A 19-year-old Australian tech wizard has invented a pea-based nugget he claims is nicer than McDonald's chicken.

Ben Pasternak dropped out of high school in Sydney and moved to New York to design apps when he was just 16.

His most famous creation was Monkey - a randomised video-chat program for teenagers - and he has also invented a host of smartphone games such as Impossible Rush.

But the young genius is now taking on the vegetarian food market.

Ben Pasternak (pictured) dropped out of high school in Sydney and moved to New York to design apps when he was just 16

His latest project NUGGS uses pea protein and spices to make nuggets that he claims taste as good as the real thing.

NUGGS ship directly to customers' doors and can be prepared in the oven in just a few minutes, with prices at US$24 (AU$34) for 50 or US$29 (AU$41) for 80.

They contain 22g of protein - about two times more than chicken nuggets - and 180 calories - about 20 per cent less than animal-based. They are also cholesterol free.

The nuggets are currently only available in the US but Pasternak, who secured $7million investment from US food giant McCain Foods, wants to soon go global.

It may seem like a big leap for Pasternak, who is a vegetarian himself, to move from technology to food.

But the company's website says NUGGS operates like a software company.

'NUGGS are continuously updated by our team of food scientists and engineers in NYC,' it says.

'We take user feedback, find areas for improvement and as we develop new versions of the product we let our users know.

The website says the latest 'release' of the nuggets comes with better baking instructions.

'NUGGS 1.3.1 has new baking instructions that ensure a firmer internal texture,' it says.

'Step 1. Pre-heat oven to 375º F. Step 2. Place NUGGS evenly onto a baking sheet. Step 3. Transfer to oven and bake for 12 minutes'.