Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets (Chick-Fil-A Copycat)–Skip the drive-thru and stay at home. Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are amazingly awesome. Whether you buy them at the store or you make them in the air fryer, They are just amazing! Today, I made a huge batch for my son, and he was in love. The secret, of course, is in the pickle juice.
Believe it or not, when we moved to Philadelphia, I literally had to force my kids to try chick-fil-a. They have never heard of it, and they were both leary about a restaurant that only served chicken. I mean, they have heard of McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s, but this chicken place? Remember, we were from rural New Hampshire, and there were none. So, I actually bought one combo, and they reluctantly tried the sandwich and were hooked.
So, when I got my air fryer, it was one of my first recipes. I mean, what kid doesn’t like Copycat Chick-Fil-A Nuggets?
What Makes Chick Fil A Nuggets So Good
- Soaked in pickle juice for a juicy and unique flavored chicken
- The battered chicken is heavenly.
- Bite-size
- Real chicken pieces
- Kid-Friendly
- Beyond delicious down to the last crumbs
What isn’t to love about chicken nuggets? Give this recipe a try, and be prepared to never look at making nuggets any other way.
Best Chicken To Use For Nuggets
You will want chicken breasts that are skinless and boneless or tenderloins. Make sure if you use tenderloins, you remove the tendon in the chicken. Or it can be a bit chewy to eat.
You can do this by holding the white tendon on one end with a paper towel. Then take a fork and hold it around the tendon and lift and it will easily take the tendon out.
How to Know When Chicken Is Done
You can grab a meat thermometer and ensure the chicken reaches 165 degrees internal temperature. The other way you can know it is done if the chicken is what and shows no pink when you cut into it. Also, ensuring the juice runs clear if you squeeze a piece of the chicken.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Chicken Nuggets in An Air Fryer?
Place the FROZEN nuggets into the air fryer, bask, and place the temperature to 400 degrees F, air fryer setting, for 10 to 12 minutes.
Flip them halfway, so they get evenly cooked. If you
How Long Does It Take To Cook Veggie (Vegetable) Chicken Nuggets in An Air Fryer?
If you use frozen veggie (vegetable) nuggets, the temperature will still be 400 degrees F, but only cook for 6-8 minutes.
I would flip the veggie nuggets, so both sides get evenly cooked.
Are Chick-Fil-A nuggets marinated in pickle juice?
Yes, you add some pickle juice to the marinade, and then you top off the sandwich with a few pickles, they call it a pickle brine.
That is what gives Chick-Fil-A the taste and aroma of pickles. Everyone always asks me where you buy the pickle juice, you don’t buy the juice, you use the pickle juice from the jar of pickles!
Storing Leftovers and Freezing
Any air fryer recipe that offers a breading is best eaten fresh. With that said, you can absolutely store leftovers. Just allow the chicken to cool and then place it in a bag or airtight container.
The chicken will store for a few days. When you want to eat more, reheat in the microwave or toss back in the air fryer for a crispier texture.
Freezing these Chick-Fil-A nuggets is great for meals down the line. Just allow the chicken to cool and then place in a proper container and freeze for up to three months. Then reheat in the oven from frozen, microwave, or toss in the air fryer.
About Time
- Prep Time 10 mins
- Cook Time 10 mins
- Total Time 20 mins
- Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless chicken breast, cut into 1″ chunks
- 1 cup dill pickle juice
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup of milk
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- Olive oil
- Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the diced chicken, pickle juice, and 1/2 cup of milk. Let marinate for about 1 hour.
- Then drain the chicken.
- In a small mixing bowl, mix 1/2 cup of milk, and the eggs, add the chicken, and marinade for about 30 minutes.
- In a small mixing bowl, mix the flour, powdered sugar, salt, white pepper, and chili powder.
- Add your chicken and coat them.
- Add your chicken to the air fryer basket, spray with olive oil.
- Set the air fryer to 370 degrees F for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, flip the chicken and air fry for another 5-7 minutes.
- Check to make sure the chicken is cooked before removing it.
- Plate, serve, and enjoy!