Name: Chick-fil-A Nuggets
Yield: 6

Chick-fil-A Nuggets Recipe makes crispy, golden nuggets with juicy chicken and a seriously good dipping sauce!

Author’s Notes

After Weeks Of Nugget Testing…

I know I’ve shared this before, but my kids are completely obsessed with Chick-fil-A (is there a kid who isn’t?!). It’s easily my family’s favorite fast food spot, so I’ve made a lot of copycat recipes over the years to cut back on eating out and still keep everyone happy. They love my crispy chicken sandwiches, I eat this chicken salad like it’s my job, and the whole family is in love with their coleslaw.

So it felt like time to figure out the nuggets, and wow, these were tricky. I tested them for weeks, and while I won’t say they’re an exact copycat, they’re really close. I skip the MSG, which adds that extra savory flavor in the original, but I wanted to keep this recipe simple with straightforward-to-find ingredients.

One of the biggest things I learned during testing was how important the oil is. I tried a lot of different options, and peanut oil makes a big difference. It’s what Chick-fil-A uses, and you can really tell in the flavor. Also worth noting, sugar is actually one of their main ingredients after chicken. I include some here too, but spread across a pound of chicken, it’s not over the top.

All the ingredients in this recipe prepped out for straightforward assembly including the cornstarch, flour, seasonings, salt, powdered sugar, egg, vinegar, peanut oil, milk, and chicken.

Ingredients In My Chick-fil-A Nuggets Recipe

Ingredient	Let’s Chat About It
Chicken breasts	Cut into small, even cubes so they fry up quickly and stay tender.
Milk, vinegar, egg, salt	This marinade tenderizes the chicken and adds flavor.
Flour & cornstarch	Cornstarch helps create that light, crispy coating instead of a heavy breading.
Powdered sugar & spices	Sugar adds that subtle sweetness, and the spice mix builds the classic Chick-fil-A flavor.
Peanut oil	Makes a big difference in flavor and crispiness. Keep the oil at a steady temp for best results. I highly recommend using a thermometer for this recipe!

Batter mixed together with chicken added, then coated in flour and fried for this Chick-fil-A Nuggets Recipe.

How To Make Chick-fil-A Nuggets Recipe

Prep chicken: Cut into small, even cubes.
Make marinade: Whisk together and coat chicken; cover and chill.
Mix breading: Whisk dry ingredients, then drizzle in a little marinade to create clumps.
Heat oil: Warm oil in a heavy pot to 350°F and prep a paper towel-lined plate.
Bread chicken: Remove from marinade, coat well, and press on craggy bits.
Fry: Cook in batches until the edges turn golden and cooked through, stirring halfway.
Drain & serve: move to paper towels, lightly salt, and serve right away with sauce.

Quick Tip

Deep Frying Tips

This Chick-fil-A Nuggets Recipe relies on hot oil at a steady temperature and frying in small batches for the best crisp.

Keep oil hot at 350°F: If it’s too cool, the chicken will soak up the grease instead of getting crispy. Use a thermometer, it makes ALL the difference!
Don’t crowd the pan: Cook only 8-10 at a time so the oil stays hot and everything cooks evenly.

The recipe fresh out of the fryer and being dipped in the sauce.

the cook’s Notes

What To Serve On The Side

Waffle fries or regular fries: The classic Chick-fil-A side!
Mac & cheese: This one is creamy just like Chick-fil-A’s!
Fruit salad: Keeps things light and fresh.
Chick-fil-A’s Kale salad: The reliable way to round out the meal.
Buttered rolls or biscuits: Great for turning nuggets into little sandwiches!