This Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Recipe is the ultimate copycat! Tender grilled chicken nuggets are made quickly in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Copycat Qdoba Chicken
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Grilled Nuggets Chick-Fil-A Copycat

The first confession, I truly love these homemade low-carb Chick-Fil-A nuggets. They taste just like real Chick-Fil-A Grilled Nuggets, only better.

These grilled chicken nuggets taste like the real thing, and you can make them anytime a craving strikes!

We love chicken at our house! Here are some of our favorite go-to chicken recipes: Air Fryer Apple Bourbon Glazed Chicken Legs, Air Fryer Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken Copycat, Air Fryer Cajun Chicken Pasta, and Air Fryer Chicken Fajita Burritos.

Why You’ll Love This Grilled Nuggets Chick-Fil-A Copycat

  • Super simple
  • Tastes great
  • Kids love them
  • Keto nuggets
  • Fast to cook

Low Carb Chick-Fil-A Nuggets Ingredients

  • Chicken breast
  • Dill pickle juice
  • Heavy cream
  • Garlic powder
  • Celery salt
  • Sweet paprika
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
cut chicken on cutting board
I started with chicken tenderloins and cut them up into 1-inch pieces.

How To Make Grilled Chicken Nuggets

Step 1: Cut chicken

Dice chicken into 1-inch pieces.

soaking chicken in marinade
Added pickle juice and heavy cream, so that all of the nuggets were covered. Let sit for about 30 minutes. Then, I drained the pickle juice and heavy cream, patting them dry with a paper towel.

Step 2: Marinate chicken

Combine pickle juice and heavy cream in a bowl. Add the keto nuggets so they can marinate for at least 30 minutes. Then, drain and dry off with a paper towel.

seasonings and chicken in a bowl
Added the dried chicken into the mixing bowl with the spice mixture.

Step 3: Air fry nuggets

Add seasoning to chicken and coat well. Air fry at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees.

Note: I turned up the heat to 450 degrees on my OMNI for the last 3 minutes, but you don’t have to do this.

Serve and enjoy!

green bowl with chicken

Keto Nuggets Tips

  • Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces that are about the same size. They will cook more evenly.
  • For a subtle sweetness, swap the dill pickle juice for sweet pickle juice. Yum!
  • Adjust the seasonings based on your flavor preferences. Remember that adjusting the flavors won’t taste the same as the original Chick-Fil-A grilled chicken recipe!
Keto Low-Carb Chicken Tenders

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you serve with grilled chicken nuggets?

You can serve low-carb Chick Fil A nuggets with anything you like. Here are a few of our favorites:

What dipping sauces go with this grilled nuggets Chick-Fil-A recipe?

  • Honey Mustard
  • Barbecue
  • Chick-Fil-A sauce
  • Spicy Mustard

How do you save leftovers?

Place leftover keto nuggets in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Pro Tips for Making Copycat Qdoba Chicken in Air Fryer: Pound the Chicken: Before marinating, consider pounding the chicken breasts to an even thickness. This will help ensure that the chicken cooks uniformly and prevents any part from drying out during air frying. Marinate Longer: For more intense flavors, marinate the chicken for an extended period. If possible, marinate the chicken for 4 to 8 hours or even overnight in the refrigerator. This allows the spices and seasonings to penetrate the chicken fully. Adjust Seasonings: Feel free to adjust the seasonings to match your taste preferences. If you prefer a spicier chicken, add more chili powder or cayenne pepper. For a milder version, reduce the amount of spice. Use a Meat Thermometer: To ensure perfectly cooked chicken, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The chicken is safe to eat when it reaches 165°F (74°C). Resting Time Matters: Let the air-fried chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute within the chicken, resulting in a more succulent and flavorful dish. Reheat Carefully: If you have leftovers, reheat the chicken in the air fryer for a short period at a lower temperature to prevent overcooking. About 2-3 minutes at 350°F (175°C) should be sufficient to warm the chicken without drying it out. Serve with Qdoba-Style Fixings: Enhance the Qdoba experience by serving the chicken with your favorite Qdoba-style fixings, such as rice, beans, salsa, guacamole, cheese, and sour cream. Create your own burritos, bowls, or salads for a complete and delicious meal. Experiment with Cooking Times: Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts and the brand of the air fryer. Start with the recommended time and adjust accordingly for your specific air fryer model. Double the Recipe: If you have a larger air fryer or need to serve a crowd, double the recipe to make more servings. Just ensure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to maintain even cooking. Grill for a Charred Flavor: For an even closer match to Qdoba's grilled chicken, consider finishing the air-fried chicken on an outdoor grill for a few minutes. The grill marks will add a lovely charred flavor to the chicken. By following these pro tips, you can replicate the delicious and flavorful Qdoba chicken in your air fryer, creating a delightful meal that everyone will enjoy!

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Air Fryer Copycat Qdoba Chicken

Air Fryer Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Recipe (Copycat)

5 from 9 votes
Author: Fork To Spoon
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
marinate: 30 minutes
Total Time: 48 minutes
Servings: 2 Servings
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Description

This Air Fryer Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Recipe is the ultimate copycat! Tender grilled chicken nuggets are made quickly in the air fryer.

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound chicken breast, boneless, skinless
  • 1/2 cup dill pickle juice
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon celery salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • I started with chicken tenderloins and cut them up into 1-inch pieces. Added them to a bowl, large enough so I could marinate the nuggets.
  • Add pickle juice and heavy cream, so that all of the nuggets were covered. Let sit for about 30 minutes. Then I drained the pickle juice and heavy cream, dried them off with a paper towel.
  • Added the dried chicken into the mixing bowl with the spice mixture.
  • Mix well.
  • Spread the coated nuggets on a greased air fryer tray or in a greased air fryer basket (spread them out, do not crowd) Set in the air fryer. And set the temperature to 350 degrees F, for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, check and see if the chicken is fully cooked. If not add enough time so that they are done with an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. I have an OMNI so I added 3 minutes at 450 degrees F, (broiler setting) you can omit if you don’t have a broil function on your air fryer.
  • Plate, serve and enjoy!

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 384kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 49gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 179mgSodium: 3485mgPotassium: 904mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 754IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg

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