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Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets: tender, juicy chicken brined in pickle juice, tossed in a lightly sweet seasoned coating, and fried in peanut oil until golden and crispy.
Chick-fil-A nuggets have a serious following, and I totally get it. When I was growing up, the only time we ever got to eat them was on trips to Florida, so learning to make them at home was a must. These copycat Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets have the same tender, juicy chicken and crispy, slightly sweet coating you love, without the drive-thru line (or waiting until Monday when the craving hits on a Sunday).
The secret is a quick soak in milk, egg, and pickle juice, followed by a simple seasoned flour coating with a little powdered sugar and a quick fry in peanut oil. I know the ingredient list looks a little strange, but trust me, it all works together. Serve them with waffle fries, a Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade, and a big bowl of Cane’s Sauce for dipping, and you have a full Chick-fil-A night at home.
Erin’s Notes
- They taste like the real thing. Tangy, tender, a little sweet, and crispy from the peanut oil.
- Simple ingredients. Pickle juice, milk, an egg, flour, and a few pantry seasonings are all you need.
- Quick hands-on time. Just a few minutes of prep and about 15 minutes of frying once the chicken has brined.
- Kid approved. Chicken nuggets are an easy win for picky eaters (and the adults at the table too).
- Air fryer option. Skip the pot of oil and make them in the air fryer instead.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: Cut into even, bite-sized pieces so they all cook at the same rate. Chicken thighs also work. The flavor is a little different, but they still make great nuggets.
- Dill pickle juice: Use it straight from the jar. It tenderizes the chicken and adds a slight tang. Don’t worry, the nuggets don’t taste like pickles.
- Milk and egg: These round out the brine and help the coating stick to the chicken.
- All-purpose flour: The base of the crispy coating.
- Powdered sugar: Yep, sugar! It gives the nuggets that subtle sweetness Chick-fil-A is known for.
- Salt, pepper, and paprika: Simple seasonings that keep the flavor classic.
- Peanut oil: This is what gives the nuggets that signature Chick-fil-A taste. Canola or vegetable oil work too. The flavor isn’t quite the same, but they are still delicious.
Chick Fil-A Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup dill pickle juice
- 1 whole large egg
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Peanut Oil for frying
Instructions
- Trim and cut the chicken into bite sized pieces.2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Whisk egg, pickle juice, and milk together. Place chicken in milk mixture, and cover. Let stand for 1-2 hours in the fridge.1 cup milk, 1 cup dill pickle juice, 1 whole large egg
- Place 2 inches of oil into a deep pan. Heat over medium high heat until the oil is hot (375º F).Peanut Oil for frying
- In a zip-lock bag mix together flour, powdered sugar, salt, pepper and paprika. Remove chicken from milk mixture, and place in the flour mixture. Shake to coat.1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Put about 8 nuggets into the pan, be careful not to overcrowd. Cook for about 2-3 minute on each side, or until golden brown.
- Remove chicken and drain on a paper towel. You could place on a rack in a hot oven to keep them warm if you are making a lot of them.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Chick-fil-A Nuggets
- Brine the chicken. Trim the chicken and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Whisk together the egg, pickle juice, and milk, then add the chicken. Cover and let it sit in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours. I’m super sensitive to the taste of pickles, so I always stick with 1 hour.
- Heat the oil. Add about 2 inches of peanut oil to a deep, heavy pot and heat over medium-high heat to 375°F. You want enough oil so the chicken can float.
- Coat the chicken. In a zip-top bag, mix together the flour, powdered sugar, salt, pepper, and paprika. Remove the chicken from the milk mixture, add it to the bag, and shake to coat. Gently shake off any excess coating.
- Fry the nuggets. Add about 8 nuggets to the hot oil at a time, being careful not to overcrowd the pot. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden brown.
- Drain and keep warm. Remove the nuggets and let them drain on a paper towel or wire rack. If you are making a big batch, keep the cooked nuggets warm on a rack in a 200°F oven while you fry the rest.
