Description
This Chick-fil-A inspired nugget recipe delivers crispy, golden chicken bites with a tangy pickle juice marinade and a flavorful breadcrumb coating. Perfectly crisped in a skillet with peanut oil, these nuggets are complemented by a creamy, smoky honey barbecue dipping sauce. A delicious homemade take on the classic fast-food favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 1 ½ pounds chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized cubes)
- ½ cup pickle juice
- ¼ cup milk (regular or plant-based)
- 2 large eggs
Breading
- â…” cup flour (or a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend)
- ½ cup plain breadcrumbs (plain)
- 1-2 tablespoons powdered sugar (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Cooking Oil
- ¼ cup peanut oil (or avocado oil)
Honey Barbecue Dipping Sauce
- â…” cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons barbecue sauce (regular)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons mustard (yellow or Dijon)
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: Whisk together pickle juice, milk, and eggs in a large bowl. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces and toss thoroughly to coat. Let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes to overnight in the refrigerator to absorb the tangy flavors and tenderize.
- Prepare the Breading Mix: In a separate large bowl, combine the flour, plain breadcrumbs, powdered sugar (if using), salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Whisk the mixture until well blended.
- Coat the Chicken: Using tongs, lift a few pieces of marinated chicken, allowing excess marinade to drip off. Toss them gently in the breadcrumb mixture until each piece is evenly coated. Repeat until all chicken pieces are coated. Some breadcrumb mixture may remain unused.
- Heat the Oil: Place 3 tablespoons of peanut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Allow the oil to heat until shimmering and hot enough for frying.
- Fry the Nuggets: Shake off excess coating from the chicken pieces. Arrange half of the nuggets in a single layer in the skillet, making sure not to overcrowd the pan.
- Cook Until Golden and Crispy: Fry the chicken for 3-5 minutes, flipping once midway through, until the nuggets turn crispy and golden brown on all sides and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Remove cooked nuggets and drain on paper towels.
- Cook Remaining Nuggets: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet and repeat the frying process with the remaining chicken pieces.
- Prepare the Honey Barbecue Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, honey, mustard, paprika, and salt until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Serve: Plate the hot nuggets with the prepared honey barbecue dipping sauce for dipping. Enjoy immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken overnight intensifies the pickle flavor and tenderizes the meat.
- Adjust salt in the breading according to how salty your pickle juice is to avoid oversalting.
- If you prefer a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free flour blend and gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Do not overcrowd the pan while frying to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken is fully cooked at 165°F (74°C).
- The powdered sugar in the breading provides a slight sweetness characteristic of Chick-fil-A nuggets but is optional.
