Preheat Oven: Heat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Grind Almonds: Add almonds to a food processor. Pulse repeatedly until they are finely ground, resembling coarse breadcrumbs.

Prepare Seasoned Almond Mixture: Transfer almonds to a bowl. Stir in salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: In a second bowl, whisk egg with water (or milk). Place flour in a third bowl.

Set Up Coating Line: Arrange bowls in order—chicken, flour, egg, almond mixture, and baking sheet.

Coat Chicken Pieces: Dip each piece of chicken into flour, then egg, then almond mixture. Press gently to help almonds stick. Place coated nuggets on the baking sheet.

Bake Until Golden: Lightly spray nuggets with cooking spray. Bake for 8–10 minutes, flipping once halfway through. Chicken should be golden and cooked through.

Optional Crisping: For extra crunch, broil nuggets for 1–2 minutes. Watch closely to prevent burning.