Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce and Nuggets Recipe – These crispy, golden, and flavorful nuggets are paired with the iconic, tangy sauce that’s loved by so many. It’s easy to whip up with simple, pantry staples, and it tastes just like the restaurant version!

Chick fil a nugget recipe and sauce - close up on white and blue plate.

Why We Love This Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce and Nuggets Recipe

Chick-fil-A. It’s the one fast food joint my kids can talk me into going on a somewhat regular basis. If we’re running errands and starving, I can’t say no to the thought of hot, crispy, perfectly seasoned chicken chunks with tangy Chick-fil-A Sauce… Oh, and an ice-cold lemonade.

What is it about those darn chicken nuggets that make them so irresistible? To me, it’s the simplicity of the flavor, combined with the contrast of crunchy breading and juicy little morsels of chicken. I was determined to find out what exactly makes Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets taste so tantalizing.

Rather than getting a part-time job as an undercover fry cook, I did a lot of googling and asking around. You wouldn’t believe how many people have worked at Chick-Fil-A in the past! After a bit of research, I have the best Chick-fil-A Chicken Sauce and Nuggets Recipes for you! These recipes are as close to the original as I could possibly make them. These little guys are crispy, juicy, and utterly irresistible.

You can save a bundle on party platters by making several batches of this Nugget and Sauce Recipe for your events. Your guests will never know the difference… Unless you tell them!

Hand dipping a nugget in sauce in white bowl.

Ingredients You Need

For the Nuggets:

  • Boneless skinless chicken breasts – cut into bite-sized chunks
  • Dill pickle juice – bottled
  • Granulated sugar – adds a little sweetness
  • All-purpose flour – for coating the chicken
  • Cornstarch – for coating the chicken
  • Spices – paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper
  • Milk – for the egg wash
  • Eggs – for the egg wash
  • Peanut oil – or canola oil

For the Sauce:

  • Mayonnaise – or low-fat mayo
  • Honey – adds sweetness
  • Yellow mustard – adds a tangy flavor
  • Barbecue sauce – adds a sweet and smoky flavor
  • Lemon juice – fresh squeezed
Chick Fil A Nuggets on a paper towel-lined plate.

How To Make Chick Fil A Nuggets

  1. Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Soak the chicken pieces in warm pickle juice for at least 30 minutes. (This is the secret ingredient!) Then dry the chicken pieces thoroughly.
  3. Prep the dry dredge mixture.
Whisk in a bowl with the flour mixture and other ingredients are in bowls in the background.
  1. Drain out the pickle brine and dunk the chicken in the dry mixture. Coat them thin and place them on cooling racks. Coat all the pieces before moving on.
  2. Prep the egg wash mixture. Add a little to the dry mixture for added texture.
  3. Dunk the chicken in the wet mixture and dunk in the dry mixture for a second time. Coat all the nuggets and place them on the drying rack.
Chicken chunks in the flour mixture.
  1. Set the oil in a pot on medium to medium-high heat until a thermometer reads 350 degrees F.
  2. Place ⅓ of the chicken nuggets in the oil to fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown.
A pot of boiling oil with chicken nuggets.
  1. Skim them out and let them dry on a paper towel-lined plate, wait for the oil to come back to temperature, and finish the other ⅔ of the chicken.
  2. Once all the nuggets are cooked, serve them warm with a side of the Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce Recipe!

How To Make Chick Fil A Sauce

  1. Set out a small bowl.
  2. Measure the mayonnaise, honey, yellow mustard, barbecue sauce, and lemon juice into the bowl.
  3. Mix until smooth.
  4. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Get The Full (Printable) How To Make Copycat Chick Fil A Nugget Recipe and Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce Below.

Chicken nuggets on a plate with a small bowl of sauce.

Serving Suggestions

Chick-fil-A nuggets and sauce are perfectly good on their own, but you can also pair this meal with a bunch of different side dishes to create a full meal! Try pairing it with some of my personal favorites:

