Description
Enjoy the crispy, flavorful Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets made at home with simple ingredients and a marinade that tenderizes the chicken for that signature juicy bite. These nuggets are perfectly seasoned, breaded, and fried to golden perfection, making them irresistible and perfect for serving with dipping sauces.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 1 pound chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup milk (or buttermilk for richer flavor)
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice
Breading Mix
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Frying
- 1 1/2 cups peanut oil, for frying
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the milk and pickle juice until well combined. Add the chicken pieces, making sure they’re fully submerged. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours to allow the flavors to penetrate and tenderize the chicken.
- Prepare the Breading: In another bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and baking powder. Mix thoroughly to create an even breading mixture.
- Heat the Oil: Heat the peanut oil in a deep skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C). Alternatively, preheat your deep fryer to the same temperature.
- Coat the Chicken: Remove chicken pieces from the marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off. Dip each piece into the breading mixture, fully coating it, then shake off any extra flour to avoid clumps.
- Fry the Nuggets: Carefully place the breaded chicken pieces into the hot oil in batches to prevent overcrowding. Fry for 3-4 minutes per batch, or until the nuggets are golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Drain Excess Oil: Using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the cooked nuggets to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil and keep them crispy.
- Serve Warm: Serve your homemade Chick-fil-A style chicken nuggets immediately with your favorite dipping sauces for the perfect snack or meal.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken for longer (up to 4 hours) enhances flavor and tenderness.
- Peanut oil is ideal for frying due to its high smoke point and flavor, but can be substituted with vegetable or canola oil if necessary.
- Do not overcrowd the pan while frying to maintain oil temperature and ensure crisp nuggets.
- Use a kitchen thermometer to check oil and internal chicken temperatures for best results.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack, Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz (about 6-7 nuggets)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets, copycat recipe, homemade chicken nuggets, fried chicken nuggets, crispy chicken, chicken snack
