Chick-fil-A Nuggets Copycat Recipe
Crispy, bite-size chicken nuggets marinated in milk and pickle juice, coated in a seasoned flour mixture, and deep-fried until golden and cooked through.
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 medium chicken breastsboneless skinless
- 1/2 cupwhole milk
- 1/2 cuppickle juicesee note
- 1 large eggbeaten
- 1 cupall-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoonpowdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoonsalt
- 1/4 teaspoonblack pepper
- vegetable oilfor frying
Instructions
Instructions
- Slice 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-size pieces about 1 inch each (slice into thick strips, then cut each strip into 3–4 pieces).
- Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl. Add ½ cup whole milk and ½ cup pickle juice, stir to combine, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- After chilling, add 1 large beaten egg to the chicken and stir to coat. Set the bowl aside.
- In a resealable plastic bag, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper; seal and shake to mix.
- Pour vegetable oil into a medium saucepan (enough for frying) and heat to 350°F (175°C).
- Working in small batches, add a few pieces of the egg-coated chicken to the flour mixture in the bag, seal, and shake until each piece is evenly coated. Let excess flour fall back into the bag, then transfer the coated pieces to a wire rack set over a baking sheet.
- Fry the coated chicken pieces in the hot oil in batches, avoiding overcrowding. Fry until the coating is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature 165°F / 74°C), about 3–5 minutes per batch depending on piece size. Turn pieces as needed for even browning.
- Use a slotted spoon or tongs to transfer fried nuggets to the wire rack to drain. Keep nuggets warm while you finish frying the remaining batches.
- Repeat coating and frying until all pieces are cooked. Serve hot with your preferred dipping sauce.
Equipment
- Large Bowl
- Resealable Plastic Bag
- Medium Saucepan
- Wire Rack
- Baking Sheet
- Slotted spoon or tongs
- Instant-read thermometer
Notes
The total time is an estimate.
Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use a calorie counter you are familiar with.
If you place coated chicken nuggets on a plate, they will stick to it as they sit while you fry the batches. Wire rack works better here.
Cooling fried nuggets on a wire rack keeps them crispy. If you place them on a paper towel, they may become soggy.
If you want to skip the pickle juice, I recommend using buttermilk or milk with lemon juice for marinating.
Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use a calorie counter you are familiar with.
If you place coated chicken nuggets on a plate, they will stick to it as they sit while you fry the batches. Wire rack works better here.
Cooling fried nuggets on a wire rack keeps them crispy. If you place them on a paper towel, they may become soggy.
If you want to skip the pickle juice, I recommend using buttermilk or milk with lemon juice for marinating.