Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Recipe

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe
Published: March 17, 2021Updated: April 8, 2021Author: Elyse Ellis
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
If I had the option of eating Chick-Fil-A every day of my life, I would. I LOVE it. This version of Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken nuggets helps me with my addiction and might help you with yours.
Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Recipe

In honor of a new Chick-Fil-A opening down the street from us, we decided to give these Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Recipe a whirl!  They really tasted so close to the real thing!

(And you don’t feel so bad about eating them because they are homemade, right?!)

Now if you have never tried a copycat recipe, you are MISSING OUT! There is something about eating a restaurant recipe in your house! They are SO GOOD!

This Homemade Chick-Fil-A Recipe has been a family favorite for years.

Prepear app on phone

“I have so much time!” -No mom ever

Let us give you your time back. With the Six Sisters’ Meal Plans, we do the dinner planning, grocery ordering, and then all you have to do is decide whether to pick them up or have them delivered.

Get My Meal Plans NOW!

Here are our tips to make it even easier to make these Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets:

1. The first step is just mixing whisking the milk and egg together. Then you just throw in your chicken! If you want to make this step easier, have your chicken all cut up into bite sizes pieces, ready to go.
2. Let the chicken soak for at least 30 minutes. This is what makes it SO tender.
3. While your chicken is soaking, mix all of your dry ingredients4. Also while your chicken is soaking, get your sauce pan all heated with oil so you will be ready to add your chicken.
5. Once your chicken is done soaking, you are going take a few pieces at a time, and place them in the flour mixture. Make sure all the chicken is coated with the flour and then place into the hot oil
6. Cook each side for at least 2-3 minutes or until golden brown (You want to make sure that chicken is no longer pink)

Now that you have the chicken recipe, you HAVE to make the Chick-Fil-A sauce to go with it! The recipe is SO easy!

Here are the ingredients you need for Chick-Fil-A Sauce:

  • mayonnaise (or light mayonnaise)
  • mustard
  • lemon juice
  • honey
  • Barbecue Sauce (we like the “smoky” sauces best in this recipe)

If you have all of those ingredients, then you are set! You can actually make it!

Find the Chick-Fil-A Sauce Recipe HERE

If you love these delicious homemade Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets, then you’ll want to try our Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos.

Serves: 5

Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets Recipe

If I had the option of eating Chick-Fil-A every day of my life, I would. I LOVE it. This version of Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken nuggets helps me with my addiction and might help you with yours.
Prep Time 45 mins
Cook Time 18 mins
Total Time 1 hr 3 mins
Print Pin

Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1¼ cup flour
  • 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 32 ounces canola oil 1 bottle, for frying

Instructions

  • In a large bowl whisk milk and egg together
  • Place chicken on counter and cut into cubed bite size pieces; trim any fat that you may see
  • Put the chicken in the milk mixture and mix so that all is coated and place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes
  • In another large bowl combine the flour, powdered sugar, salt, pepper, and chili powder and stir together.
  • In cast iron pot or sauce pan pour in oil so that its at least an inch deep on med/high heat
  • Remove the chicken from refrigerator and place about 8 pieces at a time into the flour mixture making sure all the chicken is coated with the flour and then place into the hot oil
  • Cook each side for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown (You want to make sure that chicken is no longer pink so you can cut one piece to test it out)
  • Place the chicken on some paper towels to soak up any extra oil.
  • Repeat the same steps with the rest of the chicken.

Video

Notes

  • Dip nuggets in your favorite sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 261 kcal · Carbohydrates: 30 g · Protein: 24 g · Fat: 4 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 63 mg · Sodium: 1060 mg · Potassium: 442 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 6 g · Vitamin A: 168 IU · Vitamin C: 1 mg · Calcium: 67 mg · Iron: 2 mg

Equipment

  • Large Bowl (2)
  • Whisk
  • Saucepan

Recipe Details

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Our newest cookbook is all about Pressure Cooking. If you love our Instant Pot recipes, this is the cookbook for you!

Copycat Cooking Cookbook

Order your copy today!

INSTANT COOKING with Six Sisters’ Stuff <—– Click here to order!

Be sure to not miss another recipe! Follow Six Sisters’ Stuff on Instagram|Facebook|Pinterest|YouTube

Leave a Review!

We LOVE hearing from you! Submit your question or review here.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked*.

Rate This Recipe!




