Chick-fil-A Nuggets are a perfect copycat with no pickle juice, made with all white meat and a crispy, seasoned breading fried in peanut oil.
Chick-fil-A Nuggets are a sore subject in our house because we are evenly divided between these nuggets and KFC popcorn chicken. As a mom, when we’re out and about to stop in a fast food option I tend to go with Chick-fil-A or In-n-Out just for small wins that make me feel like at least they seem freshest.
Chick-fil-A has become our non-burger favorite spot. It also helps that they make the best lemonade of all time (recipe coming soon). One of my only frustrations with them is the lines and the cost. Anytime we go there is a giant line in the drive-thru and with little kids in the car my patience is usually shorter than the wait.
So when we buy these chicken nuggets I also drive through to get popcorn chicken to avoid hearing about the “I don’t like sweet nuggets” from the peanut gallery. Yes, Chick-fil-A nuggets have a hint of sweetness in them (recreated here with powdered sugar), I personally like them but given my options I would probably choose a less sweetened version of chicken nuggets.
Looking for more Copycat recipes? I have a TON of them on the blog! Here is a whole Index of Copycat Recipes.
Tools Used in the making of these Chick-fil-A Nuggets:
Lodge Cast Dutch Oven: – I use this dutch oven for a lot of frying and braising.
Pig Tail Flipper: – I use this *almost* more than I use tongs in the kitchen. Flipping is so quick and doesn’t smash foods.
Spider Strainer: Love these strainers for quickly draining oil away and scooping out fried food.
Breadcrumbs: Great plain breadcrumbs, I normally use panko, but for this recipe I recommend these.
Breading Station: I use this because the pans are wide with a flat bottom. If you have small rectangular plates use those, I wouldn’t use curved bowls for breading stations as it could knock some breading off.
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 pound chicken breasts cut into 1" chunks
- 3/4 cup flour
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 3 inches of peanut oil
Instructions
- In a food processor, add the breadcrumbs and process until very fine.
- In a large ziplock bag or a bowl add the chicken pieces, the milk and the eggs and combine. (I usually just close the bag and squish it together)
- Put the chicken in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.
- In a large dutch oven fill it 3 inches deep with peanut oil and heat to 365-375 degrees (medium high heat until a piece dropped in immediately bubbles up but doesn’t burn quickly).
- Put the breadcrumbs, flour, powdered sugar, Kosher salt, white pepper, chili powder in a bowl and whisk together.
- Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour mixture and let dry for a few minutes.
- Fry in batches (avoid crowding them) until golden brown (2-3 minutes) and remove to a sheet pan.
- Don’t drain on paper towels, it’ll create steam and soften the nuggets.
Nutrition
Really good recipe. I was honestly so surprised how close this recipe is to the original. My partner and I made these tonight and we were shocked at how good everything turned out. One question though; what is the best way to store the leftovers? I want to eat this tomorrow and even share it with my neighbours
Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I like to reheat them in the oven so they don’t get chewy or rubbery. They should take around 10 minutes to reheat in a 350 degree oven. I’m so glad you enjoyed them.
My 5 year old daughter told us she wants to work at Chik-fil-a when she grows up, so we made these nuggets and let her serve everyone. My husband said they were “the best chicken nuggets I’ve ever had” They definitely look like chik-fil-a nuggets and the taste is similar (a little more mild in flavor than chikfila). Frying stuff is so much work though- this is just a very occasional meal.
Am I able to do this in the air fryer?
I haven’t tested it but if you decide to try, I’d love to know how it turns out. Thanks!
Hello! I just made them in the air fryer with success. I spritzed them with oil and shook three times. I set the temp at 390 and cooked for approximately 10 minutes. The color is NOT the same as frying in oil, but the texture is crispy.
Thanks for the feedback, Tricia.
Would olive oil work?
Sure
I LOVE THEM
Sorry but not even close and absolutely bland. I previously used a different recipe that was spot on but unfortunately lost it. Thought I’d try this one and was very disappointed.
I added 1 Tbsp seasoned salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the egg-milk mixture. Then, I sprinkled salt on the nuggets after they were done frying. Very tasty.
