Our copycat Chick-fil-A nuggets might even taste better than the real thing! We’ve used Chick-fil-A’s own nutrition information to turn their commercial recipe into something you can easily make at home. These nuggets are marinated and fried, which makes the most juicy, tender chicken with a perfectly crispy coating. Serve with our homemade version of that delicious Chick-fil-A sauce!

Make it a meal with our Air Fryer French Fries and some Chick-fil-A Sauce, of course!

Why My Recipe

  • The closest flavor you can get to the restaurant version, all at home.
  • Powdered sugar and MSG are the secret ingredients to these nuggets!
  • Complete with a recipe for Chick-fil-A Sauce!
Copycat Chick Fil-A nuggets with dipping sauce.

I’m sure we give the impression that we make everything at home from scratch, and could never order takeout. While we do enjoy cooking at home, we also absolutely love eating out. Chick-fil-A nuggets are one of our favorite comfort foods, and this recipe doesn’t disappoint! We love taking some of our favorite restaurant meals and recreating them in the kitchen. It saves money and always tastes so much better!

Ingredient Notes

  • Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are great for this recipe. Chop into bite-sized pieces.
  • Milk or Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk, mix 2 cups of milk with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes.
  • MSG: A flavor enhancer commonly used in takeout and fast foods. It’s completely safe to use, but feel free to omit.
  • Egg: Used for the marinade. Make sure you’re using a large egg.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Used as the base for breading the chicken.
  • Powdered Sugar: Provides browning and sweetness for that quintessential Chick-fil-A taste.
  • Baking Soda: Used to create a crispier breading.
  • Peanut Oil: You can easily substitute with vegetable oil if there are allergies, but it will change the flavor.

The Use of MSG

MSG is what will give your nuggets that true Chick-fil-A flavor. MSG can be difficult to find in stores, which is why we often purchase it on Amazon. You can always omit this ingredient if you can’t find it, though it is a flavor enhancer, and you will miss out on just how good this recipe can be! MSG has been used for more than 100 years to season food. It is a common amino acid found naturally in some foods, like tomatoes and Parmesan cheese, and is also found in practically all processed foods, including your favorite restaurants and takeout.

Copycat Chick Fil-A nuggets with waffle fries and dipping sauce.

Dipping Sauce

Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce: This sauce is everything you want in a dipping sauce—it’s sweet, tangy, and smoky.

Homemade Ranch: This creamy ranch is made with buttermilk, mayo, lemon, and herbs. It’s so simple, and it is worth it! You won’t want to go back to the store-bought stuff!

Homemade Barbecue Sauce: This barbecue sauce is sweet, smoky, and has a little kick from the red pepper flakes. Some barbecue sauces are too sweet, but with this one, you get just enough tang and spice.

Crazy Good Comeback Sauce: This sauce is like the older sibling to the Chick-fil-A copycat. She’s a little more spicy from the hot sauce, a little smoky, and not as sugar-sweet.

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Reheat in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes at 390-400°F.

Microwave on high in 30-second increments, until armed through.

More chicken nuggets and tenders…

I will admit that I was a little skeptical about this recipe. I shouldn’t have been because these taste just like the real thing. Both my husband and grandson loved them and were very impressed. Your recipes are always perfect!

– Reneé
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