Grilled Chicken Nuggets Recipe (Copycat Chick Fil A)
Save time and money by making homemade Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Nuggets! Today's recipe is a copycat of these delicious fast-food grilled chicken nuggets which you can make with just a handful of ingredients.
In a mixing bowl or in a gallon ziplock baggie, add together pickle juice (¼ cup), milk (3 TBL), brown sugar (2-3 tsp opt), salt (½ tsp), black pepper (½-1 tsp), garlic powder (1 tsp), and smoked paprika (½ - 1 tsp) until well combined.
Add the chicken to the marinade tossing to make sure they are thoroughly coated. Let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes or more (you can leave it refrigerated oernight).
Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Make sure it's nice and hot.
Remove the chicken from the pickle brine marinade and discard and place on paper towels to drain.
Grease the grill grates with olive oil lightly to prevent sticking. Place the coated chicken pieces on the preheated grill. Grill for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until they are cooked through to 165° F and have a nice grill marks.
Once the chicken nuggets are cooked to perfection, remove them from the grill and let them rest for a couple of minutes before enjoying with your favorite sauce. Serve warm.
Notes
Tips:
When cutting the chicken into nugget-sized pieces, try to keep them uniform in size. This ensures they cook evenly on the grill, preventing some pieces from being undercooked while others are overcooked.
If you don't have dill pickle juice on hand, you can substitute it with plain white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. However, the flavor may vary slightly from the original recipe.
Make sure your grill or pan is well preheated, this will ensure you get grill marks and don't steam your chicken.
If you're worried about the chicken pieces falling through the grill grates, consider using a grill basket or threading them onto skewers before grilling. This makes flipping them easier and prevents them from sticking to the grill. This is also a great recipe to make on your Blackstone flattop griddle!
Keep a close eye on the chicken nuggets while they're grilling to avoid overcooking. They cook relatively quickly, so it's best to check them frequently and remove them from the grill as soon as they're cooked through to keep them juicy and tender.
While these grilled chicken nuggets are delicious on their own, serving them with a dipping sauce enhances their flavor even more. Consider classic options like chick-fil-a sauce, barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or ranch dressing for dipping.
Alternative cooking methods:
Air Fryer Chick-Fil-A Grilled Nuggets Proceed with marinating the chicken pieces, patting them dry, and then preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190° C). Spray the air fryer basket with spray oil (not cooking spray it will gum up your air fryer basket). Add the chicken in a single layer and spray the top with oil. Cook for 8-10 minutes, tossing halfway through. *Note that all air fryers heat differently, adjust the recipe accordingly.Pan Fried Grilled Chick-Fil-A Nuggets Using a grill pan over medium-high heat or in a cast iron skillet with a little oil, saute or grill chicken nuggets for 7-8 minutes, turning or stirring occasionally.Can I bake these chicken nuggets instead of grilling them? If you prefer to bake the chicken nuggets, preheat your oven to 400°F (205° C) and arrange the marinated nuggets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12-18 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until cooked through and golden brown.
Keto Grilled Chicken Nuggets: Replace sugar with a brown sugar substitute (I like Lakanto) and replace milk with heavy cream or almond milk.
Storage:Refrigeration: After grilling, allow the chicken nuggets to cool completely before storing them. Transfer the nuggets to an airtight container or sealable plastic bag. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Freezing cooked nuggets: Arrange the cooled nuggets in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.Can I freeze raw chicken nuggets in brine? Yes! Freezing actually halts the marinade process, so as you thaw they will brine. Make sure you get all of the air out and freeze for up to 3 months, thaw overnight in fridge and proceed with recipe.