Who here loves Chik-fil-A? My entire family is obsessed with this meal! These copycat Chick Fil A nuggets give you the same crispy, tender bite you love, right from your own kitchen. They fry up golden in minutes and taste just like the real deal.
What makes them special is a quick milk and egg dip plus a light coating with a touch of powdered sugar for that signature crisp and hint of sweetness. They are family-friendly, budget-friendly, and totally weeknight ready. Don’t forget to pair them with our Chick Fil A Sauce.
Craving more chicken favorites? Try making our Chicken Nuggets, Baked Chicken Fingers, and Chicken Strips.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Fast for busy nights. Have a delicious meal on the table in 30 minutes.
- Simple ingredients. The recipe uses pantry staples, no special trip needed.
- Anytime favorite. They are great to serve for parties, game days, or family dinners.
Copycat Chick Fil A Nuggets Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts (2) – These are lean, tender pieces that cook quickly and give you that classic nugget bite. You can use chicken thighs or chicken tenders to make Chik-fil-A-style nuggets.
- Milk (½ cup) – Milk softens the chicken and helps the egg cling, so the coating sticks evenly.
- Eggs (1) – Eggs bind the flour mixture to each piece for a uniform, craggy crust.
- All-purpose flour (1 cup) – This creates the light, crispy outer shell that fries up golden.
- Powdered sugar (3 tablespoons) – This adds a hint of sweetness and helps the coating brown to a perfect crisp, just like your favorite drive-thru.
- Salt (2 teaspoons) – Salt seasons the chicken throughout, so every bite is flavorful.
- Black pepper (½ teaspoon) – Pepper adds a gentle warmth that balances the sweetness.
- Vegetable oil – This is a neutral frying oil that crisps without overpowering the flavor. You could use peanut oil as the restaurant does. Canola oil is another option.
How to Make Chick-fil-A Nuggets
PREP. Cut up chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Add milk and egg to a bowl and whisk together, then set aside.
COAT. Pour flour, powdered sugar, salt, and pepper into a gallon-sized ziploc bag. Put chicken pieces in the egg mixture. Once they are well coated, transfer the chicken pieces to the Ziploc bag and shake to evenly cover with seasonings and flour mixture.
FRY. Place chicken in a pan with hot oil and cook on medium heat for 5-7 minutes on each side until golden brown.
Drain the pieces on a paper towel.
SERVE. Serve warm with our homemade Chick Fil A Sauce recipe. ENJOY!
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Cut the chicken into even, bite size pieces so everything cooks at the same rate.
- Fry in batches and avoid crowding so the nuggets stay crisp.
- Air fry. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and lightly spray the air fryer basket. Working in batches, place nuggets in a single layer. Fry for 6-9 minutes, turning halfway.
- Pickle Juice. Soak the chicken cubes in dill pickle juice for 20-30 minutes. Drain and proceed with the recipe.
- Favorite dipping sauce: Chick Fil A Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Honey Mustard Sauce
Copycat Chick Fil A Nuggets Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup milk
- 1 eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- vegetable oil
Instructions
- Begin by cutting up your chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
- Place oil in a medium pan and turn to medium heat.
- From there add your milk and egg to a bowl and whisk together until combined. Set aside.
- Pour your flour, powdered sugar, salt, and pepper into a gallon bag.
- Add several chicken pieces to your milk/egg mixture until well coated and then throw the pieces into your gallon bag and shake until each piece is evenly coated.
- Place chicken pieces in oil and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
- Drain pieces onto paper towel and serve warm.
Notes
- Cut the chicken into even, bite size pieces so everything cooks at the same rate.
- Fry in batches and avoid crowding so the nuggets stay crisp.
- Air fry. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and lightly spray the air fryer basket. Working in batches, place nuggets in a single layer. Fry for 6-9 minutes, turning halfway.
- Pickle Juice. Soak the chicken cubes in dill pickle juice for 20-30 minutes. Drain and proceed with the recipe.
- Favorite dipping sauce: Chick Fil A Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Honey Mustard Sauce
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thank you My Name is Snickerdoodle!
Recipe FAQ
I have found the best way to get evenly cut cubed chicken is to partially freeze the chicken breasts before cutting them. Let them thaw the rest of the way and coat.
This one is a little tricky to answer. If they are going to be served as an appetizer, I would plan 4-5 nuggets per person. If they are going to be the main dish, plan 6-8 per child and 10-12 per adult.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat chicken nuggets in the microwave, toaster oven, air fryer, or oven.
Complete the Meal
Sides
Chick Fil A Sauce
10 mins
Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese
42 mins
How to make the perfect homemade french fries
2 hrs 35 mins
Fruit Salad Recipe
1 hr 20 mins
More Chicken
Collections
This post was originally published May 2015.
Would this recipe work in an air fryer?
While I like them best pan fired, you can use the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and lightly spray the fryer basket. Place nuggets in a single layer, be sure they are not touching. Fry for 6-9 minutes, turning halfway.
Je vais sûrement essayer cette recette qui me semble délicieuse et j’aimerais avoir une idée de sauce pour servir avec … genre chinoise avec du beurre d’arachides peut-être. Dès que j’aurai essayé la recette de nuggets, j’enverrai mon commentaire.
MERCI !
Super, merci beaucoup ! Une sauce aux arachides serait une excellente idée. J’ai hâte d’avoir ton retour après avoir essayé la recette! (Great, thank you so much! A peanut sauce would be an excellent idea. I’m looking forward to your feedback after you try the recipe!)
My kids love these. They think they taste better than chick-fil-a. Definitely will be making again. Thanks for the recipe.