Chick-fil-A Nuggets Recipe
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Craving Chick-fil-A on a Sunday? You’re in luck—this Chick-fil-A nuggets recipe is the perfect copycat that brings the flavor and crunch of your favorite fast food nuggets right to your kitchen. The secret to the best nuggets lies in a tangy dill pickle juice marinade that tenderizes the chicken and gives it its signature taste.
Sheila’s Recipe Snapshot for Chick fil-A Nuggets Recipe
These crispy, golden chicken nuggets taste just like your favorite drive-thru order—only fresher and homemade.
Chick-fil-A just knows how to do chicken right. It’s always fresh, meaty, and perfectly seasoned, making it one of my family’s favorite fast food restaurants!
The only downside? You can’t get Chick-fil-A on Sundays. And honestly, I respect them for sticking to their values and taking a day off. But when those Sunday cravings hit hard — and they do! — what’s a chicken-lovin’ blogger to do? Create a copycat Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets recipe, of course!
This recipe is everything you love about Chick-fil-A nuggets: juicy chicken bites, a crispy golden crust, and that crave-worthy flavor. Plus, we’re making the iconic Chick-fil-A dipping sauce at home too—creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet. Once you try these, you might just start skipping the drive-thru altogether!
Ingredient Notes for Chick fil-A Nuggets
- Chicken breast | Boneless, skinless, and cut into 1 to 1½-inch chunks for perfect bite-size nuggets.
- Dill pickle juice | This is the secret marinade base! It adds a subtle tang and helps tenderize the meat.
- Buttermilk | Adds richness to the marinade.
- Eggs | Bind the marinade to the chicken and helps the coating stick.
- All-purpose flour | The base of the breading for that classic crispy texture.
- Kosher salt | Add to taste!
- White pepper | For just a slight heat.
- Smoked paprika | Adds a hint of smoky flavor and color to the breading.
- Cornstarch | Helps create a light, crisp finish in the breading.
- Panko breadcrumbs | Give extra crunch to the coating.
- Peanut oil or canola oil | High smoke point oils perfect for deep frying. Peanut oil adds flavor and is the authentic choice.
- To Serve | Serve these nuggets with easy homemade Chick-fil-A sauce!
Variations and Substitutions
- Chicken thighs: For a juicier, more tender nugget, boneless thighs are a great alternative.
- Milk + vinegar: If you don’t have buttermilk, mix ½ cup milk with 1½ teaspoons white vinegar or lemon juice and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Air fryer method: Lightly oil the breaded nuggets and cook in the air fryer at 375°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through. They won’t get as crispy, but will still be delicious!
- Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free flour blend and gluten-free panko if needed.
How to Make Chick fil-A Chicken Nuggets
This recipe comes together quickly with simple ingredients—you don’t need any fancy equipment, just a bowl, a wire rack, and a hot skillet!
PREP THE CHICKEN. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then cut into bite-size pieces, about 1 1/2 inches, and place in a bowl or large resealable plastic bag.
MARINATE THE CHICKEN. Whisk together the dill pickle juice, buttermilk, and eggs and pour over the chicken. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than 1 hour.
MAKE THE BREADING. In a shallow bowl, stir together the flour, salt, white pepper, paprika, cornstarch, and panko bread crumbs. You may also add the breading ingredients to a resealable gallon-size bag and shake the chicken before frying.
HEAT THE OIL. Pour peanut oil into a deep skillet or deep fryer to a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil to a temperature of 350 to 375 degrees.
REMOVE CHICKEN FROM BRINE. Transfer the chicken from the brine to a wire rack over a baking sheet or plate so that the excess liquid drains off.
BREAD THE CHICKEN. Working in batches, dredge the chicken in the breading, shaking off the excess, and carefully drop into the hot oil. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until the coating is lightly golden and the chicken is cooked through.
REPEAT & ENJOY. Place the fried nuggets on a wire rack positioned over a plate to drain until all the nuggets have been fried.
More Recipe Success Tips
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store leftover nuggets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For best results, reheat them in the oven or air fryer at 375°F for about 8–10 minutes until hot and crispy. Avoid microwaving, as this can cause the coating to become soggy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but the texture will be different. Bake at 425°F on a wire rack set over a baking sheet, flipping halfway through, for 18–20 minutes.
It tenderizes the chicken and adds that distinct, tangy flavor Chick-fil-A is known for!
Peanut oil is ideal for flavor and high heat stability, and it is what Chick-fil-A actually fries their nuggets in. If there’s a peanut allergy, use canola oil instead.
They’ll be golden brown and have an internal temperature of 165°F. Cut one open to check if you’re unsure—they should be fully white and juicy inside. If you are in doubt, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temp!
Looking for More Copycat Recipes?
These easy cheddar bay biscuits and Cracker Barrel chicken pot pie are family favorites. I also make a delicious Italian grilled chicken, based on the Carrabba’s recipe, too!
What to Serve With Chick fil-A Nuggets
These crispy nuggets are a wonderful main dish and pair well with a variety of sides. For a classic fast-food-style meal, serve them with grilled French fries, creamy herbed potato salad, or even a baked potatoes in the air fryer topped with butter and herbs. If you’re aiming for something lighter, try a butter lettuce salad.
And for a Southern-inspired twist, add a warm sweet potato biscuit on the side — it’s the perfect balance of savory and sweet to round out the meal. Whether you’re making these for a weeknight dinner or a game day spread, there’s a side combo here for everyone!
Beyond the Recipe
A light, crispy coating and tender real chicken — not the pressed meat found in other fast food versions — have made Chick-fil-A nuggets my family’s favorite fast food choice.
In fact, almost every Friday at noon, my daughter (who became a devout Chick-fil-A fan during college) and son-in-law leave their home office and head for the Chick-fil-A drive-thru for their weekly nugget fix.
They are both accomplished home cooks and during quarantine last year, enjoyed experimenting and recreating some of their favorite restaurant meals — like Stock and Barrel’s Blueberry Blue Cheese Bacon Burger and Dame’s Fried Chicken and Waffles at home.
However, Chick-fil-A nuggets remained the sacred cow so to speak — pun intended — until now.
Today’s copycat recipe was created after reviewing many others online. The final version was adapted to make it as simple, quick, and easy as possible to make yummy chicken nuggets at home.
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Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 lb. skinless boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces, about 1 -1/2 inches.
- ½ cup dill pickle juice
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 eggs
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- peanut oil or canola oil for frying
- Chick fil-A sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then cut into bite-size pieces, about 1 1/2 inches, and place in a bowl or large resealable plastic bag.
- Whisk together the dill pickle juice, buttermilk, and eggs and pour over the chicken. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than 1 hour.
- While the chicken brines, prepare the breading, heat the oil, and whip up the sauce.
- In a shallow bowl, stir together the flour, salt, white pepper, paprika, cornstarch, and panko bread crumbs. You may also add the breading ingredients to a resealable gallon-size bag and shake the chicken before frying.
- Pour peanut oil into a deep skillet or deep fryer to a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil to a temperature of 350 to 375 degrees.
- Transfer the chicken from the brine to a wire rack over a baking sheet or plate so that the excess liquid drains off.
- Working in batches, dredge the chicken in the breading, shaking off the excess, and carefully drop into the hot oil. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until the coating is lightly golden and the chicken is cooked through.
- Place the fried nuggets on a wire rack positioned over a plate to drain until all the nuggets have been fried.
Notes
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
