How Chick Fil A Got Its Start
Chick Fil A may have one of the most efficient drive-thru setups of any fast food joint on the planet, but the real reason we all love it so much is because of that chicken. In fact, that’s truly what sets it apart from others, particularly Wendy’s, whose social media team seems to love poking fun at Chick Fil A’s Sunday values (more on those in a moment).
You can thank S. Truett Cathy for his innovation in bringing grade A chicken sandwiches to the fast food lane. He started as the CEO of the Dwarf Grill in suburban Atlanta, though the turning point that would change our chicken cravings forever happened in 1961. This was when he found a pressure fryer that was capable of fully cooking chicken as quickly as a hamburger.
Initially, the chicken sandwich that causes deep cravings was licensed to other eateries, but Cathy took that back when he officially opened the first ever Chick Fil A restaurant in 1967 at the Greenbriar Shopping Center in Atlanta. From there, the brand flourished and now can be found all over the U.S.
Even though Chick Fil A has a limited menu, what they do, they do right. With the flagship sandwich under its belt, Chick Fil A was a smash-hit. However, customers were clamoring for more, specifically they wanted nuggets that they could easily pop into their mouths or set out on a tray for a party snack. That’s how Chick Fil A’s incredible chicken nuggets were born in 1982.
Handling Cravings on Sunday with the Chick Fil A Chicken Nuggets Recipe
But what do you do if you crave Chick Fil A and it’s a Sunday? Or worse, you don’t have a Chick Fil A nearby.
I always hated Sundays at the mall for this very reason. Can you imagine heading to the food court, salivating over the very thought of those scrumptious fried bits of chicken only to realize with sudden horror that it was the absolute worst day of the week.
Seeing the Chick Fil A shuttered for the Sunday always annoyed me. Sure, I could go back on any other day, but now I was here and had to choose from the other options that were open on Sundays. If you know, you know. There’s really no substitute for Chick Fil A when you’re craving it.
RELATED: 15 Best Chick fil A Secret Menu Items
It’s My Pleasure, and Yours Too
Whether it’s Sunday or the closest Chick Fil A to your location is simply too far to justify the road trip, you can thank me for this Chick Fil A chicken nuggets recipe.
My pleasure.
That’s another charm of Chick Fil A too, as sweet as their sweet tea.
These Chick Fil A chicken nuggets are easier to make than you may think. The secret to their splendid texture and flavor is dill pickle juice and milk. This simple marinade is the answer to your chicken prayers.
After marinating, you’ll coat the chicken with a flour-breadcrumb-seasoning mixture and then deep fry it into deliciousness, just as Cathy himself did all those years ago. My biggest tip to you is patience, for these do cook up quickly, but you’ll need to work in small batches or you won’t get that deep golden brown hue or perfect texture.
I recommend using a wire cooling rack set on top of a baking sheet to hold your nuggets briefly. This lets the excess oil drip off and keeps them from getting soggy and sad.
You can eat these copycat Chick Fil A chicken nuggets as-is with your favorite dipping sauces. If you’re lucky, you may have some Chick Fil A sauces in your pantry, but it’s easy enough to make Chick Fil A sauce with some mayo, yellow mustard, Dijon, honey, and lemon juice.
They’re great rolled into wraps, as toppings for salads, stuffed into hoagie rolls, or even on a massive party platter for game day. Check out the full recipe below and make your copycat Chick Fil A chicken nuggets even on a Sunday!
Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Now you can eat Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets any day of the week (even on a Sunday)! This recipe lets you recreate these addicting golden crispy nuggets, with the secret brine—a pickle juice and milk marinade (this was the classic method of preparing all chicken, however they have switched up the recipe). By coating tender chunks of chicken breast in a seasoned breadcrumb mixture, you can get that crunch and save a few calories. Don't forget to prepare your batch of homemade Chick-fil-A Sauce for the ultimate dipping experience.
- Large bowl
- Electric Deep Fryer
- Wire cooling rack
- Tongs
- 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast (cut into chunks)
- 1 cup dill pickle juice
- 0.5 cup whole milk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 3 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- peanut oil (for frying)
- 0.25 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
Preparation
Begin by preparing your boneless skinless chicken breasts. Cut them into bite-sized nugget pieces for easier handling and even cooking.
Combine dill pickle juice and milk in a large bowl to create the marinade. Submerge the chicken pieces in the marinade, ensuring they are fully coated. Allow them to marinate for 20 to 30 minutes, but not longer to prevent the chicken from becoming too tangy.
In a separate bowl, mix together all-purpose flour, breadcrumbs, powdered sugar, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and baking powder. This will be your coating mixture for the chicken nuggets.
Set up a wire cooling rack over a baking sheet; this will be where you place your cooked nuggets.
Cooking / Creating
Once marinated, drain the chicken from the pickle juice mixture. Discard the marinade.
Heat peanut oil in a deep fryer or a large pot to 350 degrees F. If using a pot, make sure to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the frying process.
Dredge the marinated chicken pieces in the breadcrumb mixture, coating each piece thoroughly.
Working in small batches, carefully lower the coated chicken into the hot oil. Fry for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until the exterior is a deep golden brown and the chicken is cooked through.
As they finish frying, transfer the chicken nuggets to the wire cooling rack. This method allows excess oil to drip off without making the nuggets soggy, unlike draining on paper towels.
Serving / Presentation
Serve the hot, crispy chicken nuggets on a clean platter or individual plates.
Offer a variety of dipping sauces like the homemade Chick-fil-A Sauce, ketchup, BBQ sauce, or ranch dressing.
Chick-fil-A Sauce: Combine ingredients and serve
If preferred, toss nuggets into wraps or salads for a fuller meal, or serve them alongside homestyle mashed potatoes or a fresh vegetable salad for a balanced dish.
Any leftovers can be cooled to room temperature and stored in the freezer for future meals. Just reheat in the oven or air fryer until they're crisp and warmed throughout before serving again.