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Air fryer Chick-Fil-A style chicken nuggets in a basket, golden brown and crispy with dipping sauce on the side.

Air Fryer Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets (Copycat)

4.72 from 14 votes
Author: Laurie Fleming
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 57 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings

Description

Crispy, juicy copycat Chick-Fil-A nuggets made in the air fryer with a pickle-juice brine and a hint of powdered sugar in the breading — golden in under 12 minutes and better than the drive-thru.

Ingredients 

For the chicken and brine

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast , cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 cup dill pickle juice, from a jar of dill pickles
  • 1 cup milk, divided (½ cup for brine, ½ cup for egg wash)
  • 2 large eggs

For the breading

  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour, or 1:1 gluten-free baking flour
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper, or black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder

For cooking

  • Olive oil spray, or avocado oil spray in a refillable mister

Instructions

  • Brine the chicken. In a large bowl or zip-top bag, combine the cubed chicken, pickle juice, and ½ cup of the milk. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight).
  • Drain and dry. Pour the chicken into a colander, discard the brine, and pat the pieces dry with paper towels.
  • Egg wash soak. Whisk the eggs with the remaining ½ cup of milk in a shallow bowl. Add the drained chicken and let it sit for 20–30 minutes.
  • Mix the breading. In a second shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, powdered sugar, salt, white pepper, and chili powder.
  • Preheat. Preheat the air fryer to 370°F (188°C) for 3 minutes. Lightly mist the basket with olive oil spray.
  • Dredge. Working a few pieces at a time, lift the chicken from the egg wash, let excess drip off, and toss in the flour mixture, pressing gently to coat. Transfer to a plate.
  • Cook, batch 1. Arrange the nuggets in a single layer in the basket with ½ inch between each. Mist generously with olive oil spray.
  • Air fry. Cook at 370°F for 6 minutes. Flip each nugget, mist the second side, and increase the temperature to 390°F (199°C). Cook for another 4–6 minutes, until the breading is deep golden and the internal temperature reads 165°F (74°C).
  • Repeat with any remaining chicken.
  • Serve immediately with copycat Chick-Fil-A sauce, honey mustard, or your favorite dip.

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Cooking Spray
  • Parchment Paper, optional

Notes

  • Make ahead: Brine the chicken overnight for maximum flavor.
  • Freezer-friendly: Freeze cooked, cooled nuggets on a sheet pan, then transfer to a freezer bag. Keeps 3 months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer at 350°F for 6–8 minutes.
  • Gluten-free: Swap all-purpose flour for 1:1 gluten-free baking flour.
  • Dairy-free: Use unsweetened plant milk in both the brine and egg wash.
  • No pickle juice? Use 1 cup buttermilk + 1 tablespoon white vinegar.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 214kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 21gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 115mgSodium: 1108mgPotassium: 382mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 203IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 1mg