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    Chick Fil A Nuggets Recipe | Tastes Just Like the Restaurants

    by Joe Duff 13 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    These Chick Fil A nuggets taste like you ordered them from the restaurant, but you can easily make them at home with this recipe! And the nuggets turn our super crunchy and juicy with the most addictive flavor. 

    Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets in a white bowl that is stacked on top of another white bowl. .

    Table of Contents

    • The Best Chick Fil A Nuggets
      • INGREDIENTS
      • HOW TO MAKE CHICK FIL A NUGGETS
        • STEP 1: PREPPING THE CHICKEN & BREADING
        • STEP 2: COATING THE CHICKEN NUGGETS
        • STEP 3: FRYING THE CHICKEN NUGGETS
        • AIR FRYER CHICK FIL A NUGGETS
      • HOW TO STORE CHICKEN NUGGETS
        • FREEZING CHICKEN NUGGETS
      • WRAPPING IT ALL UP
    • More copycat recipes
    • Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Recipe | Tastes Just Like the Restaurants
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    The Best Chick Fil A Nuggets

    Chick Fil A  chicken nuggets are without a doubt one of their most iconic offerings, and with good reason. Those salty, kinda sweet, bite-sized pieces of juicy breaded chicken are seriously so addictive.

    But, while I love some occasional takeout, there's nothing like being able to recreate that same delicious flavor at home.

    And with this Chick Fil A nuggets recipe, you can do just that!

    These tender, flavorful chicken nuggets, are coated in a crunchy breading and seasoned to perfection inside and out! And of course, they're not complete without this copycat Chick Fil A sauce, so you can have the real experience all homemade.

    Plus, the great thing about this recipe is that it only takes about 15 minutes to prepare the nuggets, and 15 minutes to fry them up. And if you prep a big batch ahead of time, you can have these Chick Fil A chicken nuggets at home whenever you want! 

    By the way, for a complete Chick Fil A experience, you can make these Chick Fil A chocolate chip cookies for dessert!

    Oh, and if you're looking for a healthier recipe, give this spicy southwest salad and chicken noodle soup a try (yup, just they're just like the ones Chick Fil A has).  

    A hand holding a Chick-fil-A nugget with Chick-fil-A sauce on it over a bowl that is filled with Chick-fil-A sauce. Behind it is part of a white bowl that is filled with the nuggets.

    INGREDIENTS

    Since these Chick Fil A nuggets are so darn delicious, you might think you need some out-of-the-ordinary ingredients to make them.

    But, as you’ll notice, they are made with simple pantry staples you can find anywhere!

    Here’s everything you’ll need to make them:

    • 1 large egg
    • ½ cup milk
    • ½ cup dill pickle juice
    • 1 pound chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins, cut into 1 inch chunks
    • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 tablespoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 2 teaspoons confectioners sugar
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • Neutral oil for frying, like canola or peanut oil

    Now, the secret ingredient that is used to make the chicken so tender and juicy is pickle juice.

    I know it sounds kind of strange, but trust me, it's essential for getting the iconic flavor.

    And if you're someone that likes pickles, you have to give these fried pickles a try sometime!

    a bowl of Chick-fil-A sauce, a plate with salt and pepper on it, a plate with paprika on it, a bowl of flour, a bowl of confectioner sugar, and part of a bowl of chicken in egg.

    HOW TO MAKE CHICK FIL A NUGGETS

    As far as chicken nuggets go, these Chick Fil A nuggets are surprisingly easy to make.

    Literally, all you have to do is marinate the chicken, coat them with some seasoned flour, then fry. Simple as that!

    All told, this recipe takes about 30 minutes total minus the marinating time.

    And if you get the prep out of the way in the morning, all you have to do is fry the nuggets and in about 15 minutes dinner is served!

    With all that said, let’s get into the details for this one-of-a-kind recipe.

    Hand holding a spoon mixing flour, paprika, and confectioner sugar in a bowl.

    STEP 1: PREPPING THE CHICKEN & BREADING

    First, cut the chicken into chunks (nugget size) and add all of it to a bowl with the beaten egg, milk, and dill pickle juice.

    Make sure everything is evenly combined and let it marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

    Then, take out a medium bowl and mix the flour, paprika, pepper, salt, confectioners sugar, and baking powder.

    A hand holding a fork that has a piece of chicken coated in flour on it. The fork is being held over a plate with the flour on it.

    STEP 2: COATING THE CHICKEN NUGGETS

    Now that the two components for the chicken nuggets are ready to go, heat 2 cups of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C) in a deep frying pan.

    And if you don’t have a deep-fry thermometer, you can test the temperature by placing a wooden chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil. If it bubbles steadily - but not too rapidly - from around it, it’s ready for frying.

    While you're waiting for the oil to heat up, take the marinated chicken and cover each one completely with the breading mix. Gently press it in to make sure the breading really sticks.

    Eight pieces of breaded chicken frying in a pot with oil in it.

    STEP 3: FRYING THE CHICKEN NUGGETS

    Once the frying oil is ready, start frying the chicken nuggets a few at a time. If you’re using a smaller pot or pan, work in batches to avoid overcrowding.

    Cook them for a few minutes until they’re golden brown on all sides then transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels or a drying grid.

    Serve the Chick Fil A chicken nuggets with this homemade Chick Fil A sauce - or even some Wingstop ranch - and enjoy!  

    Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets frying in oil.

    AIR FRYER CHICK FIL A NUGGETS

    Ok, so if you want to make these with less oil you can also cook them in an air fryer!

    To make air fryer chicken nuggets, follow all of the steps above until you're ready for frying.

    Then preheat the air fryer to 370°F (185°C) and spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Air fry the chicken nuggets for about 8-10 minutes, turning them over at the halfway point.