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Jess says:
    September 27, 2011
    Oh my, I'm hiding this post from my boyfriend. He is BEYOND obsessed with Chik-Fil-A and we don't have one in our city. Looks delish!
    Reply
  2. Amber says:
    September 27, 2011
    I will definitely have to give these a try! We love CFA
    Reply
  3. Michelle Whitlow says:
    October 1, 2011
    oh how I miss CFA! We just moved from GA to WA...and no CFA :( I'll definitely have to give these a whirl!
    Reply
  4. Jennifer says:
    October 1, 2011
    We made these tonight! They were good and easy! Thanks for sharing! =)
    Reply
  5. Jamie says:
    October 3, 2011
    Yummy! Now we can have Chick fa la on Sundays!
    Reply
  6. [email protected] says:
    October 5, 2011
    Will definitely be trying these! Also, will feature on my blog on Friday! :)
    Stop by for a visit!
    Reply
    • Susan Page says:
      July 17, 2021
      Can you cook these in an air fryer
      Reply
  7. Meagan (A Zesty Bite) says:
    October 17, 2011
    I am so glad you enjoyed the nuggets. They were so delicious.
    Reply
  8. Sharon says:
    October 19, 2011
    Chick Fil A frys everything in peanut oil according to their signs posted on the drive thru, it really makes a difference with the taste, and probably increased the calories, lol!
    Reply
    • 3LittleMonkeys says:
      June 3, 2012
      This comment has been removed by the author.
      Reply
  9. Anonymous says:
    November 16, 2011
    Just in case you want to add something...I use to work at CFA and they put a bit of pickle juice in their marinade. It adds a lot!
    Reply
    • Miranda says:
      August 12, 2020
      That’s what I thought! I had read somewhere they marinate their chicken in pickle juice.
      Reply
  10. Anonymous says:
    January 3, 2012
    I marinate my chicken bites in dill pickle juice for a couple of hours and then I just pour out the juice and batter them to fry. It tastes just like Chic Filet's nuggets!
    Reply
  11. Micaela says:
    January 10, 2012
    When I was a teenager I worked in a Chick-fil-a and they fry everything in Peanut oil. Might help if you try this at home:) Looks great.
    Reply
  12. Tatum says:
    January 15, 2012
    Chick-fil-a uses a pressure cooker, but I'm still going to try this one. Thanks for sharing.
    Reply
  13. MommyMulholland says:
    January 16, 2012
    I do the exact same thing, but with one exception . . . into the egg and milk mixture, I put just a splash of dill pickle juice . . . A long time ago, I bought a tray of nuggets for a party, and asked for an ingredient list as some folks had allergies . . . listed as an ingredient was pickle juice . . . makes a big difference!!
    Reply
    • Darrell Bizzell says:
      May 4, 2019
      Unless you brine your chicken in pickle juice, you are missing the "secret ingredient". I actually used jalapeno juice for a little extra flavor.
      Reply
  14. jpixar23 says:
    February 28, 2012
    if u got the ingred. list please share LOL! ^^^^^^^^^
    Reply
  15. blessedmomof3 says:
    March 15, 2012
    I made these last night, and they are so good! This recipe is definitely a keeper! Thanks for sharing it!

