Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets
These Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets are everything you’ve ever loved in the original. Tender, white meat chicken is coated in a crispy, spicy buttermilk batter and fried to perfection. They’re the perfect meal for any chicken lover, and they’re so easy to make!
My family and I love Chick-Fil-A. We go there all the time, and one thing that at least one of us always orders is their delicious chicken nuggets. They’re so crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Oh, they’re good. I figured that rather than going out for them all the time, I could just make my own copycat version. I’m a cook, after all. The results are fantastic!
Copycat Chick Fil-A Chicken Nuggets
This copycat chick-fil-a chicken nuggets are just as good if not better than the original, and the best part is that you don’t have to leave the house to get them! They’re perfectly fried to golden brown, crispy goodness on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. Pair them with your favorite dipping sauce and some fried, and you’ll be in chicken nugget heaven.
Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Ingredients:
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make these delicious nuggets. In fact, you probably have most of them in your kitchen right now. The rest can all be easily found at your local grocery store.
- 3 large skinless, boneless chicken cutlets
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt
- 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, this is optional but recommended
- 3 cups buttermilk
- vegetable or peanut oil for frying (Note: chick fil a uses peanut oil)
See the recipe card at the end of the post for printable recipe
Perfection!
Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Instructions:
Making these delicious nuggets is just as easy as the ingredient list. It only takes a few simple steps, and you’ll be all done and ready to start eating..
Step 1: Prep the Chicken
Cut up your chicken breasts into 1/2-inch cubes.
Step 2: Marinade the Chicken
Toss chicken cubes gently in buttermilk and place refrigerate one hour.
Step 3: Bread the Chicken
Add flour, salt, paprika, baking soda, garlic powder, powdered sugar and cracked pepper to a bowl and whisk until combined. Then, place a few pieces of the chicken at a time into the breading, tossing to coat well. Place all coated chicken pieces on a dish.
Step 4: Fry
In a deep pot or skillet, heat the oil to 350 degrees. Place 8 pieces of chicken at a time into the oil using a slotted metal spoon. Fry the chicken until golden brown – 3 to 5 minutes. Drain on a wire rack or paper towels.
Hint: Don’t crowd the with more than 8 pieces of chicken. The chicken needs room to fry on all sides, and too much chicken will also lower the temperature of the oil.
Equipment:
You’ll only need a few basic pieces of kitchen equipment to make this tasty recipe.
- measuring cups and spoons
- large stainless mixing bowl, large glass bowl
- slotted spoon
- heavy deep pot or skillet
- wire rack for draining chicken
- paper towels for draining chicken
- deep fryer thermometer
Storing These Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets:
These homemade Copycat Chick Fil-A nuggets will last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.
Tips:
These nuggets are fairly simple to make, but even simple recipes have little things you can do to make them better. Read these tips to make sure you cook up the best nuggets possible.
- Be sure you soak your chicken for at least an hour in the buttermilk. This helps make it even juicier and more tender.
- Don’t overcrowd your skillet when frying. It will lower the temperature, and the nuggets won’t cook properly.
- Never make your nuggets larger than 1/2-inch cubes. The chicken won’t cook completely by the time the breading is cooked.
Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets FAQ:
If you have questions about these homemade Chick Fil-A Nuggets, then read on. The following FAQ answers the most commonly asked questions about these nuggets…
How long are these nuggets good?
They’ll keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days in an air-tight container.
How do I reheat chicken nuggets?
Place the nuggets on a wire rack on a baking sheet. Then spray them lightly with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. For best results, use a rack so the bottoms of the nuggets don’t get soggy.
Why is my chicken soggy after frying?
Soggy batter on fried chicken or nuggets is usually the result of overcrowding the skillet. When you put too many pieces in the oil, the temperature drops. This causes the batter to cook more slowly, allowing more time for it to absorb the oil.
Why did the breading fall off of my chicken?
If you handle your breaded chicken too much, the breading will come off. This is especially true if you try flipping, turning, or otherwise handling your chicken while it’s frying. Place the nuggets in the oil, and then only touch them again to take them out of the oil.
Deliciousness!
Try These Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Today…
These delicious homemade Chick Fil-A nuggets are super tasty and super easy to make. It’s a match made in breaded chicken heaven. Give this recipe a try, and I know you’ll love it as much as my and and I do. In fact, I can almost guarantee, you’ll have them in heavy rotation on your recipe list.
Before leaving, Here’s More Copycat Recipes…
If you love copycat recipes, then I have some more recipes that I think you’ll enjoy.
- Copycat Joanna Gaines’ Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Copycat Ina’s English Chocolate Crisps
- Copycat 3 Musketeers Bars
Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets
These Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets are everything you’ve ever loved in the original. Tender, white meat chicken is coated in a crispy, spicy buttermilk batter and fried to perfection. They’re the perfect meal for any chicken lover, and they’re so easy to make!
Ingredients
- 3 large skinless, boneless, chicken breasts
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp regular paprika
- 2 tsp kosher or sea salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar, this is optional but suggested
- 2 tbsp baking soda
- 3 cups buttermilk
- vegetable or peanut oil for frying (Note: chick fil a uses peanut oil)
Instructions
-
Cut up your chicken breasts into 1/2-inch cubes.
Place the chicken cubes in buttermilk. Place in fridge for one hour.
Add flour, paprika, salt, baking soda, powdered sugar, garlic powder, and cracked pepper to a bowl and whisk until combined. Then, place a few pieces of the chicken at a time into the breading, tossing to coat well. Place all coated chicken pieces on a dish.
In a deep pot or skillet, heat the oil to 350 degrees. Place 8 pieces of chicken at a time into the oil using a slotted metal spoon. Fry the chicken until golden brown 3 to 5 minutes. You can drain on paper towels if needed or plate up.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed this yummy copycat Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets recipe. Please stop by again soon. There are so many more recipes to see both sweet and savory and lots of copycat recipes to check out. To save and collect any of your favorite recipes, pin them on Pinterest. It’s a great way to save for recipes for later on. Remember to scroll up so you can print out todays recipe.
Bye for now…
