Child-friendly sauce for chicken nuggets

[Shel_B]

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.

 

 

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.

Edited Sunday at 06:47 PM by Shel_B (log)

[FauxPas]

49 minutes ago, Shel_B said:

'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.

 

Ranch dressing maybe? There are several commercial choices but it's pretty easy to make your own with yogurt and/or buttermilk, some spices and herbs. Lots of recipes online if you want to do it yourself. 

 

Maybe a peanut sauce? Again, lots of recipes online. It doesn't have to be too spicy. 

 

I like sweet chili sauce with a bit of heat, but that might have more sugar than you want. 

 

There are variations of Chick-Fil-A sauce, which I don't think I've ever tasted, but it would give you a way to use some of your BBQ sauce to make something different. Like this one, though there are more versions around online. 

https://abeautifulmess.com/chick-fil-a-sauce/

 

Or this one: 

https://dwardcooks.com/healthy-copycat-chick-fil-a-sauce/

 

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 07:25 PM by FauxPas
to add link (log)

[Shel_B]

Thanks @FauxPas ... the ranch idea sounds great. EZ to make and I'm sure the girls would enjoy it. There are. Many peanut sauce recipes in my files and some, I'm sure could have their heat toned down. Maybe they'd like such a dressing.

 

ill look at the link you posted after returning from errands.

 

maybe an orange or lemon sauce would be nice?

[FauxPas]

4 hours ago, Shel_B said:

maybe an orange or lemon sauce would be nice?

 

Absolutely, but most of these seem to have quite a bit of sugar or sweetener of some kind (marmalade, honey, etc). 

[Shel_B]

28 minutes ago, FauxPas said:

 

Absolutely, but most of these seem to have quite a bit of sugar or sweetener of some kind (marmalade, honey, etc). 

I'd make my own and try to control the sugar.

 

Also, it was suggested elsewhere that I try duck sauce. My sister was visiting from NYC and brought some duck sauce with her. I'm going to try that on the chicken tonight and see how it works out. I found what appears to be a good recipe for making the sauce at home, so I'll give that a try as well.

 

[TdeV]

What's in duck sauce, Shel?

 

[Smithy]

I'm curious about the duck sauce because it sounds interesting. However when I was a child the first sauce (salad dressing, really) that I ever liked was Thousand Island. I think if I'd been exposed to Ranch I'd have liked that too, but I didn't encounter it until I was somewhere in my teens. 

[Shel_B]

@TdeV @Smithy

 

This is the duck sauce recipe I'll try first. There are others, and some commercial products, I'd like to look at as well.

https://thewoksoflife.com/duck-sauce-recipe/

 

[Smithy]

1 hour ago, Shel_B said:

@TdeV @Smithy

 

This is the duck sauce recipe I'll try first. There are others, and some commercial products, I'd like to look at as well.

https://thewoksoflife.com/duck-sauce-recipe/

 

 

Thanks for that. Let us know how it works out!

 

How old are these children, and how adventuresome are their palates?

[Shel_B]

1 hour ago, Smithy said:

How old are these children, and how adventuresome are their palates?

They're 6 and 8. I've not yet tapped into their sense of adventure ... but soon.

[KennethT]

11 hours ago, Shel_B said:

I'd make my own and try to control the sugar.

 

Also, it was suggested elsewhere that I try duck sauce. My sister was visiting from NYC and brought some duck sauce with her. I'm going to try that on the chicken tonight and see how it works out. I found what appears to be a good recipe for making the sauce at home, so I'll give that a try as well.

 

While I loved duck sauce as a kid (always with egg rolls!!!), I think they're mostly sugar (or cornsyrup).

[Shel_B]

26 minutes ago, KennethT said:

While I loved duck sauce as a kid (always with egg rolls!!!), I think they're mostly sugar (or cornsyrup).

My research, such that it was, indicates that's not the case. Allow me to clarify. With but two exceptions, I looked only at recipes to make duck sauce at home. Those recipes were far from "mostly sugar." I didn't dwell on commercial recipes, but those that I did look at seemed to have a greater percentage of sugar than the recipes, but far from "mostly."

[TicTac]

18 hours ago, 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.

 

 

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.

I am confused, on one hand, you want to avoid any sugar, but on the other - you are currently giving them BBQ sauce (which is probably about 50% sugar!)  Your post suggests variety is the driving factor behind the motivation, or is it to avoid current said sugar bomb?

 

Though not diet friendly, I would suggest a combination of 2:1 mayo to yellow mustard, balance with some acid of choice, S&P and chunk up some pickles or capers - dill or cilantro will also work well.

 

 

[Tropicalsenior]

If you want to try an Asian Sauce, two very easy Japanese sauces are yum yum sauce and tonkatsu sauce. Both are very quick to make with pantry items and are quite low in sugar. They also store very well in the refrigerator so you can make them up in quantity.

[Shel_B]

53 minutes ago, Tropicalsenior said:

two very easy Japanese sauces are yum yum sauce and tonkatsu sauce. Both are very quick to make with pantry items

 

Thanks.  I've made a variation of the tonkatsu sauce before and the yum yum sauce is new to me. Thanks for providing some "food for thought."

[Shel_B]

1 hour ago, TicTac said:

I am confused, on one hand, you want to avoid any sugar, but on the other - you are currently giving them BBQ sauce (which is probably about 50% sugar!)  Your post suggests variety is the driving factor behind the motivation, or is it to avoid current said sugar bomb?

 

Though not diet friendly, I would suggest a combination of 2:1 mayo to yellow mustard, balance with some acid of choice, S&P and chunk up some pickles or capers - dill or cilantro will also work well.

 

 

I started with what was handy and have evolved, and am continuing to evolve. You know nothing of the BBQ sauce I used, so to comment that it was "probably about 50% sugar!" was disingenuous and hyperbolic.

 

Thanks for your sauce suggestion. It's appreciated.

[TicTac]

On 3/10/2025 at 11:28 AM, Shel_B said:

I started with what was handy and have evolved, and am continuing to evolve. You know nothing of the BBQ sauce I used, so to comment that it was "probably about 50% sugar!" was disingenuous and hyperbolic.

 

Thanks for your sauce suggestion. It's appreciated.

You are right, I do not know which EXACT BBQ sauce you used, but I do know you used a commercial  product (which you announced), and I would dare you to show me the ingredients of said sauce.  Top 3 (if not #1) ingredient will be 'Sugars'.

 

So no, my comment was both logical and most likely; accurate.

 

[Shel_B]

1 hour ago, TicTac said:

You are right, I do not know which EXACT BBQ sauce you used, but I do know you used a commercial  product (which you announced), and I would dare you to show me the ingredients of said sauce.  Top 3 (if not #1) ingredient will be 'Sugars'.

 

So no, my comment was both logical and most likely; accurate.

 

First, let's look at your comment that the BB sauce is probably about 50% sugar! That is a ridiculous statement on its face. That would mean 8 ounces of sugar in a pint of sauce. I stand by my comment that your remark was hyperbolic. I double dare you (couldn't help it, you gave me that one) to show me a commercial sauce that's about 50% sugar. I'd like to be educated.

 

Here's the ingredient label from the sauce I used for the kids. Their mom recommended the sauce, although I've known about it for years and have used it for myself in the past..

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Shel_B (log)

[TicTac]

 

the proper version - #1 ingredient.

 

though this will be the last bottle purchased due to the originating source!

Edited 1 hour ago by TicTac (log)