Yummy and delicious! I used boneless/skinless chicken thighs in place of the chicken breast because that’s all I had available I just made sure to make sure almost all of the fat was removed from the thighs. I did add half a cup of pickle juice to the egg and milk mixture. It came out so, so good I couldn’t stop eating it while I was cooking each batch. I also didn’t have peanut oil so I used avocado oil instead. yummy!
OMG, I can’t believe how close these are to the real thing! I actually had a pack of Chick fil A BBQ sauce and I honestly could not taste too much difference AND I did not have/use peanut oil, nor the eggs, and I drained on paper towels. So, next time I’ll be sure to follow the directions totally and I’m certain I won’t be able to tell AT ALL, that I’m not eating the “real thang!” Thanks for such a great “copycat”?recipe.
My grandson, who is 17, is a picky eater but loves Chic-fil-a nuggets and the Polynesian sauce. I made both your recipes for these last night and he loved them. Actually I don’t believe I’ve ever seen him eat so much. He said they were spot on and wants me to make them a couple times a week.
The nearest Chic-fil-a to us is over an hour drive so you saved us a long drive plus the high cost of their nuggets. Thanks so much and can’t wait to try some of your other recipes.
You’re welcome, Gerry.
Followed recipe exactly but this tastes nothing like Chic fil a. It still tastes kinda decent, maybe i just need to play with it a little more
Can I use another oil?
Sure 🙂
These are SO GOOD!!!! Super easy and really delicious. My kids love Chick-Fil-A but we don’t go that after because the lines are always sooooo long, so now I can make them at home!! If you haven’t tried this recipe, what are you waiting for?? Amazing.
Thanks for the kind words, Amanda. Glad to know they’re such a hit!
Very close!
I doubled the pepper & sugar in my last batch and that made a big difference!
These are spot on to the original, and the powdered sugar is the surprising secret ingredient. It’s shocking how many nuggets come from 1 lb of chicken, it’s equivalent to 4-5 Chick-Fil-A 12 piece orders.
Oh yes, homemade is a much easier on the budget.
Best nuggets I have made at home. My husband said that in his opinion, they are better than Chick-Fil-A. Thanks for the recipe!
do we have to scramble the eggs when making this
I usually just squish it all together in the bag but you can whisk them first if you’d like. Enjoy!
What do you do with the liquid from the eggs and milk do you drain all that out from the chicken before adding to the dry ingredients?
Yes, you take the chicken out of the milk and egg mixture and dredge it in the flour mixture. Enjoy!
taste nothing like Chic-Fil-A. Followed recipe exactly. Good, but not what I was looking for.
How long would it cook in an air fryer and what temperature?
I’ve not tested it using an air fryer.
Have you ever tried to bake these??
They won’t have the same crispiness but you can bake them. Bake at 400 for around 20-25 minutes or until golden brown, flipping once. Good luck!
Just made these tonight with some home grown chicken. Also adapted to GF using GF breadcrumbs and GF flower. Turned out amazingly good. My wife loved them.
as a vegetarian i missed chick fil a chicken so much! so i tried this with seitan instead of ground chicken. it was amazing!!!! i’m so happy i found this recipe!
What can I say. Using quality organic ingredients, these knock the socks off the originals! The ONLY adjustment I made was to up the salt and chili powder just a bit. Don’t think I can eat the restaurant version ever again.
Glad to know they’re such a hit! Thanks for the 5 stars.
Is there an alternative to the eggs? We have an egg allergy in the family.
I haven’t tested it with an alternative. If you decide to try, I’d love to know what works. Thanks
I use JUST egg. It’s a delicious vegan egg that you can scramble, omelet and use for coating. It comes in a clear bottle with the yellow liquid. Imo, tastes better than real egg. Just add salt and pepper as you wish.
I made this recipe tonight. OMG! So delicious! I wouldn’t change a thing. I served it with sweet potato fries and mixed up some honey and mustard for dipping.
My daughter has limited sugar for her diet. Could I eliminate the sugar from this?
I’ve not tested it that way before. If you decide to try, I’d love to know how it turns out. Thanks!
