Why You’ll Love This these Golden Crispy Chicken Croquettes
These golden beauties are basically comfort food in croquette form, combining tender chicken with creamy sauce and a satisfying crunch that’ll make you wonder why you don’t make them more often.
The recipe transforms simple ingredients into something that feels fancy enough for company but easy enough for a Tuesday night when you’re craving something special.
Plus, they’re perfect for using up leftover chicken, though to be frank, you might find yourself cooking chicken just to make these little golden nuggets of joy.
Ingredients List
Here’s everything you’ll need to create these crispy, golden treasures that’ll have your kitchen smelling absolutely divine.
- 16 (18 ounce) cans cooked chicken, drained
- 1 cup onion, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 cup fine dry breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons water
Let’s be real about the health factor here, because these aren’t exactly salad material:
- The deep frying adds calories, but you can shallow fry or even bake them if you’re watching your oil intake.
- All that butter and milk creates the creamy texture we love, though you could swap in low-fat milk without losing much.
- The protein from chicken is solid, and you’re getting some nutrients from the onions and spices.
- They’re surprisingly filling, so a few croquettes might satisfy you more than you’d expect.
Step by Step Directions
These chicken croquettes come together through a simple process of making a creamy base, refrigerating the mixture, then coating and frying until golden.
- Combine the drained chicken and finely chopped onion in a bowl and set aside.
- Melt butter in a saucepan, then add flour and blend until smooth to create a roux.
- Gradually add chicken broth and milk to the roux, cooking until the mixture thickens.
- Remove from heat and stir in parsley, lemon juice, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and paprika.
- Add the chicken and onion mixture to the sauce and mix thoroughly.
- Refrigerate the mixture for at least 1 hour until firm enough to handle.
- Preheat oil to 340°F while the mixture refrigerates.
- Roll the refrigerated chicken mixture into balls between 1 and 1½ inches in diameter.
- Beat the eggs with 2 tablespoons of water in a shallow bowl.
- Dip each ball into the egg mixture, then roll in fine dry breadcrumbs until completely coated.
- Carefully place the coated croquettes into the hot oil.
- Fry for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and heated through.
For efficient preparation of the roux and sauce mixture, a professional stand mixer can help achieve perfectly smooth consistency.
Substitutions and Variations
- Go gluten-free – substitute the flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend, and use gluten-free breadcrumbs, because everyone deserves crispy croquettes regardless of dietary restrictions.
- Make them cheesy – fold in some shredded cheddar or parmesan before refrigerating, though fair warning, cheese makes the mixture a bit stickier to work with.
- Bake instead of fry – place them on a greased baking sheet at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes, turning once, for a lighter version that still gets reasonably crispy.
Additional Things to Serve With This Dish
These crispy little golden nuggets pair beautifully with so many sides, you’ll never run out of delicious combinations.
- Creamy mashed potatoes – because honestly, what doesn’t taste better when you can scoop it up with a forkful of buttery potatoes.
- Simple green salad – the fresh crunch cuts through all that rich, crispy goodness and makes you feel like you’re being healthy.
- Roasted vegetables – carrots, Brussels sprouts, or green beans work perfectly, especially when they’re caramelized and slightly crispy around the edges.
- Rice pilaf or wild rice – the nutty grains soak up any leftover sauce or gravy you might serve alongside.
- Cranberry sauce – sounds weird maybe, but that sweet-tart flavor is absolutely magical with the savory chicken.
- Steamed broccoli with butter – classic comfort food pairing that never disappoints, plus the bright green looks pretty on the plate.
- Dinner rolls or biscuits – because sometimes you just need more carbs to make everything perfect, and who’s going to judge you for that.
Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)
Trust me, these little golden beauties are worth every bit of effort, and a few insider tricks will make your croquettes absolutely perfect.
- Chill that mixture longer if you can – I know the recipe says one hour, but two or three hours makes rolling so much easier, and you won’t end up with chicken mixture stuck to every surface in your kitchen.
- Wet your hands slightly when rolling – this prevents the mixture from sticking to your palms, though not too wet or you’ll mess up the coating process later.
- Double-coat for extra crunch – dip in egg, roll in breadcrumbs, then dip in egg again and roll in breadcrumbs one more time because life’s too short for soggy croquettes.
- Don’t overcrowd the oil – cook maybe four or five at a time, otherwise the temperature drops and you get greasy, sad little balls instead of crispy golden perfection.
- Use a thermometer for the oil – guessing at 340°F usually means you’re either burning the outside while the inside stays cold, or cooking them so slowly they absorb half the oil.
- Drain on paper towels immediately – but only for about 30 seconds, then move them to a wire rack so the bottoms don’t get soggy from sitting in their own steam.
- Serve them hot – these are definitely best right out of the oil when that coating is still crackling and the inside is steamy and tender.
Nutritional Facts
Based on the full recipe yielding approximately 24 croquettes, here’s the nutritional breakdown per serving:
- Calories: 145 per croquette
- Protein: 18g (excellent source of lean protein)
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 1g
- Calcium: 45mg
- Iron: 1.2mg
- Vitamin A: 125 IU (from paprika and butter)
- Vitamin C: 2mg (from lemon juice)
Fun “Did You Know?”
Beyond the impressive nutritional profile, chicken croquettes carry fascinating stories that’ll surprise you.
I uncovered they originated in 18th-century France as “croquettes,” meaning “to crunch.” French chefs created them to transform leftover meats into elegant appetizers for aristocratic parties. The technique spread globally, with each culture adding unique twists.
In Japan, they’re called “korokke” and often filled with potatoes. I find it amazing that what started as a practical solution for food waste became a beloved comfort food worldwide.
Today’s croquettes maintain that same spirit—turning simple ingredients into something special that brings people together around the table.
