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Easy Copycat Chick-fil-A Nugget Bites Recipe

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Crispy, juicy chicken nuggets marinated in pickle juice and coated in a seasoned flour mixture, served with a sweet and smoky copycat Chick-fil-A sauce. Ready in about 30 minutes, these nuggets are perfect for weeknight dinners or game-day snacks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs (680g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ½ cup (120ml) dill pickle juice
  • ½ cup (120ml) milk (whole or 2%)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • About 2 cups (480ml) neutral oil for frying (peanut, vegetable, or canola)
  • ½ cup (120g) mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons (60ml) honey
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces (about 1 inch). Place in a bowl, pour pickle juice over the top, stir to coat, cover, and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (up to 2 hours).
  2. While chicken marinates, make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, honey, yellow mustard, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  3. Set up coating station: In one shallow bowl, whisk together milk, egg, and 2 tablespoons of the pickle juice from the marinade (discard the rest). In another shallow bowl, combine flour, powdered sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
  4. Heat about 2 inches of oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat to 350°F (175°C). Line a plate or baking sheet with paper towels.
  5. Remove chicken from pickle juice and pat dry with paper towels. Working in batches, dip each piece into the wet mixture, let excess drip off, then coat in the dry mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Place coated nuggets on a plate.
  6. Carefully lower a few nuggets into the hot oil (do not overcrowd). Fry for 3-4 minutes, turning once halfway, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F/74°C).
  7. Transfer nuggets to paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with a little salt while hot. Let oil return to 350°F before frying next batch.
  8. Serve immediately with the sauce on the side.

Notes

For best results, let chicken marinate in pickle juice for at least 20 minutes. Pat chicken dry after marinating to help coating stick. Keep oil temperature steady at 350°F. Fry in small batches to avoid greasy nuggets. For extra crunch, double-coat the nuggets. Leftovers can be reheated in the oven or air fryer.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken nuggets, copycat Chick-fil-A, easy chicken recipe, fried chicken, nugget bites, homemade fast food

Find it online: https://milaspoon.com/easy-copycat-chick-fil-a-nugget-bites-recipe/