You can, but they will not be like they are in the restaurant. This recipe makes a surprising amount, so 2T gets distributed quite a bit. Splenda would probably make a good substitute.
Or, you could always try Swerve powdered sugar substitute. 🙂
Do u have to add the white pepper and chili powder
To be a copycat, yes, but if you don’t want to add them they just won’t be as seasoned.
I got chick-fil-a a couple days before and had some extra Polynesian sitting in the fridge so I decided to make this.I ran down to the store down the street grabbed some chicken and potatoes (to make potatoes wedges).This recipe was super easy and simple to make.i hate making chicken because it always ends up raw in the middle but these came out moist,crunchy and deliciousss.when dipping these in my sauce I couldn’t tell the difference between these and the real thing.i’ll be making these again
Thanks for coming back to let me know!
Hi! Anyway you can make these in the air fryer ?
I’ve not personally tested so if you decided to try, I’d love to know how it turns out. Thanks!
I’ve made these in the air fryer before! I just did the coating the same as listed in the recipe and then spritzed the air fryer with some oil, filled the bottom of the air fryer with some of the nuggets, and shook them around a bit so the oil got on them a little. Then, just check them periodically and spritz with more oil if they look too floury! They turned out great!
Have you tried doing this with whole chicken breasts to make the chicken sandwich? Do you think it would turn out okay?
I tried an “inspired” recipe: https://dinnerthendessert.com/chick-fil-a-inspired-crispy-chicken-sandwich-and-lemonade/
But haven’t used this exact recipe to duplicate. Try it with both and see which ones works out best for you. They’re mildly different. Enjoy!
The same recipe is great for the whole breast. just make sure it’s thin enough.
Should I use nonfat milk, since that is the type in the ingredient list from Chick-fil-a? I’m really excited about trying this recipe. Thank you!
Sure 🙂
My daughter found this recipe online and was excited for me to make it. I just finished making this recipe and it came out fantastic! My family and I agree that this is pretty darn close to the real thing, and will be making this on a regular! Thank you for such an awesome recipe!
This is a great basic recipe that really inspired me! On my second try I cut the bread crumbs and flour down to 1/2 cup each and I didn’t process the crumbs. I think it’s a little closer! I also cut back to one egg and half the milk and it was plenty. Just make sure you put it in a container where all the chicken is covered.
This recipe was great. Wondered if without the pickle juice, the strips wouldn’t be as tender. They were so good. Doubled the spices and made copycat canes sauce. My new go to….
I have made this recipe many times now. I make a double batch of the dipping sauce, my husband loves it. One shortcut, is powdered buttermilk, I can make the chicken marinade any time I have a craving. I use the liquid smoke hint, as recommended in the sauce recipe dialogue, and I used my spice grinder to process the panko bread crumbs, as recommended for the chicken dredge. I keep my panko in the freezer just for this recipe. The only thing I add is a slight sprinkling or dusting of Knorr Aromat seasoning on the chicken nuggets after they are fried. The Aromat adds an umami touch to the finished chicken. This is a really easy and tasty copycat recipe.
We use the leftover chicken on a salad too. Yummy cold.
can i save the milk/egg and flour mixture ?
You can make a bigger batch and just take from there but once the chicken touches the mixture, you want to toss whatever you don’t use because you’ve got a contamination risk.
We live in Taiwan and my husband was wanting an American-style meal. I made this for Father’s Day. I made A LOT of chicken, so we invited some South African friends over, too. Everyone raved about the chicken. My own children kept saying it was like Chick-fil-A, and our friends were asking what is Chick-fil-A, haha! I had to make my own panko, but I found a how-to online, too. Everything worked out wonderfully. I am so pleased to have found this recipe and I love how it’s worded. Easy to follow! Thanks, Sabrina! You’re the best!
How awesome, Rebecca!
Not sure what I did wrong. I followed the recipe exactly and did not taste great at all. No flavor whatsoever. Really disappointing =(
I looked around and saw a number of different recipes which seemed really complicated. Saw this one and it seemed so simple, so I gave it a try. First time I did it with Panko pulsed, but they were too crunchy and oil was to hot. Second time used the bread crumbs you suggested and they were awesome. Powdered sugar works so well, I added some Ancho chile powder to the breading.