    The key here is to give the chicken enough room to cook evenly, so make sure they are lying flat and do it in batches if you need to.

    A bunch of Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets on paper towels on top of a plate on a white counter.

    HOW TO STORE CHICKEN NUGGETS

    So, this chicken nuggets recipe makes about 4 servings, which is the perfect amount for a family dinner! 

    And I definitely recommend doubling up this recipe to have extras for later. They store super well and actually are delicious reheated.

    The fried nuggets will stay good for 3-4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

    The best way I’ve found to reheat them is in the air fryer, at 370°F (185°C) for a couple of minutes until warmed through. Or you can pop them in the oven at the same temperature for a few minutes.

    Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets in a white bowl. Next to it as part of a bowl of Chick-fil-A sauce with a chicken nugget in it.

    FREEZING CHICKEN NUGGETS

    You can also freeze the nuggets if you plan to keep them longer. Cooked chicken nuggets will store for around 2 months and raw breaded nuggets will last for up to 3 months.

    To freeze nuggets either cooked or raw, space them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until hardened. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag and store them until needed.

    You can fry or air fry them from frozen if you increase the cooking time.

    Frying raw frozen nuggets will take about 10-12 minutes and air frying should take about 25-30 minutes.

    Chick-fil-A nuggets in a white bowl that is stacked on another white bowl. In front of it is a small gray bowl with Chick-fil-A sauce in it.

    WRAPPING IT ALL UP

    And that’s how to make copycat Chick Fil A nuggets!

    They are so crispy, juicy, flavorful, and just taste incredible.

    At our house, these are always a big hit for dinner, especially with the kids.

    In fact, I’ve had a few people tell me they liked these more than the ones from the restaurant!

    Anyway, I hope you love this Chick Fil A nuggets recipe as much as I do.

    Be sure to leave a comment below if you tried it and let me know what you think.

    And while you’re at it, don’t forget to check out our Youtube channel and Instagram for more recipes!

    More copycat recipes

    If you liked these Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets, we have a ton of other copycat recipes from popular restaurants. And all of them are super easy to recreate at home!

    Give one of these a try next:

    • Little Caesars cheese bread
    • Zaxby's chicken fingers
    • Olive Garden chicken parmigiana
    • McDonald's McGriddle
    • Cheesecake Factory four cheese pasta
    Print

    Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Recipe | Tastes Just Like the Restaurants

    Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets in a white bowl. Next to it as part of a bowl of Chick-fil-A sauce with a chicken nugget in it.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 12 reviews

    These Chick Fil A nuggets taste like you ordered them from the restaurant but you can easily make them at home with this recipe! And the nuggets turn our super crunchy and juicy with the most addictive flavor. 

    • Author: Joe Duff
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    1 large egg

    ½ cup milk

    ½ cup dill pickle juice

    1 pound chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins, cut into 1 inch chunks

    1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

    1 teaspoon paprika

    1 tablespoon black pepper

    1 teaspoon kosher salt

    2 teaspoons confectioners sugar

    1 teaspoon baking powder

    Neutral oil for frying, like canola or peanut oil

    Instructions

    1. Combine the chopped chicken, egg, milk and dill pickle juice in a bowl and let it soak for at least 30 minutes.
    2. In a shallow bowl, combine flour, paprika, pepper, salt, confectioners sugar and baking powder.
    3. Bring 2 cups of vegetable oil to 350°F in a deep frying pan. While the oil heats, remove the chicken from the marinade and cover with the flour mixture, press it to make sure it really sticks.
    4. Fry the nuggets until golden brown on every side.
    5. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels or grid to remove excess grease.
    6. Serve with our chick fil a sauce and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 320
    • Fat: 4
    • Carbohydrates: 30
    • Protein: 38

    Keywords: Chick fil a nuggets, Chick fil a chicken nuggets, Chick fil a nuggets recipe, chick fil a chicken nuggets air fryer, chick fil a chicken nuggets recipe with pickle juice, How to make chick fil a nuggets, chick fil a chicken nuggets with pickle juice, copycat chick fil a chicken nuggets,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @ImHungryForThat — we can't wait to see what you've made!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Matt

      May 17, 2022 at 10:12 pm

      These nuggets are crispy, crunchy, so tender, and so juicy!!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Anthony

      May 18, 2022 at 5:38 pm

      These have to be as close to chick fil a as you can get

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Abigail

      May 20, 2022 at 10:43 am

      Absolutely amazing recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Rita

      May 20, 2022 at 8:59 pm

      These turned out great. thanks.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Ryan

      May 22, 2022 at 3:54 pm

      Ty sirs.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Avery

      May 23, 2022 at 5:44 pm

      The nuggets were better than chick filas

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Abbigail

      May 25, 2022 at 2:31 pm

      Spot on to chick fil as I'm in love with this!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. Desmond

      May 31, 2022 at 8:27 pm

      They actually tasted like the Chick Fil A.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    9. Aubrey

      June 02, 2022 at 3:51 pm

      Wow I didn't think that these would taste like chick fil as but they totally did!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    10. Sarah

      August 05, 2022 at 4:33 pm

      These are ridiculous. Like so close to Chick Fil A. Amazing recipe!!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    11. Ash

      October 06, 2022 at 11:13 pm

      OMG this was amazing! I cannot get over how legit the nuggets from this recipe actually are. I am going to make a bunch and freeze them. Yay!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    12. Laurie

      November 16, 2022 at 12:28 pm

      I made this with Tofu for my daughter and followed exact recipe it was a hit !!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Brendan Cunningham

        November 16, 2022 at 6:35 pm

        Great idea!! We're so happy it was a hit!

        Reply

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