Description
This Chicken Nuggets recipe delivers crispy, golden bites of tender chicken marinated in dill pickle juice and milk for extra juiciness and tang. Coated in a flavorful seasoned breadcrumb mixture and fried to perfection, these nuggets are a delicious homemade treat reminiscent of classic fast-food favorites.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 3 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into chunks
- 1 cup dill pickle juice
- ½ cup whole milk
Breading Mixture
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 3 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
Frying
- Peanut oil, for frying (at least 1" deep)
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken chunks into a large zip-close bag. Pour in the dill pickle juice and whole milk. Seal the bag and gently massage to ensure all chicken pieces are coated. Let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature to absorb flavors and tenderize.
- Heat the Oil: While the chicken marinates, heat peanut oil in a deep fryer or a large heavy-bottomed pot to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring the oil is at least one inch deep for proper frying.
- Prepare the Breading Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, plain breadcrumbs, powdered sugar, garlic powder, paprika, baking powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until well blended.
- Coat the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the liquid. Dip each piece of chicken into the breadcrumb mixture, coating it completely on all sides.
- Fry the Nuggets: Carefully add the coated chicken pieces to the hot oil in small batches to avoid lowering the oil temperature. Fry each batch for 5 minutes or until the nuggets develop a deep golden brown color and are cooked through.
- Drain and Serve: Remove the fried nuggets using a slotted spoon and place them on a wire cooling rack to drain excess oil and cool slightly. Continue frying remaining batches. Serve warm and enjoy your crispy homemade chicken nuggets!
Notes
- Use peanut oil to achieve the classic Chick-fil-A flavor, but canola or vegetable oil can be substitutes if peanut oil is unavailable.
- Do not overcrowd the frying pot to maintain oil temperature and ensure crispy nuggets.
- Ensure the chicken is cut into evenly sized chunks for uniform cooking.
- For extra crispiness, you can double dip the chicken by dipping again in milk and then breadcrumbs before frying.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauces like honey mustard, barbecue, or ranch for added flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 4 oz chicken and coating)
- Calories: 226 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