Recipe Tips

  • Brine the chicken chunks in pickle juice. This helps give the chicken flavor, and its ultra-moist texture. (Then make sure to dry the chicken pieces well so the breading sticks tight while frying!)
  • Season the flour mixture heavily. Don’t worry about there being too much salt or seasoning in the flour. Most of it gets shaken off anyway.
  • Double-dip the chicken. Chicken needs two layers of flour, with egg wash in between, in order to properly crust the chicken and give it a crunchy coating. The first layer of flour should be very thin. Once wet, it acts as the glue that holds the second layer of flour to the chicken chunks.
  • Let the chicken rest before frying. One former Chick-Fil-A cook said that the longer the chicken sits between coating and frying, the better. Allowing the breaded chicken some rest time helps the breading hold tight to the chicken, not bubble, and fall off. By double-dipping all the pieces and placing them on a drying rack before heating the oil, you give the chicken and breading time to become one, so to speak.
  • Create nooks and crannies. Another secret Chick-Fil-A trick is to add a little bit of the egg wash to the flour mixture before the second dredge. By mixing the egg wash into the flour with your fingers, you create tiny crumbs that will hold onto the chicken in the second dunk.
  • Fry in peanut oil. Peanut oil helps give Chick-fil-A nuggets their special flavor and texture. If you have a nut allergy, feel free to use canola oil. However, Chick-Fil-A insists their peanut oil is specially refined to remove nut proteins and therefore is allergen-free.
  • Dip in Chick-Fil-A Sauce! It’s not just the chicken, but the sauce as well, that makes Chick-Fil-A so great. Guess what, you can make your own at home!

Frequently Asked Questions 

How long do these nuggets last?

If they are stored properly in an airtight container these leftovers can last in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.

Can I use vegetable oil instead of peanut oil?

Yes, you can use any high-heat flavorless oil for frying.

Any suggestions on reheating these?

Place the chicken nuggets recipe in a warm oven for a few minutes to reheat. About 5-10 minutes at 350 degrees F. Or you can toss these in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes at 350 degrees F. 

Can you be more specific about barbecue sauce as there are many variations?

Of course! Go with a sweet tomato-based “southern style” bbq sauce like Stubbs.

What Else Can I Use For Dipping Sauce?

If you are not a fan of traditional Chick Fil A Sauce, dip the nuggets in honey mustard, classic barbecue sauce, Polynesian sauce, or even ranch dressing!

Hand dipping a nugget into the sauce in a small bowl with more nuggets surrounding the bowl.

Looking for More Fun Copycat Recipes? Be Sure to Try:

Get The Full (Printable) How To Make Copycat Chick Fil A Nugget Recipe and Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce Below.

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Chick Fil A Nugget and Sauce Recipe

Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 12 minutes
These crispy, golden, and flavorful nuggets are paired with the iconic, tangy sauce that’s loved by so many. It’s easy to whip up with simple, pantry staples, and it tastes just like the restaurant version!
Servings: 8

Video

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

For the Chick-fil-A Nuggets:

For the Chick-Fil-A Sauce:

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks. Warm the pickle juice in the microwave, in a microwave-safe bowl, until hot to the touch. Stir in the sugar until completely dissolved. Add the chicken chunks and allow them to soak for at least 30 minutes, or overnight. Place in the refrigerator while brining.
  • For the Sauce: Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Once the chicken has brined in the pickle juice, mix the flour, salt, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Drain off the pickle juice and thoroughly dry the chicken chunks with paper towels.
  • Set out a drying/cooling rack and dredge the chicken chunks in the flour. Shake off all excess flour so the coating is very thin. Lay the chicken on the rack. Coat all the chicken pieces before moving on.
  • Next beat the milk and eggs in a separate bowl. Pour 2 tablespoons of eggwash in the remaining flour mix and work it into little pebbles with your fingers. Dunk the chicken chunks in the eggwash, then dip them back into the flour mixture. Shake off the excess flour and lay them back on the drying rack.
  • Once all the chicken is double-dipped in the flour mixture, pour the oil in a large sauce pot. Turn the heat on medium to medium-high. Place a clip-on thermometer on the side of the pot and bring the temperature up to 350 degrees F.
  • Once the oil is ready, gently place one-third of the chicken chunks to the hot oil. Stir once, and fry for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Use a spider skimmer to scoop the chicken pieces out of the oil. Place them on a paper towel lined plate. Cut one large piece open to make sure it's cooked through.
  • Allow the temperature to rise back to 350 degrees. Repeat with the remaining chicken pieces two more times. You can keep the fried chicken pieces warm in a 200 degree F oven if you like. Once all the chicken is cooked, serve warm with Chick-fil-A Sauce.

Notes

1) Adding a little eggwash to the flour mixture helps create the nooks and crannies in the chicken breading.
2) Don’t try to speed up the process by heating the oil sooner than recommended. Allowing the chicken to rest on the drying rack gives the breading time to adhere to the chicken, so it doesn’t separate creating gaps between the chicken and the breading.

Nutrition

Serving: 4ounces, Calories: 1578kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 144g, Saturated Fat: 24g, Cholesterol: 128mg, Sodium: 2157mg, Potassium: 563mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 600IU, Vitamin C: 1.7mg, Calcium: 60mg, Iron: 2.5mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier
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