Skip the drive-thru line and learn how to make these copycat air fryer Chick-Fil-A nuggets at home. Crispy battered chicken nuggets are perfect for dipping. These Chick Fil A chicken nuggets are crazy easy to make and air fried instead of deep-fried.
If you have an air fryer you might really love this simple chicken recipe. It creates that deep-fried texture without the excess oil. You get that crunchy coating and tender juicy chicken.
Pair your chicken with this copycat Chick Fil A mac and cheese or this Chick Fil A peppermint shake.
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❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Made with Real Chicken
- Uses Minimal Oil
- Easy Prep
- Quick Cook Time
- Copycat Recipe
- Reheats Well
🛒Ingredients
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- boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- dill pickle juice
- all purpose flour
- powdered sugar
- salt
- black pepper
- paprika
- egg
- milk
- cooking spray
See the recipe card below for quantities.
🔪 How to Make Air Fryer Copycat Chick-fil-a Chicken Nuggets
- Soak chicken pieces in dill pickle juice for at least one hour but preferably up to 6 hours.
- Drain the pickle juice from the chicken pieces.
3. In a large bowl, whisk the egg into the milk. Place the marinated chicken into the milk mixture.
4. In a gallon-sized zip top bag, shake together the flour, sugar, salt, pepper, and paprika. Strain the chicken pieces and drop them into the bag. Seal the bag and shake until the chicken is completely coated.
5. Prepare the air fryer basket with oil spray. Place the chicken pieces onto the chicken basket and spray well with oil spray.
6. Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees. Air fry the chicken nuggets for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping and spraying the nuggets halfway through the baking time.
Hint: Be sure to spray the entire nugget with cooking spray so that it turns golden brown in the air fryer.
🥄 Equipment
- measuring cup and spoon
- air fryer
- gallon sized storage bag
- quart sized storage bag
- large bowl
- tongs
🥫 Storage
Refrigerate any of the chicken nuggets you don’t eat right away. They will store for 2-3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Then to reheat you can warm up in the air fryer, microwave, or even in the oven.
For freezing, you can freeze your chicken nuggets for 2-3 months. Place in a freezer container or freezer bag. Then reheat straight from being frozen.
💭 Tips
- If you find raw flour spots on your nuggets. Spray that spot and then return the nuggets to the air fryer for a few additional minutes.
- If you love Chick-fil-a Sauce you can purchase it in a bottle at your local grocery store or Walmart. Or you can make your own using this recipe.
- Cut your chicken into similar sizes as it will all cook evenly. If they are different sizes you will find the cooking time varies.
- Make sure to use dill pickle juice, I find it offers the best flavor. Other flavors of pickles will alter the end result.
⁉️ FAQ
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Yes, you can air fry these nuggets. Spritzing the breading with oil will create a crispy texture that offers that crunch factor you know and want.
I cooked my chicken for 8-9 minutes, but depending on the size of your chicken pieces the cooking time will be done. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is fully cooked. It needs to read 165 degrees internally.
Set the temperature you are going to cook at. Some air fryers have a preheat button others don’t. If your air fryer doesn’t just allow the air fryer to cook at the time you are wanting for 2-5 minutes until it is fully warmed.
🍽 More Air Fryer Recipes
Do you enjoy air fryer recipes, try these delicious recipes:
🧾Recipe Card
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If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don’t forget that you can click on “add to collection” to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Copycat Air Fryer Chick-fil-a Chicken Nuggets
Equipment
- measuring cup and spoon
- Air Fryer
- gallon sized storage bag
- quart sized storage bag
- Large bowl
- tongs
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 large boneless skinless chicken breast skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup dill pickle juice
- 1 ½ cup all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 egg
- 1 cup milk
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Soak chicken pieces in dill pickle juice for at least one hour but preferably up to 6 hours.
- Drain the pickle juice from the chicken pieces.
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg into the milk. Place the marinated chicken into the milk mixture.
- In a gallon-sized zip top bag, shake together the flour, sugar, salt, pepper, and paprika. Strain the chicken pieces and drop into the bag. Seal the bag and shake until the chicken is completely coated.
- Prepare the air fryer basket with oil spray. Place the chicken pieces onto the chicken basket and spray well with oil spray.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees. Air fry the chicken nuggets for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping and spraying the nuggets halfway through the baking time.