- Serve. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Recipe Tips
- Use a thermometer. Keeping the oil at 375°F is the key to crispy nuggets. If the oil is too cool, the coating soaks up oil and gets greasy.
- Fry in small batches. Crowding the pot drops the oil temperature, which leads to soggy nuggets. Let the oil come back up to temperature between batches.
- Cut the pieces evenly. Similar-sized pieces cook at the same rate, so you won’t end up with some overdone and some undercooked.
- Check for doneness. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Don’t over-brine. Stick to the 1 to 2 hour range. That is plenty of time to get tender chicken without a strong pickle flavor.
- Drain on a wire rack. A rack lets air circulate so the bottoms stay crispy instead of steaming on a plate.
How to Make Chick-fil-A Nuggets in the Air Fryer
The air fryer is a great option when you don’t want to deal with a pot of oil. Brine and coat the chicken exactly the same way. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F, place the nuggets in a single layer, and lightly spray them with oil. Cook for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through to 165°F. Work in batches so the nuggets aren’t crowded.
Are they exactly the same as the fried version? Not quite. Since you aren’t deep frying, you won’t get that peanut oil flavor, but they are still crispy, juicy, and so good.
Recipe Variations
- Other oils: Canola or vegetable oil work in place of peanut oil. The flavor is a little different, but the nuggets are still great.
- Chicken thighs: Swap in boneless, skinless chicken thighs for juicier, richer nuggets. They won’t taste exactly like Chick-fil-A, but they are delicious.
- Oven baked: Baking is a great way to save some calories. It isn’t a true copycat, but it makes a tasty, lighter nugget. My Baked Chicken Bites are a great place to start.
- Grilled nuggets: For an even lighter option, try my Chick-fil-A Grilled Nuggets.
What to serve with Chick-fil-A Nuggets
- Dipping sauces: Cane’s Sauce, honey mustard, barbecue sauce, or ranch.
- Sides: Waffle fries, a simple fruit cup, or coleslaw.
- Drinks: A Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade makes it feel like the real deal.
- Dessert: Finish with Chick-fil-A Cookies or Chick-fil-A Brownies.
Storage & Reheating
- To store: Let leftover nuggets cool, then keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- To reheat: Reheat in the air fryer, toaster oven, or oven until hot and crispy again. Skip the microwave if you can, since it makes the coating soft and soggy.
No, they don’t. Chick-fil-A pressure fries their chicken, which is something you can’t do at home. Soaking the chicken in milk and pickle juice tenderizes it and locks in moisture, so you get the same tender texture you know and love.
No. As long as you stick to the 1 to 2 hour brine, you get tender chicken with just a slight tang. I really don’t like pickles, so I take mine out after 1 hour, and I can’t taste them at all.
Chick-fil-A nuggets have a subtle sweetness to them, and a little powdered sugar in the flour mixture recreates it. It doesn’t make them taste sugary, just more like the original.
Chick-fil-A fries in peanut oil, which is why I use it here. If you don’t have it (or need to avoid peanuts), canola or vegetable oil work well. The flavor is just a little different.
I have two questions> Can this recipe be used with chicken thighs and drumsticks? Second question, what is the purpose of powdered sugar? I have never heard of using this for any sort of chicken recipe!
you could use other cuts of chicken, all you are doing is breading and frying, so anything will work, you just have to cook it long enough. This is a copycat recipe, so the sugar is there to make it taste like Chick Fil A’s. Theirs have a sweetness to them, so you need sugar to accomplish that.
Can you make these in the air fryer
Yes, lots of people have said that you can and they are good that way.
Do you have to use peanut oil? I have canola
No, canola oil will work just fine
If you are contemplating making this..don’t! Make it tonight!! This is so good..dare I say better then Chick- Fil-A. My son works there and agrees the flavor of this is on point. Thank you for the recipe!!