Top Chicken Nugget Brands That Rule the Roost

Chicken nuggets have become a staple for many households, offering a quick and easy meal option for busy families or a nostalgic treat for those seeking comfort food. With a myriad of options available, choosing the best brand can be quite overwhelming. However, certain brands stand out due to their crispy textures, flavorful coatings, and quality chicken used in their products. Curious to discover which brands lead the pack in providing delicious chicken nuggets? Read on to find out more.

Illustration of chicken nuggets

Best brands of chicken nuggets in 2025

Tyson

Tyson Foods is a leading producer of chicken nuggets, holding a significant market share in the poultry industry. As of Q3 2024, Tyson Foods maintains a market share of 24.03% in the food processing sector, solidifying its position as one of the largest meat companies in the United States. The company produces approximately 37 million chickens per week and accounts for about 20% of the chicken sold in the U.S.. Tyson's extensive production capabilities and brand portfolio, including Tyson, Jimmy Dean, and Hillshire Farm, contribute to its dominance in the market. The company's commitment to operational excellence and cost structure improvements further enhances its competitive edge. For more information, visit their website.

Perdue

Perdue is a leading producer of high-quality chicken nuggets, committed to raising poultry on an all-vegetarian diet with no antibiotics, hormones, or steroids. Their chicken nuggets are made from 100% white meat chicken breast, with no fillers, and are available in both frozen and refrigerated forms. The company's Chicken Plus line, launched in 2019, blends white meat chicken with vegetables like cauliflower and chickpeas, making up about 20% of their pre-cooked, non-organic frozen nuggets, tenders, and patties. Perdue's products are known for their crispy, seasoned breading and are fully cooked for quick and easy preparation. With a history spanning over a century, Perdue continues to set high standards in animal care and product quality. For more information, visit their Perdue Original Chicken Breast Nuggets page.

Foster Farms

Foster Farms is a prominent producer of chicken nuggets, known for its high-quality and family-friendly products. Their Chicken Breast Nuggets Value Pack, for instance, contains 4 lbs of nuggets, with each serving providing 230 calories, 15g of fat, and 9g of protein. The nuggets are made from chicken breast with rib meat, and other ingredients like wheat flour and soy protein isolate. Foster Farms' products are widely available in various distribution channels, including supermarkets and hypermarkets, convenience stores, and online retail. The brand's commitment to quality and convenience has contributed to the growing demand for frozen chicken nuggets globally.

Applegate

Applegate is a leading producer of organic and natural meats, including their highly regarded chicken nuggets. Introduced in January 2012, Applegate Naturals Family Size Chicken Nuggets offer a convenient and healthier alternative, containing 180 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 210 mg of sodium per serving, significantly lower than conventional brands. These nuggets are made from farm-fresh chicken raised humanely and without antibiotics. The family-size package includes about 36 nuggets and is available nationally at Whole Foods Market and other grocery retailers that carry natural foods. With a suggested retail price of $9.99 for the 16 oz package, Applegate provides a guilt-free option for families.

Bell & Evans

Bell & Evans is renowned for producing some of the best chicken nuggets in the market, celebrated for their high quality and innovative production methods. Their breaded chicken breast nuggets are made from 100% whole breast meat, flash-fried in non-hydrogenated soybean oil, and have been a top choice for two decades, with their product winning several awards, including being named the best in a taste test and featured in Men's Health magazine and the Food Network. The company's commitment to antibiotic-free and air-chilled chicken sets it apart, and their new state-of-the-art facility further enhances their quality and efficiency. Bell & Evans' nuggets have been praised for their taste, texture, and lack of fillers, making them a favorite among consumers. The company has seen significant growth, such as a 122% increase in organic segment sales from 2003 to 2004.

Banquet

Banquet is a renowned brand in the frozen chicken nuggets market, known for its high-quality and minimally processed products made from 100% natural white-meat chicken, free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. In 2022, chicken nuggets, a category that includes Banquet's products, held a significant 35.83% revenue share in the global frozen chicken market, with a demand of 693.7 kilo tonnes. Banquet's chicken nuggets are popular for their ease of preparation, either by microwaving or oven-baking, making them a convenient and tasty treat. However, it is important to note that the brand has faced recalls due to potential contamination issues, such as the recall of approximately 245,366 pounds of frozen chicken strips in 2023.

Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's, although not ranked as the best, offers notable characteristics in their chicken nuggets. Their organic chicken nuggets are described as having a thick, golden breading that is somewhat crunchy, despite the meat inside being dry and a bit bland. The nuggets are lighter in color and have a peppery smell, with ingredients including dried garlic, dried onion, and paprika extract. However, tasters found the meat itself to be dry and grainy, with some comparing it to "chewed-up paper pulp" and "wet wood". The nuggets are priced at $4.99 and can be cooked quickly in the microwave. For more details on frozen chicken nugget brands, visit the taste test review by Serious Eats.

Kirkwood

Kirkwood, the brand offered by Aldi, is highly regarded for its chicken nuggets, particularly for their flavorful breading and compact, golden-brown appearance. Although the meat inside the nuggets can be dry, the breading is often praised for its deliciously sweet flavor, thanks to ingredients like brown sugar, dried garlic, and paprika extract. In a taste test, Kirkwood nuggets came in a close second to Perdue's, highlighting their quality and taste. The brand is also known for its other chicken products, such as boneless skinless chicken breasts, which are minimally processed and contain no added hormones or preservatives. Despite some drawbacks, Kirkwood's products remain popular among Aldi shoppers. For more details and a comprehensive review, you can explore the best chicken nuggets review.

Pilgrim's

Pilgrim's Pride has revamped its brand and introduced an innovative range of chicken nugget products, addressing the lack of variety in the frozen chicken market where chicken nuggets make up 40% of the segment. The company's new offerings include Loaded Nuggets in Chicken Pot Pie and Cheesy Jalapeno flavors, Mini Nuggets in Zesty Ranch, Buttery, and Original varieties, and Ultimate Nuggets described as "seriously flavorful, dangerously crispy, and perfectly seasoned." According to Circana data, 97% of new nugget products in the market differ only in pack size, highlighting Pilgrim's commitment to innovation. This move is part of Pilgrim's strategy to redefine chicken nuggets and make mealtime more exciting. With a significant market share, Pilgrim's Pride continues to be a leading poultry company, processing approximately 30 million birds a week.

Impossible Foods

Impossible Foods has established itself as a leading producer of plant-based chicken nuggets, with products that outperform traditional animal-based nuggets in consumer preference. In a blind taste test, 70% of consumers preferred Impossible Chicken Nuggets over a leading brand's animal-based nuggets, highlighting their superior flavor, texture, and appearance. Since their launch in 2021, Impossible Chicken Nuggets have become widely available, with plans to be in over 10,000 grocery stores by the end of that year and now expanding to select Whole Foods Market locations starting May 2024. These nuggets offer significant nutritional and environmental benefits, including no cholesterol, up to 35% less total fat, and 44% less water consumption compared to animal chicken. The company's commitment to sustainability and quality has made it the fastest-growing major meat-from-plants brand in US retail. For more information, visit their news release about Impossible Chicken's launch at Whole Foods Market.