Chick Fil A Nuggets Recipe | Tastes Just Like the Restaurants

These Chick Fil A nuggets taste just like the ones from the restaurant! They're tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside and they have that ever-so-slight pickle flavor that Chick Fil A is famous for. Best of all though is the fact that they're so, so easy to make. In fact, just 3 simple steps are all you have to follow to whip 'em up.

My Take On Chick Fil A Nuggets

I have been absolutely obsessed with Chick-fil-A's chicken nuggets lately.

They just opened a restaurant around the corner from my house and I - and my 2-year-old - simply haven't been able to get enough of them.

So, since that's been the case these last few months I decided to come up with a copycat recipe for them...That way I could save some money and also eat them whenever I get a craving for 'em too.

And, well, I'm not going to lie, I think this homemade take on Chick-fil-A's chicken nuggets is about as close to the real thing that you'll find on the interwebs. 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. Making the sauce is a surefire way to give ya that authentic Chick-Fil-A experience.

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 - like I like to do - you can have these Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets at home whenever you want! 

Yep, it's super easy peasy.

INGREDIENTS

One of my favorite things about making these Chick-fil-A nuggets is that they're made with common kitchen staples. In fact, I can almost guarantee that you'll have most - if not all - of them on hand already.

Anyway, 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

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 that iconic Chick-Fil-A flavor.

By the way, if you end up with some leftover pickles after using the pickle juice for this nugget recipe you can put them to good use and make these fried pickles!

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.

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.

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.

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, this Chick Fil A honey roasted BBQ sauce, or even some of this Wingstop ranch. Enjoy!  

AIR FRYER CHICK-FIL-A NUGGETS

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

So, to do that just follow the first two steps that I listed above. Then, after you've followed those steps, preheat your 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.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STORING CHICKEN NUGGETS

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

However, I definitely recommend doubling up this recipe so that you end up with extras for later. They store super well and actually taste delicious reheated.

As far as storing the nuggets goes, I recommend keeping them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Stored like this they'll stay good for up to 3-4 days.

Then, once you're ready to reheat them you can just pop 'em in your air fryer at 370°F (185°C) for a couple of minutes. Or, if you don't have an air fryer, you can use your oven. Just set it to the same temperature listed above and cook 'em for 3-5 minutes once it's warm.

FREEZING CHICKEN NUGGETS

You can also freeze the nuggets if you plan to keep them longer. You can store cooked chicken nuggets for around 2 months.

To freeze 'em just space the nuggets out in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze 'em until they harden. Then, once they're frozen you can transfer them to a freezer bag and store them until needed.

WRAPPING IT ALL UP

Well, 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.

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

Be sure to leave a comment below if you try it!

Oh, 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 for you to checkout next.

Here are some of my favorites:

• Chick-Fil-A mac and cheese
• Little Caesars cheese bread
• Zaxby's chicken fingers
  
• McDonald's McGriddle
• Cheesecake Factory four cheese pasta
• Chick Fil A chocolate chip cookies
• Spicy southwest salad 
• Chicken noodle soup