Copy Cat Chick-Fil-A Nuggets-just like you’d get from the restaurant!
Ok, I know it’s not sugar. Don’t get all upset with me, I’ll have more sugar soon but my family needs to eat.
As a family of 5, we don’t eat out for fast food too often. Paying almost $30.00 for fast food for dinner, I don’t think so. If we’re going to go out, I want a real restaurant, Someone to come to the table and take my order, bring me a salad and some bread then usually some sort of fish (since I don’t cook fish at home.) I want real silverware, not plastic, maybe a cocktail before dinner, and I don’t want to clean off the table before we leave. If it’s a night off from cooking, I want a real night off.
Now that doesn’t mean we don’t like fast food. I love Sonic’s Cheeseburger and the hubby and I have been known to sneak over there for lunch. Chicken is just too easy to make at home. This is the south, we love to fry food. I’d always heard that the secret to Chick-Fil-A’s chicken was pickle juice. It wasn’t until I read Juanita’s Cocina’s post on Copy Cat Chick-Fil-A that I decided to give it a try. The first time I made it, hubby said I was close but not quite there. The spices were right but the chicken wasn’t quite there. I did a little research and found several recipes that were similar to Juanita’s, the big difference was in how long to marinate the chicken. One recipe I think said to marinate for a full 24 hours. What we finally decided worked best for us was a minimum of 4 hours. So prepare your chicken at lunch time then cook it up for dinner. Use this recipe for either nuggets or full size fillets.
And since I didn’t share sugar with you today, check out Juanita’s Fudgy Brownies and also her Boston Cream Pie.
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Copy Cat Chick-Fil-A Nuggets
Ingredients
- 3 boneless chicken breasts
- 1 cup dill pickle juice
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon basil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt (can use powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder (can use salt)
- 1/2 teaspoon celery salt (can use powder)
- Oil for frying (I used vegetable)
Instructions
- Prepare chicken at least 4 hours before cooking. Wash and filet breasts, then pound with a neat hammer to about 1/2 inch thickness. Place in a ziploc bag with pickle juice and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Place oil in a heavy frying pan about 1/4 inch deep. heat over medium heat.
- Whisk together eggs and milk in a medium bowl. The combine dry ingredients in A large plastic bag. If making nuggets, slice breasts into about 2 inch pieces. Place chicken a few pieces at a time into egg wash, then place into flour mixture and shake to coat. When oil is hot, place chicken in pan and cook for about 4-5 minutes per side, just till the perfect golden brown. Remove from oil to drain on paper towels before serving. Repeat with remaining chicken.
Notes
**Note on spices-if you are trying to cut back on salt, you can use all powders for the onion, garlic and celery, I used what I had in the cabinet and found the ratio of 2 salts and one powder worked well.
recipe source ChocolateChocolateandmore.com
adapted from Juanita’s Cocina
Kalamity Kelli says
Mmmmmm……..My daughter is going to be very excited. She loved chick-fil-a and the nuggets are her favorite. I will make these for her as a surprise!
Margaret Serbantez says
They are ver good
Tanya-Lemonsforlulu.com says
Pickle juice, oh my gosh that is great! I never would’ve thought of that! Yes, I hear ya, we are a family of 5 also and I hate dropping hard earned cash on fast food! I DO, however, like making my own homemade versions! I’ll be trying this soon since this is a copycat of one of our favorites!
PJ says
I worked at Chick-fil-A, we never used pickle juice. Pickle juice will add a nice flavor though, but the secret is actually in the oil. Peanut oil is expensive, but if you’re really trying to get that signature flavor, you have to use it. Despite some speculation, pressure cooking makes no difference with nuggets.
Joan Hayes says
Thanks PJ, I’ll have to give the peanut oil a try, it’s what we used when we fry a turkey so the oil definitely can make a difference.
The Cooking Actress says
I’m with you on preferring to eat at a real restaurant if I’m not cooking! These nuggets look like an awesome substitute!
Jennifer says
Thanks for posting this recipe. I grew up eating Chick-Fil-A nuggets in the Midwest and now I live in New England and there’s only one in the next state over from us!
evelyn1954 says
I am so excited about this recipe. I can’t wait to make it. Thank you for posting.
Aunty Pol says
Bless your heart, I know what you mean about going out. The spouse and I are in the middle of a home remodel and I can’t wait to be able to try this out once I can actually get into the kitchen. Now if I could only figure out the dipping sauce for him..me…I’m happy with honey mustard .
Waving from Houston
Robin says
I just made a copy cat chick fil lay last night for dinner. I never ate at this restaurant so I don’t know how much of a coy cat it is, but it is very good. This is my children and grandchildren favorite chicken. There are seven of us all together in the household so we rarely eat out also. Someone was asking about a honey mustard sauce and this is the one I got with the chicken recipe and it is the bomb. I use it on a lot of things. 1/2 cup of mayo, 2 tablespoons of yellow mustard, 1/2 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of honey, and a dash of salt and pepper. Mix together. I usually make it in the morning so the flavors have time to blend by dinnertime. I hope you enjoy it!
Katrina Bahl says
I love all things Chick Fil A!!!!!!!!!!!
Tanu says
these look awesome. pinning.
Erin Penor says
Yum, this chicken is very tempting! We don’t have a Chik-Fil-A where I live anymore so, these are great 🙂
Sugar Cookies to Peterbilts says
Yum! Sad to say, I have never been to a Chick-Fil-A before. We aren’t lucky enough to have them up north, along with many of the other fun fast food joints and diners you have down south! ~Kris
Wendy says
This is such a wonderful coincidence. Just yesterday I was telling my adult nephew, who is a huge fan of Chick-food but won’t eat there for philosophical (human rights) reasons, that I had found Jen’s (Juanita’s Cocina) recipe for Chick-Fil-A sandwiches. He said if I could find a recipe for the nuggets then he could really be happy. Joan, you have made a lot of people happy with this recipe!
w says
(that is supposed to say Chick-Fil-A food not Chick-food. lol)
Jen @JuanitasCocina says
Wheeeeee! Homemade is SO much better! Thanks for the shout-out hon!
Joanne @ Fifteen Spatulas says
I lived in Georgia for 2 and a half years and never went to Chick FilA. Can you believe it?! I need to try this homemade version since there’s nothing scary in it.
Made From Pinterest says
I love chic-fil-a. I had heard about the pickle juice. I am excited to try this.
Anonymous says
Little tid bit..Chic-fil-A cooks their chicken in peanut oil 😉
Erin D. says
AAH! Love homemade Chick-fil-a nuggets! I’ve made them several times before but haven’t tried this recipe. I’ll give it a try next time! They look perfect. And $30 for fast food is crazy. I’m with you there!
Sherri @ The Well Floured Kitchen says
No Chick Fil A in the northeast, so I’ve never had anything there. But pickle juice as a marinade is just fascinating! Does the chicken taste like pickles?
Lisa {Authentic Suburban Gourmet } says
We just got a Chick Fil A in our city – yeah! I need to try your recipe – it looks tasty! Happy Saturday!
tiffdeck says
Amazing! I made this for dinner last night, it was perfect! I lived in Atlanta for 11 years, and now I live in Illinois. chick-fil-a is always our road trip stop. Now I can take care of that craving myself! Thank you!
Joan Hayes says
So glad you enjoyed it! My hubby grew up in the Riverdale area and any time we go to Atlanta we always go to the original Dwarf House.