Kid-friendly sauce for chicken nuggets

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Shel_B

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Once or twice a month I make dinner for a neighbor's children. My neighbor sometimes gets called to work on short notice, so I keep a few items handy to cover these sometimes surprise dinner guests. There is an assortment of frozen veggies and rice in the freezer along with a big package of Costco chicken nuggets. Dinner can be thrown together in just a few minutes. The nuggets are a treat for the girls and I like 'em also.

Nuggets.webp


I'm looking for some recipes or ideas for a kid-friendly sauce for the chicken. I'd like to keep the sugar at zero, or at least very low, and the sauce can be flavorful but not hot. I've been using a very mild, commercial BBQ sauce, but it's time for more variety.
 
Shel_B said:
Once or twice a month I make dinner for a neighbor's children. My neighbor sometimes gets called to work on short notice, so I keep a few items handy to cover these sometimes surprise dinner guests. There is an assortment of frozen veggies and rice in the freezer along with a big package of Costco chicken nuggets. Dinner can be thrown together in just a few minutes. The nuggets are a treat for the girls and I like 'em also.

View attachment 267207

I'm looking for some recipes or ideas for a kid-friendly sauce for the chicken. I'd like to keep the sugar at zero, or at least very low, and the sauce can be flavorful but not hot. I've been using a very mild, commercial BBQ sauce, but it's time for more variety.
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Honey mustard is an inexpensive easy option. I use a packet of hidden valley ranch mixed with Fage or Chobani greek yogurt. I like to add chives or green onions. This tastes great and is way lower in fat and calories. I also like to make a greek yogurt cranberry dip with jalapenos but you can skip the jalapenos. Another is an Asian dip that's easy to make
  • 1⁄4cup soy sauce (60 ml) low sodium
  • 1⁄4cup rice vinegar (60 ml)
  • 2teaspoons sesame oil (10 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon of Honey or agave syrup
  • 1green onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons of Hoisin or Duck sauce for sweetness
Feel free to change the above ingredients around.
One last one that I make is a white balsamic strawberry vinaigrette. I use the wishbone cruet and mix the packet up then add strained pureed fresh strawberries. Goes great on greens or salads for picky eaters.
 
AZjeff said:
Our granddaughters use ranch dressing like we use ketchup only more. On pizza, french fries, fresh veggies and on...

Low calorie ranch dressing​

Plain 0% fat Greek Yogurt + Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing seasoning
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Bolthouse farms has bottled greek yogurt ranch, cucumber ranch, ceasar and a few others around 1.5 g fat per serving vs Hidden Valley bottled ranch is 12g fat per serving. Look for it in the refrigerated produce area.
 
97prizm said:
Bolthouse farms has bottled greek yogurt ranch, cucumber ranch, ceasar and a few others around 1.5 g fat per serving vs Hidden Valley bottled ranch is 12g fat per serving. Look for it in the refrigerated produce area.
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Thanks for the tip. I planned to make my own sauces, but Bolthouse seems worth considering. I'll look into their sauces, for sure.
 
Hermann said:
Those Kirkland chicken nuggets from Costco are good with Duck Sauce. Its like sweet and sour chicken.
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<Laughing> My sister just came for a visit from NYC and brought with her a bunch of duck sauce. I'll try the combination very soon. Thanks!
 
Plum sauce is pretty popular up here for chicken tenders and nuggets. I remember my son always had his chicken with that when he was little.

I personally have chicken nuggets with honey mustard sauce (I make my own sauce with basically the same recipe that Quiznos uses)
 
I make ranch all the time - 2 parts sour cream, one part Hellman's real mayonaise (or Dukes), diced scallions, diced fresh garlic, fresh dill in a very healthy amount - and enough buttermilk to get it as thin / thick as you like.

My guess is you don't have all that in your fridge for a rainy day. LOL.

How about Stubbs BBQ sauce - no corn syrup or other junk. Or ketchup? Or mix enough hot sauce with sour cream for just a bit of zip, but not much.
 
97prizm said:
Bolthouse farms has bottled greek yogurt ranch, cucumber ranch, ceasar and a few others around 1.5 g fat per serving vs Hidden Valley bottled ranch is 12g fat per serving. Look for it in the refrigerated produce area.
Click to expand...
Notice the low cal recipe uses no fat greek yogurt and a Hidden Valley seasoning packet not bottled dressing. 0g fat.
 
AZjeff said:
Notice the low cal recipe uses no fat greek yogurt and a Hidden Valley seasoning packet not bottled dressing. 0g fat.
Click to expand...
I noticed, and I liked the idea, I didn't know that Hidden Valley made a seasoning packet.
I'm not enthused about some of the ingredients, but I bet I could find or come up with a copycat version. In any case, I like the idea a lot.
 
Last edited:
AZjeff said:
Notice the low cal recipe uses no fat greek yogurt and a Hidden Valley seasoning packet not bottled dressing. 0g fat.
Click to expand...
1.5g is very low fat compared to alot of dressings. Yes the hidden valley ranch package and fat free greek yogurt work as well.
 
I'm not sure if I would use sauce if you want zero sugar. How about a dry spice you sprinkle on it?

Chinese 5 spices is not that spicy (I would classify it as low on the mild side). If you want it to be completely not spicy flannel seed, star anise grind in a mortar would probably do well.

There's also the Japanese rice seasoning made from seaweed that adds tons of umami, and only mildly sweet, completely not spicy.

My personal favorite is honey mustard but that is not sugar free.
 
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