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Copycat Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets in a tray with dipping sauce

Copycat Chick-fil-A Nuggets

Tender, juicy copycat Chick-fil-A nuggets with the secret pickle-juice brine and a lightly sweet, crispy coating. Fried golden and ready to dunk - they taste just like the drive-thru, minus the Sunday closure.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 330
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1/2 cup dill pickle juice
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 cups peanut or vegetable oil for frying

Equipment

  • Heavy pot or Dutch oven
  • Slotted spoon

Method
 

  1. Place the chicken pieces in a bowl with the pickle juice, cover, and brine in the fridge for 30-60 minutes. This is the Chick-fil-A secret that makes the nuggets tender and subtly tangy.
  2. Whisk the egg and milk in one bowl. In another, whisk the flour, powdered sugar, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  3. Drain the chicken. Dip each piece in the egg wash, then dredge in the flour mixture, pressing to coat well.
  4. Heat the oil to 350F. Fry the nuggets in batches for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and cooked through (165F inside).
  5. Drain on a wire rack and serve hot with copycat Chick-fil-A sauce.

Notes

The powdered sugar in the breading is what gives Chick-fil-A nuggets their signature faint sweetness and even browning - don't skip it. Peanut oil gets you closest to the original flavor.