Chickfila nugget lovers will appreciate how these homemade nuggets turn into a Copycat Chick fil A Nuggets recipe that tastes like the famous recipe everyone craves, made with juicy buttermilk chicken and a simple diy method. This homemade chickfila nuggets recipe breaks down how to make Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets so they come out golden, tender, and just right, with easy steps anyone can handle. You'll save time and money while still enjoying one of the best takeout copycat recipes, complete with dipping sauce ideas the whole family looks forward to. Pin this now so you always have an easy, go-to dinner idea ready whenever the craving hits.
Why this is the best copycat Chick Fil A nuggets recipe
This copycat Chick-fil-A nugget recipe is versatile. It's perfect for any family meal or a kids' party. You can even serve them alongside of homemade Chick Fil A sauce and frozen waffle fries!
This easy Chick Fil A nugget recipe is absolutely delicious! The combination of marinated chicken that is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, then coated in breading and serve with a dollop of homemade Chick Fil A sauce, is divine!
This recipe makes the best Chick Fil A nuggets anytime! It's super easy to make and quick enough for busy weeknight dinners. Serve with homemade Chick Fil A sauce and waffle fries, and it's a whole family meal you can feel good about serving.
This is an easy recipe for authentic Chick Fil A nuggets. Marinate your diced chicken in milk and pickle juice. Whisk the breading. Dip the nuggets in the breading and flour mixture, and fry. That's it!
The ingredients for the dish are common and easy to find. You likely already have most of the simple ingredients for this famous Chick Fil A nugget recipe in your pantry. If you need an ingredient or two, you can easily find them in most local grocery stores or on Amazon!
This Chick Fil A recipe tastes amazing! This chicken nugget recipe is delicious on its own. But you will want (actually, need!) to serve it alongside Chick-fil-A's delicious sauce recipe and frozen waffle fries! What a treat!
What you'll need to make chickfila nuggets
Equipment
- Dutch oven or a deep fryer cooks the nuggets evenly with the same flavor as CFA
- Food processor to chop the Ritz crackers up finely
- Paper towels to remove excess grease from the nuggets and to allow the chicken to rest after being fried
Ingredients
See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all measurements and nutritional information.
- boneless skinless chicken breast - This should be cut into bite-sized pieces. You can also use chicken thighs, although CFA uses only breast meat. It's easiest to buy breast tenders and cut those into bite-sized pieces.
- dill pickle juice - Just the juice from a jar of plain kosher dill pickles. Don't get fancy and use garlic dills or spicy dills unless you want to alter the flavor.
- Ritz crackers - You need the buttery flavor of Ritz brand crackers.
- plain breadcrumbs - To augment the cracker crumbs.
- all-purpose flour - To help the breading stick to the chicken.
- paprika - For flavor
- black pepper, freshly ground, if possible
- salt - For flavor
- powdered sugar - Believe it or not, this goes into the breading mixture. Don't skip it!
- peanut oil for frying - CFA uses peanut oil. If you use a different variety of oil, your nuggets will taste a little different. Not bad, just different.
- Chick fil A sauce - Make this at home or buy a bottle in the grocery store. It's usually found with the ketchup and BBQ sauce.
How to make Chick fil A Nuggets recipe
- Combine the milk and pickle juice in a large bowl.
- Add the cut-up chicken pieces to the milk mixture. Make sure they are covered. Cover with plastic wrap and move the bowl to the fridge to marinate for 2-3 hours.
- To make the breading for the chicken nuggets, use a food processor to finely crush the crackers.
- Mix the cracker crumbs with the breadcrumbs, flour, paprika, pepper, salt, and powdered sugar.
- When you are ready to fry, add peanut oil to a deep frying pan, a dutch oven, or a deep fryer. You want enough oil to cover the nuggets. Heat the oil to 350-360ºF.
- You can dredge your nuggets in the breading mixture one by one or place the breading mixture in a zippered plastic bag, add the nuggets, and shake them up until well coated.
- When the oil is hot enough, drop the nuggets in and let them fry until golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Do this in batches and do not overcrowd the pan.
- Drain the nuggets on paper towels and repeat with the other batches until they are all cooked.
- Serve hot with Chick Fil A Sauce!
Substitutions & variations
Any buttery cracker will work in the breading. I like to use a food processor to crush mine, but you can also crush them up in a bag; you just want to make sure they are a fine crumb.
To get a true Chick Fil A taste, you need to use kosher dill pickle juice, not bread and butter pickles or hot pickles, just plain dill.
Though it sounds a little odd, do not skip the powdered sugar; it is what gives these nuggets their signature taste.
You can definitely use chicken tenderloins (or "tenders") in this recipe, either cut into nuggets or as chicken strips.
I like to serve these with frozen waffle fries for a true copycat dinner!
If you'd like to create these nuggets spicy, add cayenne pepper and/or smoked paprika to the breading and a few dashes of hot sauce to the milk marinade.
After frying the nuggets, drizzle them with honey or hot honey for an even more delicious flavor.
Storing leftovers
You can refrigerate the leftovers for up to 3 days and reheat chicken nuggets in the air fryer at 350ºF for 3-5 minutes. Make sure they are in a single layer. The microwave will make them soggy.
You can keep the sauce in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to 5 days.
Check out more delicious chicken recipes
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Thighs
- Low Carb Gluten Free Dairy Free Chicken Tenders - so delicious!
- Balsamic Chicken Marinade
- Buffalo Chicken Tacos
- Creamy Baked Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Curry
- Instant Pot Mongolian Chicken - P.F. Chang's Copycat
- Indonesian Peanut Butter Chicken
- Jerk Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos
Recipe
Copycat Chick Fil A Nuggets Recipe
Equipment
- Dutch oven or a deep fryer
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup dill pickle juice
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers
- 1½ cups plain breadcrumbs
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons paprika
- 1½ teaspoons black pepper freshly ground, if possible
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- peanut oil for frying
- Chick fil A sauce
Instructions
- Combine the milk and pickle juice in a large bowl.
- Add the cut-up chicken pieces to the milk mixture in the bowl. Make sure they are covered. Move the bowl to the fridge to marinate for 2-3 hours.
- To make the breading for the chicken nuggets, use a food processor to finely crush the crackers.
- Mix the cracker crumbs with the breadcrumbs, flour, paprika, pepper, salt, and powdered sugar.
- When you are ready to fry, add peanut oil to a deep frying pan, a dutch oven, or a deep fryer. You want enough oil to cover the nuggets. Heat the oil to 350-360ºF.
- You can dredge your nuggets in the breading mixture one by one or place the breading mixture in a zippered plastic bag, add the nuggets, and shake them up until well coated.
- When the oil is hot enough, drop in the nuggets and let them fry until golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Do this in batches and do not overcrowd the pan.
- Drain the nuggets on paper towels and repeat with the other batches until they are all cooked.
- Serve hot with Chick Fil A Sauce!
Comments
No Comments