Really? Just like Chick-fil-A?
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.
Pickle juice or no pickle juice? That is the question…
Take these chicken nuggets for example. I played around with this recipe for a while trying to get them to taste like my favorite nuggets at Chick-Fil-A. I even tried adding pickle juice to the batter because I heard that’s what they do at Chick-Fil-A. Note: it didn’t add anything to the flavor (in my humble opinion) so I haven’t added it since.
So here’s my disclaimer, these do not taste exactly like those famous nuggets, but they do taste pretty daggone good. They are juicy, tender, and have a nice, slightly sweet exterior. And my family really loves them, so that’s all that really matters, isn’t it?
Ingredients:2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup milk or buttermilk (2% or higher)*
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3 tbsp. powdered sugar
1/2 tbsp. corn starch
2 1/2 tsp. table salt
1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
vegetable or peanut oil 
*Cook’s Notes: If you can use buttermilk in here – do it. It adds great flavor.
*Cook’s Notes: If you can use buttermilk in here – do it. It adds great flavor.Directions:
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 and egg.
Place cubed chicken into 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.
About 4-6 minutes.
Remove and drain on paper towels.
Continue with above steps until all your chicken is cooked. Serve with your favorite sauce.
Enjoy!
Served here with my favorite Honey Mustard Sauce
Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets
Print Pin RatePrep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 347kcal
Ingredients
- 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup milk 2% or higher
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 3 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1/2 tbsp corn starch
- 2 1/2 tsp table salt
- 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- vegetable or peanut oil
Instructions
- Cube chicken breasts into bite size pieces, trimming away any excess skin that might be hanging on.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together milk and egg.
- Place cubed chicken into milk/egg mixture.
- 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, 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.
- Remove and drain on paper towels.
- Continue with above steps until all your chicken is cooked.
Notes
Use buttermilk if you have it, it adds great flavor. Serve with your favorite sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 1071mg | Potassium: 657mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 105IU | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 2.2mg
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I encourage everyone to make these. Don’t be scared of frying – it adds so much flavor!
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.
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!
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!
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.
How creative!. It is so delicious. Thank for sharing. I love chicken. I'm going to try it now
I love this chicken. These look crunchy and delicious!
would you freeze these before or after cooking?
Is it ok to bake the chicken?
So, so good! My grandkids new favorite!
Now that air frying is all the rage, how would I go about converting to an air fry recipe?
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.
Love hearing that! Thank you Seth!