Chick-fil-A Nuggets Recipe
You can now enjoy Chick-fil-a Nuggets anytime you want with this simple copycat recipe! Serve them up with a side of homemade Chick-fil-a sauce and enjoy the classic taste of your favorite fast food restaurant's nuggets that are made a bit healthier.
Ingredients
For the Nuggets:
- 1 ½ lbs. chicken breasts cut into bite-sized cubes
- ½ cup pickle juice
- ¼ cup milk regular or plant-based
- 2 large eggs
- ⅔ cup flour or a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend
- ½ cup breadcrumbs plain
- 1-2 Tbsp. powdered sugar optional
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. paprika
- ¼ cup peanut oil or avocado oil
For the Dipping Sauce:
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- 3 Tbsp. barbecue sauce regular
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- 2 tsp. mustard yellow or Dijon
- ¼ tsp. paprika
- ¼ tsp. salt to taste
Instructions
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Whisk together pickle juice, milk, and eggs in a large bowl. Add cut chicken and toss to completely coat. Marinate for 30 minutes or up to overnight. (The chicken will get even more pickle flavor the longer it marinates. It will also absorb more salt, so be sure to adjust how much you add to the breadcrumb coating.)
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In another large bowl, whisk together the flour, breadcrumbs, powdered sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika.
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Using tongs, add a few of the marinated chicken pieces to the breadcrumb coating. Be sure to let any excess marinade drain off of the chicken before adding it in. Toss until the pieces are well coated. Repeat this process with the remainder of the chicken. (You may end up with some breadcrumb coating left.)
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Add 3 tablespoons of peanut oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once sizzling, shake off any excess coating from each nugget and place half of them in a single layer.
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Cook for 3-5 minutes, flipping once the chicken becomes crispy and lightly golden. Remove the cooked chicken and let drain on a paper towel lined plate. Add the additional tablespoon of oil and cook the remaining chicken nuggets.
Chick-fil-a Sauce:
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Whisk together all of the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl until smooth and well combined.
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Serve immediately with Chick-fil-a nuggets or refrigerate for an hour for the best flavor. Enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
How to Cook in the Air Fryer:
Preheat a 6-quart air fryer to 380 degrees. Brush the grate with peanut oil and place the nuggets in a single layer. Brush the exposed surfaces of the nuggets with more peanut oil and cook for 8 minutes. Flip the chicken over halfway through cooking and brush the other side of the nuggets with more peanut oil.