    Blessings,
    Andrea
    Reply
  16. C.J. says:
    March 22, 2012
    Will definitely be trying this out. I love Chik Fil A!!!
    Reply
  17. C.J. says:
    March 22, 2012
    Will definitely be trying this out. I love Chik Fil A!!!
    Reply
  18. Leia's Mommy says:
    March 24, 2012
    We just left the states after two weeks and I had chick fil a 4 times lol. I can't wait to try this been upset we had to leave it behind.
    Reply
  19. Liz says:
    June 11, 2012
    Try using coconut oil for frying and you'll have a healthier meal! :)
    Reply
  20. miss.marcedes says:
    June 15, 2012
    When I was a kid we used to have Chik-Fil-A restaurants in a couple of the malls around town but they all closed down by the time I was about 11 or 12......I never actually ate at one but this looks great so I am going to try it out soon!!
    Reply
  21. Priceless says:
    July 4, 2012
    We don't have this fast food chain in Canada (yet):( so I'm so glad to have stumbled upon this on Pinterest. I can't wait to try this out I'm sure it taste fantastic. I'm a chicken nugget fan so this is perfect! Thanks for sharing :)
    Reply
    • Trudy says:
      May 7, 2018
      Yes we do have this at the Calgary Alberta airport.
      Reply
  22. Brittany L'Esperance says:
    July 25, 2012
    Has anyone tried these with buttermilk? I did a similar recipe for chicken nuggets once that called for buttermilk, but I used regular milk because I didn't have any, and I had a hard time getting the "breading" to stick. I will try both and report back. :-)
    Reply
    • miss.marcedes says:
      August 1, 2012
      I have a trick for buttermilk if you don't have any on hand. Pour 1 tablespoon of white vinegar into a measuring cup & fill to the 1 cup line, wait 10 minutes before using allowing the vinegar to do it's curdling thing.
      Reply
  23. candi forney says:
    July 28, 2012
    I have made these a dozen times. Every time I get nothing but rave reviews! Thank you!!!!
    Reply
  24. Sadie says:
    August 3, 2012
    I saw this posted on Pinterest as "Chicken Nuggets without the hate"... haha love them. Well, I'm a vegetarian so I don't PERSONALLY love them. I love that there's a good recipe out there that can help people have the willpower to stay away from that place. ;)
    Reply
    • Cynthia johnson says:
      May 1, 2018
      Very nasty comment. I find this fast food chain a breath of fresh air, because of the courtesy and manners if employees.
      Reply
  25. Keely says:
    August 12, 2012
    Yay! I am allergic to peanuts so Chic-fil-a is off limits (they fry in peanut oil). This just opened the door up for me! People always tell me I am missing the best chicken nuggets ever. We'll see! Thank you!
    Reply
    • Deb Fitzgerald says:
      March 17, 2020
      I also am allergic to peanuts, as I recently found out. The doctor said peanut oil is highly refined, and safe for those of us with allergies. I have CFA nuggets a few times a month. As always, check with YOUR doctor.
      Reply
  26. trublu13 says:
    September 20, 2012
    I have read all the tips above to get an authenticate CFA taste. These were pretty good nuggets. I made the last batch w/ an extra dash of chili powder. My hubby liked, our daughter didn't. I am going to try the pickle juice and peanut oil. The only difference I noticed was after frying, the breading didn't have the same texture or color. How can I achieve this?
    Reply
  27. mikefordscfacorporate says:
    October 21, 2012
    Just thought you should know it is illegal to use any of Chick-fil-a name in your recipe because of copyright laws and you will be reported.
    Reply
  28. marla washburn says:
    November 4, 2012
    I have made these....last week. They were so good, I am going to make them again tonight!! mikefordscfacorporate says you should not be using their name....Maybe, if I were you, I would change that title on your picture. I would really hate to see you guys get in trouble. Great website and I have made many of your recipes.
    Reply
  29. Brad and Tiffany says:
    January 1, 2013
    I made these tonight and they were so yummy! Thank you so much for the recipe!!
    Reply
  30. Byron says:
    February 20, 2013
    Whether or not it matches the Chick-fil-A taste, this looks delicious. I'm in England for two terms, so I'm admittedly easy to impress. I'm also relieved that I can recreate their beloved chicken without having to patronize an outspokenly homophobic corporation. Thank you!
    Reply
  31. Julie says:
    October 14, 2013
    Made these yesterday! So yummy! Just confused about one thing--in the directions it says to coat the chicken in the milk mixture and then refrigerate...do I refrigerate the chicken IN the milk or do I dip the chicken and then refrigerate just the chicken? Thanks!
    Reply
    • Cyd says:
      October 16, 2013
      Coat them in the milk mixture and refrigerate. Then pull them out, roll in the flour mixture and bake.
      Reply
  32. Katonna says:
    August 8, 2014
    I was just wondering if this would work as a freezer meal type of thing..could these be cooked up and then frozen in freezer bags and taken out and just reheated? my daughter likes chicken nuggets(go figure huh? lol) and I would love to just make homemade ones but not everytime we decided spur of the moment she wants some for lunch..so if I could find something that could replace our bag/box of chicken nuggets we heat up that would be AMAZING!
    Reply
    • Cyd says:
      August 11, 2014
      That should work just fine to pull them out and reheat as needed!
      Reply
  33. Sharon Money says:
    June 18, 2018
    I love chick fil e sauce - yum
    Reply
  34. Ellise says:
    September 19, 2018
    Just made these today. Wonderful and very easy! I used about a pound and a half of chicken, and it made lots of nuggets with just the right amount of flour mixture and oil. Perfect and definitely a keeper!
    Reply
    • Cyd says:
      September 19, 2018
      So glad to hear that you liked them! Our kids love these nuggets!
      Reply
  35. Angela says:
    March 3, 2019
    Hi... I would like to use my deep fryer. What temperature? How long? Thanks
    Reply
  36. Connie says:
    February 6, 2021
    Has anyone tried this recipe in a AF?
    Reply
    • Stacy says:
      March 17, 2021
      I’m curious about the possibility of using an air fryer too
      Reply
  37. Patty says:
    March 17, 2021
    Has anyone tried these with less salt?
    Reply
  38. Cindy Vaughn says:
    March 17, 2021
    Have you tried this in the air fryer? If so, what temp and how long? Thank you for your awesome recipes!!
    Reply
  39. DGuenther says:
    July 1, 2021
    The recipe sounds great. We are wondering if you could make these in an air fryer?
    Reply
    • Momma Cyd says:
      July 12, 2021
      You can totally do chicken nuggets in the air fryer. You can compare this recipe to our Youtube instruction. https://youtu.be/o5H6ddMht40
      Reply
BuzzFeedElleGlamourHuffington PostParentingTaste of HomeToday Show