Crispy & Juicy: Homemade Nuggets Better Than Chick-fil-A
Make crispy, juicy nuggets that taste even better than Chick-fil-A’s with this easy homemade recipe!
Ingredients
Chicken Marination:
- 1.5 lbs chicken
- 1 cup pickled water
Dry mixture:
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
Wet mixture:
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp barbecue sauce preferably a smoky variety
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
Marinate the Chicken
- In a bowl, mix the chicken pieces with pickle juice.
- Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour (this helps with tenderness and flavor).
- After marinating, drain the pickle juice.
Prepare the Breading and Egg Wash
- In one bowl, whisk milk and egg together.
- In another bowl, mix flour, powdered sugar, salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and baking powder.
Coat the Chicken
- Dip each chicken piece into the milk-egg mixture, then dredge in the flour mixture, ensuring an even coating.
- Let the coated nuggets rest for 5 minutes before frying to help the breading stick.
Fry the Nuggets
- Heat oil in a deep pan or skillet to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry the nuggets in small batches for 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove and place on a wire rack to drain excess oil.
Serve and Enjoy
- Serve with Chick-fil-A Sauce, honey mustard, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Prepare the Sauce:
- In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, honey, yellow mustard, Dijon mustard, barbecue sauce, and lemon juice until smooth.
- Taste and adjust if needed (add more honey for sweetness, more mustard for tang).
- Add a food color if needed. I used a pinch to get the right color.
- Let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes to blend flavors (optional but recommended).
- Serve with nuggets, fries, or sandwiches!
Air Fryer Method:
- Follow the same marination process by soaking the chicken pieces in pickle juice for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours for maximum tenderness).
Prepare the Coating:
- In one bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg. In another bowl, mix flour, powdered sugar, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and baking powder.
Dredge the Nuggets:
- Drain the marinated chicken. Dip each piece into the dry flour mixture, then into the buttermilk mixture, and back into the dry mixture for extra crispiness.
Preheat the Air Fryer:
- Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and preheat for about 3-5 minutes.
Arrange the Nuggets:
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the coated nuggets in a single layer, ensuring they don’t overlap. Lightly spray the tops of the nuggets with cooking spray or brush with a little oil for extra crispiness.
Cook the Nuggets:
- Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. The nuggets should be golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serve & Enjoy!
- Let the nuggets rest for a couple of minutes, then serve hot with Better Than Chick-fil-A Sauce!
Video
Notes
- Marination Matters: Soaking the chicken in pickle juice for at least 30 minutes makes it extra tender and flavorful. For best results, marinate for up to 1 hour but not longer to avoid overpowering the taste.
- Crispy Coating Tip: Let the breaded nuggets rest for 5-10 minutes before frying. This helps the coating stick better and gives a crispier texture.
- Oil Temperature: Keep the oil at 350°F (175°C) for perfect frying. If it’s too hot, the nuggets will brown too fast but stay raw inside. If it’s too cool, they’ll absorb oil and become greasy.
- Serving Size: 1.5 lbs of chicken makes about 6 servings (36-48 nuggets, depending on size).
- Sauce Perfection: For the Chick-fil-A sauce, use a smoky barbecue sauce to get that signature taste. Adding a touch of food coloring helps achieve the exact color. Let the sauce chill for at least 15 minutes before serving for the best flavor.
-
Storage & Reheating:
- Store leftover nuggets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in an air fryer (375°F for 3-4 min) or oven (400°F for 5-6 min) to keep them crispy.
- Sauce stays fresh in the fridge for up to a week in a sealed container.
Don’t Overcrowd – Cook in batches if necessary to allow proper air circulation.
Lightly Oil for Extra Crispiness – A small amount of oil spray helps achieve a fried-like texture.
Flip Halfway Through – This ensures even cooking and crispiness on both sides.
Tried this recipe?Mention @itstastybygohar or tag #itstastybygohar
