steered away from considering them a “real” dinner. Well, we can say once and for all, chicken nuggets are for anyone, anytime, and anywhere (even at high-end restaurants, topped with caviar). 

You’re unlikely to come across a bad chicken nugget, but some are definitively better than others — juicier, crispier, and in some cases even more nostalgic. We tasted eight of the most popular frozen chicken nuggets side-by-side to determine the best ones for kids and adults alike. 

How we selected the chicken nuggets

We chose eight of the most popular frozen chicken nuggets on the market, all of which are widely available. This might be controversial, but to us, a true chicken nugget is made with ground chicken (think McDonald’s, not Chick-fil-A). To that end, we did not include any products that were breaded chunks of chicken breast, such as Bell & Evans Chicken Breaded Breast Nuggets or Just Bare Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Bites, which we felt would be too difficult to compare to the other fried chicken nuggets. 

How we tested

To prepare the frozen chicken nuggets, we followed each contender’s package instructions for baking (some brands had instructions for microwaving and air-frying, but we felt that baking was the easiest and tastiest way to compare them side-by-side). The chicken nuggets varied in baking times and cooking temperatures. Some called for them to be flipped halfway through, and some called for the pan to be greased. While these variables certainly had an impact on the end result, we wanted to taste the chicken nuggets exactly how the manufacturer intended.

The taste test was brand-concealed, meaning our editors did not know which products were which. They evaluated them on taste (the quality of the chicken, the balance of seasoning, and all-around yumminess) and flavor (juiciness of the meat and crispiness of the breading). Each editor also gave the chicken nuggets an overall score, representing their personal preferences and how likely they’d be to buy them again. The scores were averaged to determine the three chicken nuggets to rule all others. Read on for the results. 

Best overall: Pilgrim’s Ultimate Nuggets

Usually our editors’ preferences vary during these taste tests — we all have slightly different standards when it comes to what makes something, well, “good.” But this time, the top pick was unanimous: Pilgrim’s Ultimate Nuggets. “This has a really, really great chicken flavor. It’s juicy, savory, and tastes like moist, well-seasoned chicken,” commented news and trending editor Merlyn Miller. “It has enough distinction to taste like not-just-another-nugget, but isn’t trying to be fancy. This tastes like something I could have ordered out, in a good way,” said editorial director Dylan Garret. 

The Pilgrim’s nuggets were baked at 450°F for 20 minutes — the highest temperature and longest cook time of all the products we tasted — and flipped halfway through, resulting in an even, golden-brown, crunchy exterior. They’re seasoned well but simply, with salt and monosodium glutamate (MSG). 

These nuggets were so good that we were convinced they came from a more expensive brand, but at $11 for a 24-ounce bag, the price per ounce is comparable to popular brands like Tyson and Perdue. And don’t be fooled by their fun, modern packaging — Pilgrim’s has actually been around since 1946 and rebranded in 2024. The company has had some time to perfect its chicken nugget formula, and we can confidently say it has succeeded. 

Best budget nugget: Banquet Chicken Breast Nuggets

Banquet’s chicken nuggets surprised us. From appearance alone, they looked quite boring — small and round-ish, with a few flecks of black pepper and a light brown breading. But out of the contenders, these were one of the only nuggets we kept coming back to. After baking for 10 minutes at 400°F, we found that the breading was just crispy enough, though some of our editors noted one or two soggy spots — an unfortunate side effect of baking nuggets without flipping them, as instructed.

Each nugget had a hefty amount of chicken with a spongy texture, reminiscent of a fish ball. While some of our editors found this consistency pleasant, describing it as “QQ,” one editor compared it to  “poorly cooked tofu.” The chicken nuggets were seasoned with enough salt, but were mild enough that they’d make an ideal vehicle for dipping into sauce. Plus, a 32-ounce bag cost only $9, the second-least expensive chicken nuggets per ounce behind On-Cor. At that price, we’d easily keep them stocked in our freezers for an easy snack, whether it be for after-school or late-night.

Most nostalgic: Tyson Chicken Nuggets

Tyson and Perdue are the two most ubiquitous frozen chicken nugget producers, and in our taste test, they were neck and neck. But Tyson, with its salty flavor and thick breading, clinched the win. “It tastes like real chicken,” said senior editor Audrey Morgan. “I like the breading on this one,” added senior news editor Karla Alindahao. “There’s a very mild crunch that makes it more pleasurable to eat.”

These chicken nuggets tasted a bit processed — the interior was juicy enough, but there was a slightly tacky, sticky quality to the texture. But do you know what? We didn’t entirely mind it. Tyson’s chicken nuggets reminded us of the ones served to us in elementary school or at summer camp, smothered in ketchup and served alongside boxed orange juice. They’re pure nostalgia, and sometimes, that’s all a fully-formed adult could ever want in a chicken nugget.

The full list of contenders, ranked from highest to lowest

1. Pilgrim’s Ultimate Nuggets
2. Banquet Chicken Breast Nuggets
3. Tyson Chicken Nuggets
4. Perdue Panko Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets
5. On-Cor Chicken Nibblers
6. Yummy Dino Buddies Dinosaur-Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets
7. Soules Kitchen Chicken Nuggets
8. Applegate Naturals Chicken Nuggets