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These salmon nuggets are a healthy and delicious way to get kids to enjoy this nutritious fish.

Making this recipe is easy and with the tips in this post, you’ll learn how to get that crispy texture everyone loves baked in the oven!

Homemade salmon nuggets in a bowl with dip in the middle

Baked Salmon Nuggets

If you're looking for a way to get your kids to eat more fresh fish, these simple baked salmon nuggets will do just the trick!

I love making these healthy nuggets because it's a great source of fish protein, Omega-3s, potassium, antioxidants, and healthy fats that are great for my kids' growing bodies.

All these salmon benefits in irresistibly crispy and cheesy nuggets you easily bake in the oven to enjoy for dinner, pack for lunch, or dip with your favorite sauce. Yes, this recipe is a keeper!

Ingredients

These salmon nuggets come together easily with basic staples and you can make them gluten-free with a few simple swaps. You’ll find the ingredient measurements at the end of the post, but first, check what you need:

Salmon: fresh or frozen. If frozen, thaw it before using it.
All-purpose-flour: regular or gluten-free.
Salt and black pepper: we need these two for seasoning.
Eggs: help the breading stick to the salmon.
Grated Parmesan cheese: make these salmon nuggets super crispy while masking the fishy flavor.
Panko bread crumbs: I have a great recipe for gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs made with rice cereal in a food processor. It's quick and creates the perfect, crispy breading for recipes like this.

Fresh or Frozen Salmon

For this Salmon Nugget recipe, either works just fine. I like to use frozen, it's easier to keep on hand and in many cases tastes just as good as the fresh option. When using frozen salmon, all you have to do is thaw it out and follow the recipe as shown.

If using fresh, make sure the skin is removed before cutting into nuggets and breading.

How to Make Salmon Nuggets

While my husband and I love salmon, my kids need a little more convincing to eat it. Hence, this recipe. For golden, crispy salmon nuggets, this process involves breading and coating. However, since we aren't frying anything in oil, assembly, and clean-up are easy. Here's what to do:

1. Preheat
You start preheating the oven to 450F.

2. Prep a baking sheet
You place a cookie cooling rack on top of a baking sheet or line the baking sheet with parchment paper, to keep the nuggets from sticking.

3. Prep the salmon fillets
You pat dry the salmon fillets with paper towels so the breading sticks to the meat. Remove the skin (if necessary) and cut the salmon into 1″ nugget-shaped pieces.

on the left, a salmon fillet. On the right, raw salmon cut into pieces

4. Line up the bowl
You line up 3 bowls or trays: one with flour, salt, and pepper, another with whisked eggs, and a third with parmesan cheese and bread crumbs.

5. Coat the salmon pieces
You dip the salmon pieces in each bowl. First, the flour, then the eggs, and finally, the breadcrumbs. You want to gently press the panko-parmesan mixture into the fish for a nice coating.

salmon pieces in a bowl with flour, another bowl with whisked eggs, and a third bowl with breadcrumbs

6. Prepare for baking
Once all the salmon pieces are breaded, place them on the prepared baking sheet. For golden salmon nuggets, spray olive oil spray over them or use a brush to give them a light coat of olive oil.

7. Bake
You bake the salmon nuggets for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown.

on the left, raw homemade salmon nuggets on a baking sheet. On the right, cooked salmon nuggets

8. Serve
Time to enjoy these nuggets with your favorite sides!

When it comes to making Homemade Chicken Strips, Copy Cat McDonald's Nuggets, or Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets and these Salmon Nuggets, I prefer baked over fried. It's healthier and way easier to clean up.

Watch how to make this recipe from start to finish in the video below:

Salmon Nuggets Vs. Mini Salmon Cakes

Compared to salmon nuggets, salmon cakes are made with finely chopped, cooked fish, breadcrumbs, shaped into patties and cooked stove top while these nuggets are whole pieces of fish, breaded, and baked. Both are super delicious and two very good reasons to eat more fish!

Can You Make Salmon Nuggets in the Air Fryer?

Of course! If you have an air fryer, simply add a teaspoon or two of oil and "fry" them as you would traditional chicken nuggets.

How to Freeze Homemade Salmon Nuggets

Freeze these salmon nuggets on a parchment-lined baking sheet; once frozen, transfer them to a labeled zip bag and freeze them for up to 3 months. To bake them later, add 3 minutes to the total baking time.

What to Serve with Salmon Nuggets

There are sooo many delicious ways to enjoy these salmon nuggets! They are perfect for an easy dinner with a simple salad, like this Healthy Sweet Potato Salad or this Cranberry Quinoa Salad. For a sheet-pan dinner, these salmon nuggets pair amazingly well with baked fries, roasted parmesan asparagus, or juicy roasted cherry tomatoes on the side.

You can also serve them with regular white rice or cheesy cauliflower rice. Want to dip the nuggets? My homemade Ranch dressing is a favorite at my house, but let me tell you that this Creamy Cilantro Lime Sauce will also make you drool!

Easy Salmon Nuggets (Oven Recipe)

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 18

Total Time: 23

These salmon nuggets are a healthy and delicious way to get kids to enjoy this nutritious fish.

4.97 from 52 votes

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Watch how it’s made:

Ingredients

1 lb skinless salmon fillets, about 4 pcs
½ cup all-purpose-flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
3 eggs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup Panko bread crumbs

Instructions

Prep:

Preheat the oven to 450F. Place a cookie cooling rack on top of a baking sheet or line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
Pat dry the salmon fillets with paper towels. Remove the skin if necessary and cut them into 1" nugget-shaped pieces.
Line up 3 bowls or breading trays. In one bowl combine the flour, salt, and pepper. In another bowl, whisk the eggs. And in the third bowl, combine the parmesan cheese with the bread crumbs.

Make the salmon nuggets:

Coat the salmon pieces in the seasoned flour and shake them to remove any extra flour. Dip into the egg bowl and then the Parmesan mixture, gently pressing the panko-parmesan mixture into the fish. You want a nice coating of this.
Place the breaded salmon pieces on the prepared baking sheet. Spray olive oil spray over all the salmon pieces or use a brush to give them a light coat of olive oil.

Bake:

Bake the salmon nuggets for 15 to 20 minutes until they're nice and golden brown. If the nuggets are directly on parchment paper and you want both sides of the nuggets to crisp up, remove them from the oven halfway through, flip them, spray the second side, and finish cooking them.

Serve:

Enjoy these salmon nuggets hot with your favorite sides.

Storage:

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350 for about 6 minutes or the air-fryer at 340 for 6 minutes.