I asked my 9 year old daughter if they tasted like chix fil-a and she said”…yes, but better!”
Yay!! Thanks for coming back to let me know, Brian.
I can’t say these taste like Chik-Fil-A nuggets, but this is a solid recipe, and my family actually liked this recipe better than the real thing! The one thing I love is that they aren’t too salty, which is one of my issues with Chik-Fil-A nuggets. Paired with the knockoff Chik-Fli-A sauce, this is definitely a make again!
What kinda breadcrumbs I use !? Should I make my own with wheat bread !? Or which one you recommend !?
I am adding my ingredients to make this. My kids and my toddler 1 year old. Loveeee chick fil a chicken nuggets !
For feedback ! I will love to see a video in how you make this chicken nuggets for clarifications. Thanks
You can easily use your own but in a pinch, I like Progresso bread crumbs.
Thank you! What do you do wit the leftover oil?
You can store it for up to 6 months and reuse. Just make sure that all the food particles have been filtered out before storing.
Very excited to try this recipe but we don’t have peanut oil, only vegetable/canola. Will it still work? any suggestions?
yes though peanut oil does give it a hint of flavor.
These were excellent and super easy to make! My husband says they taste exactly like Chick-fil-A, and my picky toddler ate lots of them.
A total Mom win!
I have a question. It seems like there may be to much egg/milk liquid. Do I drain the extra liquid before putting in the breadcrumbs?
You’ll be removing the chicken from the egg/milk mixture and dredging it into the flour/breadcrumbs mixture before frying. Hope this clears things up. Enjoy!
I keep telling my son I need to find the website I found these nuggets on and send them money and roses. He has an eating disorder called arfid, short for avoidant restrictive food intake. He doesn’t eat much at all and he LOVES these nuggets!!!! I can’t thank you enough! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!
Sorry. I marinated mine in dill pickle juice because according to my sister and step daughter who both worked at Chick-Fil-A, they do use dill pickle juice.
Attempted this before on my own and it sucked. With the exception of the pickle juice, I used this recipe and it was AMAZING!! I never thought about the sweetness of the nuggets! That made a huge difference for me in flavor.
Drenching then in milk, than flour, letting it dry, than egg and bread crumbs made for a wonderfully crispy nugget! Hubby wants me to make them again soon!
This recipe can be adapted for celiacs. I used gluten free 1 to 1 flour and 4C gluten free Panko bread crumbs that I ground up in the food processor.
Made too much, but hubs and I are circling the leftovers like sharks on a feeding frenzy four hours later. Lol
Thank you!
I’m going to make this tomorrow. I looked up the ingredients on the Chick-Fil-A site & did not see pickle juice listed. Did see MSG & soybean oil which is disappointing. Glad to make them homemade without the MSG! My son loves their nuggets. Below is the list of ingredients from the site-
Chicken (boneless, skinless chicken breast meat nuggets, salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, spices, paprika, enriched bleached flour [with malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid], sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, nonfat milk, leavening [baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate], spice, soybean oil, color [paprika], pasteurized nonfat milk, pasteurized egg, fully refined peanut oil [with dimethylpolysiloxane {an anti-foam agent} added])
Hey there! So pickling spices are easily hidden in “sugar, spices” and using a pickle juice at home lets us achieve similar flavors without trying to reinvent the spice blend they’re using. While they don’t use a pre-made pickle juice they do use a lot of ingredients that create this flavor. I have had more people than I can count (many of them kids) swear by the flavor, I hope you try it and like it too!
So do I use any pickle juice?
I didn’t use it but you definitely can.
Can’t wait to try this recipe! As a healthier option, could I do these in an air fryer? Maybe bake and then air fry?
I haven’t tested it this way before. If you decide to try, I’d love to know how it turns out. Thanks!
It was delicious! ?
This recipe was absolutely amazing! My family loved this recipe this is actually the 3 night I’m making it! All 6 of us couldn’t get enough of the chicken!
I make this with whole grain oat flour & it’s delicious