Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets are super flavorful and tasty chicken nuggets just like Chick-fil-A! A recipe the whole family loves!
CRISPY, TENDER AND HOMEMADE
I have a firm rule on here that I never say anything tastes exactly like a particular food from my favorite restaurants. But I do love to try to re-create some of my restaurant/fast food favorites at home. It's a fun pastime for me that started many years ago. After a lot of trial and error, I can usually get flavors very close to my favorite meals, but never exactly the same taste (hopefully better!)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Definitely try to use buttermilk here. It really tenderizes the chicken. If you have time, marinate the chicken in the buttermilk, egg and pickle juice mixture for as long as possible.
You'll want to use dill pickle juice with this. The bread and butter pickle juice is just a bit too sweet.
Want a recipe for this that doesn't require frying in oil? Try making my AIR FRYER COPYCAT CHICK-FIL-A NUGGETS recipe.
After you have fried the nuggets, allow them to cool. I prefer to flash freeze fried chicken nuggets so they don't stick together. Place nuggets on a baking sheet and put them in the freezer for about an hour. Then put them in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
The best way is to do so with an air fryer. Reheat them at 400F degrees for about 10 minutes, shaking the basket once during cooking. You can reheat them in the microwave for about 2 minutes but the breading won't be as crisp so it's not recommended.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- buttermilk
- pickle juice
- large egg
- all-purpose flour
- powdered sugar
- corn starch
- salt and pepper
- vegetable or peanut oil
HOW TO MAKE CHICK-FIL-A CHICKEN NUGGETS:
My chicken breasts were on the large side so I only used 2 this time. Cube chicken breasts into bite size pieces (trimming away any excess skin that might be hanging on.) In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg and pickle juice.
Place cubed chicken into the bowl. If you have time, cover it and let it hang out in the refrigerator for a few hours. This helps to make the chicken a bit more moist and tender.
When ready to cook, start preheating oil in your fryer or deep pot to 375F degrees. In a gallon size Ziploc bag, combine flour, sugar, corn starch, salt & pepper. Give it a good shake to combine ingredients.
Add in cubed chicken, small batches at a time, to the flour mixture. Seal and shake until chicken is coated.
In small batches, place chicken into fryer and cook until golden brown (and internal temperature is 165F degrees.) About 4-6 minutes.
Remove and drain on paper towels
Continue with above steps until all your chicken is cooked. Served here with my favorite homemade HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets (+Video)
Ingredients
- 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup pickle juice
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- ½ tablespoon corn starch
- 2 ½ teaspoons table salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- vegetable or peanut oil
Instructions
- Cube chicken breasts into bite size pieces, trimming away any excess skin.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, pickle juice and egg.
- Place cubed chicken into milk/egg mixture. Cover it and let it hang out in the refrigerator for about an hour (overnight is even better if time allows.)
- When ready to cook, start preheating oil in your fryer or deep pot to 375F degrees.
- In a gallon size Ziploc bag, combine flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, salt & pepper.
- Give it a good shake to combine ingredients.
- Add in cubed chicken, small batches at a time, to the flour mixture.
- Seal and shake until chicken is coated.
- In small batches, place chicken into fryer.
- Cook until golden brown. About 4-6 minutes. Internal temperature of chicken should be 165f degrees.
- Remove and drain on paper towels. Continue with above steps until all your chicken is cooked.
- Serve with waffle fries and HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE.
Video
Notes
- Definitely try to use buttermilk here. It really tenderizes the chicken. If you have time, marinate the chicken in the buttermilk, egg and pickle juice mixture for as long as possible. But you can use regular milk if that is all you have.
