These Copycat Chick-Fil-A Nuggets are the perfect copycat recipe. They’re made in the air fryer so it’s super easy to make these chicken nuggets at home. I have used them for snack time, game time or dinner time.
I also serve the nuggets with my copycat Chick-Fil-A sauce. Another of my families favorite copycat recipes is my Ruth Chris dessert berry recipe.
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Why this Copycat Chick-Fil-A Nuggets Recipe is a Keeper
My family and I love chick-fil-a so I make this copycat chick fil a chicken nuggets recipe whenever anyone in my house is craving chick fil a. These nuggets are super easy to throw in the fryer and cook.
- Authentic Flavor: I love this recipe because it captures that signature savory and slightly sweet taste that makes Chick-fil-A nuggets so addictive. The brine is key to achieving that distinctive flavor.
- Kid-Friendly Favorite: Let’s be honest, kids (and many adults!) love these nuggets. Making them at home is a budget-friendly way to satisfy those cravings. Plus making your own dipping sauce is easy.
- Customizable Seasoning: While aiming for the original, you have the flexibility to adjust the spices to your liking.
- Healthier Than Fast Food: By making chic fil a at home, you control the ingredients and the oil used for frying (or air frying!). Not to mention it’s better than actual chick fil a.
- Fun to Make: It’s a relatively straightforward process that can even involve the family.
How Do I Get the Breading to Stick Well?
The best way that I have found to get the breading to stick is to dry off the chicken cubes. Take a paper towel and pat the nuggets dry before breading.
Pro Tip for Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Don’t Over-Brine: While brining is crucial, don’t brine for longer than the recommended time, as the acid can make the chicken texture mushy.
Ingredient Notes and Variation Suggestions this Copycat Chick Fil A Nuggets Recipe
To make this chick fil a recipe, you will need just a few easy to find ingredients. This chick fil a nuggets recipe is super customizable, so try substituting with different ingredients.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Pickle Juice: Feel free to either use sweet pickle juice or dill pickle juice. This is what makes it taste like chick-fil-a.
- All Purpose Seasoning: Make your own All Purpose Seasoning to have on hand when you need a boot of flavor. Plus it tenderizes the chicken.
- Spicy Chicken: Adjust the amount of black pepper and cayenne pepper to control the heat. You can also add a pinch of smoked paprika for a smoky note.
- Herbs: A pinch of dried thyme or rosemary can add a subtle herbaceousness.
- Chicken: Chicken breasts are classic and make working with nuggets super easy. Cut the chicken breasts into bite size pieces or into chicken tenders.
- Different Cuts of Chicken: You could also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a slightly more tender and flavorful nugget. Adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Sweetness: The powdered sugar contributes a subtle sweetness. You can slightly increase or decrease it to your preference.
- Gluten-Free: Try this recipe gluten free. Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and ensure your powdered sugar doesn’t contain any gluten additives.
- Air Fryer Version: For a lighter option, you can adapt this recipe for the air fryer. Follow the breading steps, lightly spray the nuggets with oil, and cook in a preheated air fryer at around 375°F (190°C) for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through. The texture won’t be exactly the same as deep-fried, but still delicious.
- Dipping Sauces: Experiment with different dipping sauces beyond the classic Chick-fil-A sauce. Try making Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Ranch Dip, or a Chipotle Mayo.
Special Equipment Needed for Chick Fil A Nuggets
Sometimes to make a recipe just right, a certain kitchen item can be helpful. To make these copycat chick-fil-a chicken nuggets, all that’s needed is an air fryer.
- Air Fryer: Fry chicken nuggets in the air fryer, rather than trying to work with a deep fryer. Air frying also helps to cut down on grease.
How to Make Air Fryer Copycat Chick Fil A Chicken Nuggets
This great recipe for easy chicken nuggets comes together in just 4 easy to follow steps. These juicy chicken copycat nuggets are so easy and delicious, they’re better than chick fil a.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken breasts to a bag with the pickle juice. Let marinate in the fridge.
- Prepare the Breading Station: In a mixing bowl, combine egg and milk. In another bowl, mix the flour, powdered sugar, All Purpose Seasoning and paprika.
- Bread the Nuggets: Drain the nuggets and add the chicken pieces to the flour mixture. Coat the chicken in the egg mixture, and then again in the flour.
- Fry the Nuggets: Place the chicken into the air fryer basket and spray with cooking oil. Cook for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway to respray.
Prep Ahead Suggestions to Make Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets and Dipping Sauce
When I prepare ingredients ahead of time to make chicken nuggets, it can help save me time and kitchen space when it comes to making everything for dinner.
- Chicken Brine: The most crucial step you can do ahead is the brine. Prepare the milk, pickle juice, and seasonings and let the chicken pieces soak in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or ideally 2-4 hours (but no longer than 6-8 hours as the acid can start to break down the chicken too much).
