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Chick Fil A Grilled Nuggets – this copycat recipe is so easy to make and tastes so similar, you are going to love them! Use your favorite dipping sauce and they can be dinner tonight!
You guys know that I love a good copycat recipe. And I know you guys love them too, so I have been working on a good one! I have had a few requests for this one, and it took some time, but I think I finally got it!
A homemade version of the Chick Fil A Nuggets that are so tender, juicy, and spiced just right.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Doesn’t matter what day of the week it is, you can enjoy these grilled nuggets at home while watching the game, an easy family dinner or any time.
- Super easy with ingredients you probably have on hand already.
- They cook up in no time, I have instructions for the stove top or the air fryer, you can use either to make them however you like!
What You’ll Need
- Chicken Breasts
- Dill Pickle Juice
- Milk
- Powdered Sugar
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
Let’s get this out of the way immediately. I know that Chick-Fil-A labels their chicken as dairy free, so they don’t use cows milk. But it, combined with the pickle juice (which I know they probably don’t use either) gives it the perfect texture with ingredients you have available to you. So if you have a dairy allergy, just use whatever nut milk you normally use.
Why Pickle Juice
I will be the first one to stand up and say I HATE pickles. I can detect them a mile away and take them off everything. But the pickle juice and milk together are a brine for the chicken and makes it super tender and juicy. I did test times for marinating and 45 minutes gave it the perfect texture, but not long enough for the chicken to pick up an any pickle flavor.
Longer than 60 minutes and you could start to taste pickle, probably not much to the average person, but to me it was enough, I recommend 45 minutes.
How To Make Chick Fil A Grilled Nuggets
- Cut your chicken into bite sized pieces and trim away and fat. Add the chicken to a bowl and pour over milk and pickle juice. Stir and push the chicken down so it is mostly covered. Let it stand for 45 minutes.
- Remove the chicken and place on a paper towel lined tray. Dab the top as well with paper towel to dry the chicken pieces.
- Toss the chicken with the rest of the ingredients until it is well coated.
- Now it is time to cook! You can heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping part way through, until the chicken is fully cooked. Or you can place in a single layer in the air fryer and cook at 400º for 8-10 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked.
- Once the chicken is fully cooked (an internal temperature of 165º F) remove from the heat and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Recipe Tips
- Yes, use the powdered sugar. I get it, people see it in a recipe for chicken and freak out. I get questioned on it all the time. But just trust me it works, it gives it the same flavor as the restaurant. If you don’t want to use it, obviously you don’t have to, but it will change the flavor.
- Cut your chicken into about the same sized pieces so that they cook at the same rate. You don’t want to have some big and some small or you will have some over cooked and dry pieces before they are all done.
- I used dill pickle juice because that is what I have on hand. Some brands are saltier than others. If you know yours is salty you can reduce the salt called for in the recipe. But the first couple times I made these, I had to keep increasing the salt, because 45 minutes wasn’t enough time for the chicken to absorb a lot of the saltiness from the juice.
- Serve with whatever your favorite dipping sauce is. Chick Fil A sauce is now available in most grocery stores or you can use our favorite Canes Sauce and really mix it up.
Storage
These grilled nuggets are a great thing to make extra of and have on hand for the week. You can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Then reheat in the microwave or air fryer until warmed through. You could add to salads, wraps, or just enjoy on their own.
Love Chick-Fil-A? Don’t miss my other copycat recipes of theirs!
More Easy Chicken Dinners
- Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
- Boneless Chicken Wings
- Bourbon Chicken
- Chipotle Chicken Bowl
- Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
- Southwest Chicken Wrap
- Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Chicken Flautas
Chick Fil A Grilled Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1/3 cup dill pickle juice
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons powdered sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- . Add the chicken to a bowl and pour over milk and pickle juice. Stir and push the chicken down so it is mostly covered. Let it stand for 45 minutes.
- Remove the chicken and place on a paper towel lined tray. Dab the top as well with paper towel to dry the chicken pieces.
- Toss the chicken with the powdered sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika until well coated.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping part way through, until the chicken is fully cooked. (Air Fryer Notes Below)
- Once the chicken is fully cooked (an internal temperature of 165º F) remove from the heat and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I love their nuggets, so I’m excited to try this one. We hit Chick Fil A about once a week.
Looks so easy and delicious! Great dinner for busy weeknights!
My kids would LOVE these!! They are amazing!!
This is fantastic!! I am so excited to try these!! YUM!
I love the idea to grill the nuggets. These will be my new favorite!