- You'll want to use dill pickle juice with this. The bread and butter pickle juice is just a bit too sweet.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: March 2012
Updated & republished: February 2021
Sierra
Awesome recipe!! Have made this multiple times now and love the marinade, leaving it overnight does help but an hour works perfectly fine! We found the best results with adding extra salt and pepper and a little 1-2 tsp of garlic powder to the dry mix gives it the best flavor for us, and double breading in the dry mixture (tossing once and covering, take it out and do another batch, and once the flour looks wet from sitting out, throw it back in to toss again)!! Truly one of my favorite recipes!!
Ryn
Would these bake pretty well instead of being cooked in oil?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Ryn! Good question! Unfortunately you never get the same exact flavor and texture like you would when you fry. You could absolutely bake these though!
Jane Brown
Can you cook these in an air fryer?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
I'm sure you could but I haven't tested it out yet. If you give it a try, please let me know how it turns out!
Kirtida Lalloo
My daughter loved this. She said it was better than chick fil A. I substituted half cup panko bread crumbs for flour. I also added onion powder, garlic powder and paprika to flour mixture.
Marie L
Have made these twice and my family says they're better than the real thing! Thanks....its a keeper!
Angie
Wow!! These were amazing!!! My family gobbled them up, even my little kiddos! I did exactly what the recipe said and it was awesome!
Azeneth
Can you cook these in the air fryer?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi! Yes you could. I haven't personally tested it out though so you'll have to guess on the time, etc.
Kell
I did, I don't think the taste would be the same as cooking in oil but they were pretty good - the honey mustard sauce helped.
JASON HOLUBEC
sorry missed the rating.
5 star
JASON HOLUBEC
This rocks. I was a little skeptical. But.. family ate it up.
We add addition heat, but base is great.
Thanks so much.
Charlie
Thank you for this recipe! The nuggets are very tender and tasty, and the ease of putting the chicken in a plastic bag to shake coat makes this an easy prep unlike so many recipes. Leftover chicken heats well in the oven for a second delicious meal. The chicken has so much flavor with the crust and the marinated meat, using a sauce on them is not necessary.
Ruthie
We've never even tried a Chick Fil A anything, but these were very good. I decided on spur of the moment to try it so I didn't have buttermilk so I used some half n' half, milk and vinegar to make a pseudo buttermilk -- they were delicious but next time I will buy buttermilk because I'm sure they will just be better. I also made the honey mustard and a sweet n sour sauce, very yummy! Thanks
Ann
Can these be made in an air fryer? If so, at what temperature and how long?
Joanna Sacgoski
so amazing my family loved them!
Seth Thomad
Awesome. My kids absolutely love these. Can't tell the difference. I prefer them with less sugar so usually make twi batches at a time. Never last more than 2 or 3 days.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Love hearing that! Thank you Seth!
Rebecca
Now that air frying is all the rage, how would I go about converting to an air fry recipe?
Melissa Hamilton
So, so good! My grandkids new favorite!
Mom1
Is it ok to bake the chicken?
Connie Sears
would you freeze these before or after cooking?
Arabella
I love this chicken. These look crunchy and delicious!
Steve Puu
How creative!. It is so delicious. Thank for sharing. I love chicken. I'm going to try it now
Camille Y.
My girls love chick-fil-a and the little bites they sell in the morning are addictive so to be able to do them at home is an extra bonus. Thank you.
Heather
I can't wait to try these! I don't have an electric fryer and I don't have a cast iron skillet--any other suggestions? Nonstick skillet or bake in the oven? Thanks!
Jonathan
I used to work at Chic-fil-a and made the nuggets when I worked there. The only thing different in your process is that they use Butter Milk instead of regular milk to soak the chicken in before battering. So your note about buttermilk was spot-on. Well done!
Kara
I am very excited to try this recipe!! I worked at Chick-fil-a so I've breaded and pressure cooked my fair share of chicken. The only difference I see is that they soak the nuggets in a marinade before they freeze them for storage. When they thaw out the nuggets, directly before putting them in the pressure cooker they toss them in the milk wash and then the flour coat.
corey
I encourage everyone to make these. Don't be scared of frying - it adds so much flavor!