Chick-fil-A Nuggets Recipe

About Chick-fil-A Nuggets:

• Flavor: Chick-fil-A fried chicken has a savory flavor with just a hint of sweet. I used powdered sugar in the flour mixture to add that touch of sweetness. Otherwise you’ll taste the dill from the brine (which is optional) and the light seasonings.
• Texture: I’ll give you tips below on how to keep the chicken nuggets crispy to perfection. Because soggy chicken nuggets are no good! These homemade nuggets are crispy on the outside, but tender and juicy on the inside.

Dill Pickle Brine

There’s been a hot debate over the years as to whether Chick-fil-A soaks their pieces of boneless chicken breast in dill pickle juice before frying. There are reputable sources that say this not true; the dill flavor comes from the pickle on the sandwich.

Since this recipe is for nuggets, you can skip the dill pickle brine if you’d like, which makes this recipe much quicker. My family, however, LOVES the pickle flavor that Chick-fil-A has, so we choose to brine the chicken first, then fry. It gives a unique flavor that isn’t found in our other fried chicken recipes.

Does Chick-fil-A use MSG?

MSG is a flavor enhancer in many fast foods and packaged foods. You can buy it at the grocery store under the name of Accent. Most people like to steer clear of this ingredient, but it is listed on Chick-fil-A’s nugget ingredient list (monosodium glutamate) on the restaurant’s menu. It does enhance flavor so without it you won’t get a true copycat recipe.

Tips for Making Copycat Chick fil A Chicken Nuggets

• Use cornstarch in the flour mixture. You may use cornstarch to thicken puddings and gravies, but because it absorbs moisture so well, it is great for crispy chicken as well. Use one cup of flour and ¼ cup cornstarch for a fantastic crunch.
• Double coat the chicken. Coat each piece of chicken piece with flour, then dunk it in the milk mixture, then coat it again in flour. This will help the chicken be nice and crispy.
• Fry the chicken in peanut oil. According to the Chick-fil-A website, they fry their chicken in peanut oil.
• Use an internal probe thermometer to check the oil temperature. What temperature do you fry chicken at? 350ºF. You want to keep the oil as close to that temperature as possible during the frying process. That means you’ll have to test the temperature of the hot oil often and adjust the heat as needed.
• Use an internal probe thermometer to check the chicken. You can remove it from the butter to the wire rack when it is 165º Fahrenheit inside.
• Place fried chicken nuggets on a wire rack to cool. If you put the chicken on a flat plate or surface, it can sit in any excess butter, making the breading soggy. Instead, when you take the chicken from the frying pan, place it on a wire rack with a pan, paper towels or parchment underneath to catch any drips. This will help keep the underside of the fried chicken crispy.

Air Fryer Instructions

You can make nuggets in the airfryer. They will turn out a little differently, but if you are used to the air fryer, they are definitely worth trying to save a few calories.

• Preheat the air fryer to 390ºF.
• Spray the air fryer pan or grates with peanut oil. The air fryer I have is a mesh grate and the breading did stick slightly. Greasing the grates will help that slightly.
• Place the floured chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the nuggets with peanut oil.
• Cook for about 3 minutes, then flip and spray again with oil. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the nuggets test done (internal temperature of 165ºF).