Description
This homemade Chicken Nuggets recipe delivers crispy, golden bites of tender chicken marinated in dill pickle juice and milk, then coated in a flavorful seasoned breadcrumb mixture and fried to perfection. Perfect for a snack or a main course, these nuggets are a delicious copycat of popular 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
- 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
For Frying
- Peanut oil (for frying, at least 1 inch deep)
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken chunks in a large zip-close bag and pour in the dill pickle juice and whole milk. Seal the bag and gently massage to coat all chicken pieces evenly. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes to tenderize and infuse flavor.
- Heat the Oil: While the chicken marinates, pour peanut oil into a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot to a depth of at least 1 inch. Heat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, maintaining this temperature for frying.
- Prepare the Breading: In a large bowl, combine the all purpose flour, plain breadcrumbs, powdered sugar, garlic powder, paprika, baking powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to ensure the seasoning and ingredients are well blended.
- Bread the Chicken: Drain the chicken from the marinade and discard the liquid. Dip each piece of chicken into the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to coat all sides completely.
- Fry the Nuggets: Carefully add breaded chicken pieces to the hot oil in small batches to avoid lowering the temperature. Fry each batch for 5 minutes until the nuggets are deep golden brown and fully cooked inside.
- Drain and Cool: Use a slotted spoon to remove the nuggets and place them on a wire cooling rack to drain excess oil and cool slightly. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces until all are cooked.
- Serve: Enjoy your crispy homemade chicken nuggets immediately with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
- For an authentic taste, pair these nuggets with a homemade Chick Fil A style dipping sauce.
- You can substitute whole milk with buttermilk for a tangier flavor if desired.
- Ensure the oil temperature stays at 350 degrees Fahrenheit to achieve crispy and non-greasy nuggets.
- Do not overcrowd the fryer; frying in small batches is key to maintaining oil temperature and even cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 226 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 886 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 74 mg
