Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Copycat

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Copycat are crispy, perfectly seasoned, and with that trademark hit of savory sweetness you know and love. So easy and everything is made from scratch!

There are days when you just have to treat yourself with comfort food like these nuggets! For those moments, indulge in some hearty Bacon Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes, French Dip Grilled Cheese Sandwich, and Pizza Roll Ups.

Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Copycat is of the most-requested recipes at my house. We love fast-food around here, but avoid having it often because there’s always too much salt and grease. Naturally, I had to find a way to recreate our favorite item at Chick-fil-A! After a lot of testing, I’m proud to say this recipe tastes exactly – or even better – than the original. 

These turned out golden, crunchy and crispy on the outside, and absolutely juicy inside. It even has that slight sweetness that’s so unique to these nuggets. It’s so easy to make, and you know exactly what ingredients go into the recipe. Tastier, healthier, and much more affordable than getting fast food! 

Chick fil A nuggets ingredients:

Before you start cooking, make sure all the ingredients are already prepared:

• Chicken breast: cut the boneless meat into bite-sized chunks.
• Flour: I use all purpose flour for maximum crispiness.
• Breadcrumbs: creates that crunchy texture for the breading; I recommend processing it very finely.
• Eggs and a splash of Milk: provide structure to the breading and makes it stick to the meat.
• Oil: the restaurant uses peanut oil, but you can use other neutral oils like canola.
• Seasonings: a little powdered sugar for sweetness, paprika powder, black pepper and white pepper, chili powder, and salt.

How to make Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets?

1. Marinate. Whisk the eggs and milk together. Take your chunks of breast meat, and soak them in the marinade for around an hour minimum. The longer you can marinate it, the better the flavors can penetrate into the meat. If you do not have time, just soak the chicken into the mixture.
2. Bread the meat. Take the seasonings and whisk well with breadcrumb-flour mix. Get your marinated meat and shake off the excess. Dredge it in the breading until completely coated. Set aside for a few minutes so that the breading sticks better to the meat.
3. Fry. Using a deep-fry thermometer, let the oil reach 365F to 375F before frying. Once hot, drop the nuggets and fry in batches. 
4. Serve. Enjoy hot with your favorite sides and dipping sauce.

Recipe variations and substitutions:

• Use thigh meat: buy boneless thigh fillets if you prefer dark meat
• Make it spicy: Double the amount of chili powder or add powdered cayenne
• Make it gluten-free: swap with gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs

What to serve with Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets?

This amazing copycat Chick-fil-A sauce, of course! It’s also a great side for pasta or as a delicious protein alternative for salads. You can also use it as filling for wraps and subs if you like!

Can you use pickle juice?

Absolutely. It’s still awesome with the pickle juice. However, I recommend you try it at least once to just to see the difference it makes. Personally, I really like the nice tang it adds to the marinade, and it helps tenderize the meat too. I usually add 1 cup of pickle juice with the milk and let the chicken marinate overnight.

How to make Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets in the oven?

Yes, but keep in mind that they will not turn out as crispy as the deep-fried version. As a trade-off, it’s healthier than frying the nuggets!

Make sure to let the excess marinade drip. Let the nuggets rest for around 15 minutes so that the breading sticks really well to the meat. Take some parchment and line a baking sheet, then place in a preheated 425F oven for around 20 minutes until golden.

How to store leftovers?

To refrigerate, store in a sealed container and consume within 4 days. You can also freeze these by transferring to a tightly-sealed container. It will keep for up to 3 months.

To reheat, bake for around 10 mins in a preheated 400F oven. Thaw first if reheating from frozen.

More Easy Chicken Recipes:

• Creamy Tuscan Chicken
• Cheesy Chicken Fajita Quesadilla
• Honey Balsamic Chicken – One Pan
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
• Cast Iron Chicken and Mushroom

Recipe tips:

• Buttermilk is a fantastic replacement for pickle juice.
• Deep-fry in batches so that everything crisps up evenly.
• To drain the oil, use a wire rack instead of paper towels to prevent the crust from getting soggy.

5 from 6 votes

Print

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Copycat

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Copycat are crispy, perfectly seasoned, and with that trademark hit of savory sweetness you know and love. So easy and everything is made from scratch!

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Copycat

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 566 kcal

Author: Catalina Castravet

Ingredients

Nuggets:

• 2 chicken breasts skinless and boneless - cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 large egg beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups peanut oil or canola oil for frying

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 3 tablespoons honey
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

1. In a small bowl whisk together all the sauce ingredients and set aside in the fridge.

Nuggets:

1. In a large bowl, combine milk with the beaten egg and add the chicken in to soak. You can even let it marinate in the mixture overnight.
2. In a large shallow bowl combine flour with breadcrumbs, powdered sugar, paprika, white pepper, chili powder, and salt.
3. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil.
4. Once the oil is shimmering, dip the chicken pieces into the flour mixture and fry in batches.Do not overcrowd the pan. Fry the chicken until evenly golden and crispy, about 3-5 minutes.
5. Serve immediately with honey mustard sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Copycat

Amount Per Serving

Calories 566 Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Fat 27g42%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Cholesterol 128mg43%

Sodium 1057mg46%

Potassium 542mg15%

Carbohydrates 48g16%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 20g22%

Protein 31g62%

Vitamin A 444IU9%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 68mg7%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.