Country Fried Pork Nuggets
Country fried pork nuggets are bite-sized pieces of tender pork coated in a perfectly seasoned breading and fried until golden and crispy. This easy, down home comfort food makes a family-friendly meal that’s guaranteed to disappear fast!
Move over chicken nuggets, there’s a new game in town.
That’s right — country fried pork nuggets are it!
They are a mash up of pork chops, chicken nuggets, and chicken fried chicken in one comfort food dish that would make anyone’s Southern grandma proud.
Each crispy nugget has a crunchy, well-seasoned coating that gives way to tender, juicy pork and is perfect for dunking in white country gravy.
They’re just as delicious served with mashed potatoes and gravy as they are with fries, coleslaw, or your favorite dipping sauces for a more casual meal.
And they can be on the table in under 45 minutes!
Ingredients
To make the country fried pork nuggets themselves you’ll need:
- Pork– A pork loin trimmed of fat and cut into 1″ pieces.
- Buttermilk– If you don’t have buttermilk, make your own by stirring 1.5 teaspoons of white vinegar into 1.5 cups of milk.
- Hot sauce– This is optional. It doesn’t add a ton of heat, just a background of warmth.
- Egg
- Flour– All purpose
- Seasonings– Smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper
- Canola oil– For frying
And for the country gravy you’ll need:
- Frying oil– Reserve 3 tablespoons to make the gravy.
- Flour– All purpose
- Milk– Whole is best.
How to Make
The country fried pork nuggets are easy to make!
Start by season the prepared pork pieces with salt and pepper and then set them aside.
Then fill a large heavy bottomed pot with oil until there oil is 3-4 inches deep.
Heat it to 375°.
While the oil comes to temperature, whisk together the buttermilk, hot sauce, and egg in a small mixing bowl to evenly combine.
Whisk the flour, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper together in a separate bowl to evenly combine.
Dunk the pork pieces in the buttermilk mixture, letting the excess drip off.
Then dredge them in them in the flour mixture, turning to evenly coat.
Shake off any excess flour and transfer them to a waiting plate.
Let the pork pieces rest for 10 minutes while the coating dries some.
Then fry small batches of the pork nuggets for 4-5 minutes or just until golden brown, crispy, and completely cooked through.
Once the nuggets are golden brown and cooked through, carefully remove them from the hot oil with a slotted spoon.
Let them rest on a paper towel lined plate.
Repeat until all the pork’s done.
Serve with white country gravy.
How to Make White Country Gravy
Once you’ve fried all the pork nuggets, carefully discard all of the hot oil, except for 3 tablespoons.
Set the remaining oil in the pot on the stove over medium low heat.
Whisk three tablespoons of flour to the remaining oil and drippings until everything is evenly combined.
Stir in two cups of milk and cook, whisking often, until the mixture thickens to your liking.
Serve warm with the warm pork nuggets.
Storing
Store the leftover pork nuggets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Store any leftover gravy in its own airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat the pork nuggets, warm them on a tray in a hot oven to crisp the breading back up.
To reheat the gravy, transfer it to a pot on the stove over medium low heat.
Heat it, stirring often, over medium low until the gravy is warmed through.
Because the gravy will thicken in the fridge, you’ll likely need to stir in some milk to thin it back out.
Tips and Tricks
- If you are concerned about this being spicy, both the hot sauce and cayenne pepper are optional.
- Make sure to cut the pork into more or less equal sized pieces.
- Do not overcrowd the oil or the pork nuggets won’t cook evenly.
- Putting the cooked nuggets on paper towel lined plates prevents the pork from getting soggy as the paper towels will absorb some of the excess.
Other Country Fried Recipes
Country fried pork nuggets with gravy are a fun way to enjoy classic Southern flavors.
Make them and enjoy!
Looking for other country fried recipes?
Try these:
If you’ve tried these COUNTRY FRIED PORK NUGGETS, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Country Fried Pork Nuggets (With Gravy)
Ingredients
For The Fried Pork Nuggets
- 2 lb pork loin trimmed of fat & cut into 1" chunks
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 1 tsp hot sauce optional
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper optional
- salt & pepper to taste
- canola oil for frying
For The White Country Gravy
- 3 tbsp frying oil
- 3 tbsp flour
- 2 cups milk
Instructions
To Make The Pork Nuggets
- Season the prepared pork chunks with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.2 lb pork loin
- Add oil to a large heavy bottomed pot until it's 3-4 inches deep, and heat to 375°.canola oil
- While the oil's heating add the buttermilk, hot sauce, and egg to a small mixing bowl. Whisk together to evenly combine. To a separate bowl add the flour, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Whisk together to evenly combine.1 1/2 cups buttermilk, 1 tsp hot sauce, 1 large egg, 2 cups flour, 2 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, salt & pepper
- Coat the pork chunks in buttermilk, letting the excess drip off, then dredge them in flour- turning to evenly coat. Gently shake off any excess flour, then transfer them to a waiting plate and let the coated pork pieces rest for 10 minutes while the coating dries some.
- Working in batches so you don't overcrowd them, fry the pork nuggets for 4-5 minutes- just until golden brown, crispy, and completely cooked through. Using a slotted spoon carefully remove them from the hot oil and transfer them to a paper towel lined plate. Repeat until all the pork's done.
To Make The Gravy
- Carefully discard all of the hot oil, except for 3 tablespoons, in whatever safe manner you prefer.3 tbsp frying oil
- Add three tablespoons of flour to the remaining oil and drippings, and whisk them together to evenly combined. Set over medium low heat.3 tbsp flour
- Stir in two cups of milk and cook, whisking often, until the mixture's thickened to your desired consistency.2 cups milk
- Serve warm with the warm pork nuggets.
Notes
- If you are concerned about this being spicy, both the hot sauce and cayenne pepper are optional.
- Make sure to cut the pork into more or less equal sized pieces.
- Do not overcrowd the oil or the pork nuggets won't cook evenly.
- Putting the cooked nuggets on paper towel lined plates prevents the pork from getting soggy as the paper towels will absorb some of the excess.
Nutrition
recipe adapted from Mrs Happy Homemaker