- Dry Coating: You can mix the flour and spices for the breading ahead of time and store it in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Cut the Chicken: If you’re starting with chicken breasts, you can cut them into nugget-sized pieces in advance and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to brine.
How to Store Air Fry Chicken Nuggets, Reheat Chicken Nuggets and Use Leftovers
- Storing: Store any nuggets and sauce leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat fried food like chick fil a nuggets in the air fryer. Place chicken in the air fryer at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
- Using Leftovers: Enjoy leftovers of this delicious recipe with Chunky Blue Cheese Sauce.
Common Questions About This Crispy Nuggets Copycat Recipe
The pickle juice marinade makes the chicken recipe super juicy and tender. It also adds the classic chick fil a taste to the chicken.
Yes, but keep in mind it may slightly alter the flavor and texture of the delicious nuggets.
Don’t be scared of the powdered sugar, it does not make the nuggets super sweet. You can decrease the amount if you wish, but it helps to bring together the batter.
When the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees in the biggest piece of chicken, they are done.
Expert Tips to Make Air Fry Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets
- Keep Wet and Dry Separate: Have one hand for dipping the chicken into the egg mixture and the other for coating it in the flour mixture. This prevents clumping on your fingers.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Frying Pan: Fry the nuggets in batches to maintain the oil temperature and ensure even cooking and crisping. Overcrowding will lower the oil temperature and result in soggy nuggets.
- Maintain Oil Temperature: Use a thermometer to monitor the peanut oil temperature and keep it consistent around 325-350°F (160-175°C).
- Let Excess Oil Drain: After frying, place the nuggets on a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil and help maintain their crispiness.
- Serve Immediately for Best Results: Like most fried foods, these nuggets are best enjoyed fresh and hot.
- Experiment with the Grind of Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper can offer a more robust flavor compared to pre-ground pepper.
- Sauce Copycat: Make a copycat of the famous Chick Fil A Sauce.
- Sandwiches: Slice chicken breasts in half, rather than cubing them, to make chick fil-a chicken sandwiches. Place the crispy chicken in a bun and top with honey mustard dipping sauce and any other toppings you like.
- Serve this Recipe: Serve homemade chick fil a nuggets with Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Smoked Bacon Mac and Cheese or Pineapple Lemonade.
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Chick Fil a Nuggets (Copycat Recipe)
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Ingredients
- ½ cup Pickle juice
- 2 Chicken breasts, cubed into nuggets
- ¼ cup Powdered sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 cup Milk
- 1 Tablespoon All Purpose Seasoning
- ½ Tablespoon Paprika
- 1 ½ cup Flour
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 370℉.
- Place cubed chicken into gallon size bag and pour in pickle juice. Shake and place back in refrigerator for 30-45 minutes.
- Mix egg and milk in a bowl until completely combined. In another bowl, mix together powdered sugar, flour and spices.
- Drain nuggets and place in flour. Then dredge in egg mixture, and then again in the flour mixture.
- Place the battered nuggets in air fryer basket and spray with cooking oil.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping and respraying halfway through.
- Let nuggets cool for 5 minutes before eating.
Christina’s Notes
- Keep Wet and Dry Separate: Have one hand for dipping the chicken into the egg mixture and the other for coating it in the flour mixture. This prevents clumping on your fingers.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Frying Pan: Fry the nuggets in batches to maintain the oil temperature and ensure even cooking and crisping. Overcrowding will lower the oil temperature and result in soggy nuggets.
- Maintain Oil Temperature: Use a thermometer to monitor the peanut oil temperature and keep it consistent around 325-350°F (160-175°C).
- Let Excess Oil Drain: After frying, place the nuggets on a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil and help maintain their crispiness.
- Serve Immediately for Best Results: Like most fried foods, these nuggets are best enjoyed fresh and hot.
- Experiment with the Grind of Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper can offer a more robust flavor compared to pre-ground pepper.
- Sauce Copycat: Make a copycat of the famous Chick Fil A Sauce.
- Sandwiches: Slice chicken breasts in half, rather than cubing them, to make chick fil-a chicken sandwiches. Place the crispy chicken in a bun and top with honey mustard dipping sauce and any other toppings you like.
- Serve this Recipe: Serve homemade chick fil a nuggets with Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Smoked Bacon Mac and Cheese or Pineapple Lemonade.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Good tasty nuggets and easy enough to make. But it’s not like Chick-fil-A.
I love this, there isn’t a Chic Fil A near me and sometimes I just want nuggets!
I cannot wait to try these delicious-looking chicken nuggets. I just love the ones from Chick Fil A.
Thanks for sharing this chick fil a nuggets! Really easy to make and it tasted amazing! Will make this one again!
I love these. The flavor is so wonderful but not heavy or greasy. Thanks!!!