These Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Nuggets are a healthy homemade copycat that tastes just like the real thing. Toss the chicken in a pickle juice marinade and cook until juicy and tender. They are high in protein making them extremely satisfying and just as full of flavor.
Serve them with a side salad, in a bowl, or with your favorite dipping sauce for a quick and easy meal! I always serve them with my homemade copycat Chick-fil-A sauce.
copycat recipe
high protein
Quick Look: Grilled Chicken Nuggets
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- ⏱️ Marinate Time: 30 minutes – 4 hours
- 👩🍳 Cook Time: 15 minutes
- 🕖 Total Time: 25 minutes – hands on cooking
- 🍗 Servings: 3 servings
- ⚡️ Calories: 297 calories per serving (based on nutrition panel)
- 🔥 Cooking Method: Marinate and cook on grill pan
- 🛒 Main Ingredients: chicken breast, pickle juice, milk
- ⭐️ Difficulty: Medium
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Replace your Chick-Fil-A favorite with these Healthy Grilled Chicken Nuggets
There is something about a chicken nugget that I still love even as an adult. Being able to eat them in one bite or dunk in a favorite sauce without using a fork and knife is still a simple pleasure.
These grilled nuggets are super easy to make at home and pack the same flavor as your drive through favorite from Chick-fil-A. The secret is to marinate the nuggets in a flavorful dill pickle marinade for at least 30 minutes and then grill up on a grill pan or a cast-iron skillet.
If you want to serve these with some delicious homemade fries, try this crispy oven baked french fry recipe.
ingredients You’ll Need
You will be amazed at how easy it is to make these flavorful chicken nuggets. Just grab these simple ingredients, marinate the nuggets and grill them up!
- Boneless skinless chicken breast – Cut into square pieces before marinating so every piece soaks up the flavor evenly and cooks at the same rate.
- Dill pickle juice – This is the secret to that signature Chick-fil-A flavor. The pickle juice tenderizes the chicken and adds a subtle tangy flavor that tastes just like the original. Do not skip it!
- Milk – Mix milk with the pickle juice to create the marinade base. The milk helps balance out the tanginess of the pickle juice and keeps the chicken moist and tender.
- Brown sugar – Adds a hint of sweetness to the marinade that balances out the salty and tangy flavors. It also helps the chicken get a little color when it cooks. You can skip this, but it’s a small amount and I recommend keeping it in
- Salt, onion powder, black pepper, and smoked paprika – Simple seasoning blend that makes all the other flavors in the marinade pop.
How to make Copycat Chick-Fil-A grilled Nuggets
Step 1: First, slice the chicken breast in half horizontally so you have two thinner pieces. Then, slice those smaller pieces into square, bite size nuggets.
Step 2: Whisk pickle juice, milk, brown sugar and seasonings together in a mixing bowl.
Step 3: Toss chicken breast nuggets in the pickle juice marinade. Cover bowl and place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
Step 4: Remove marinated chicken nuggets from the fridge. Heat a grill pan over medium heat, spray pan, cook chicken 4 minutes each side.
Mad’s Expert Tips for the Best copycat grilled nuggets 🍗
- Marinate in pickle juice. This is the secret to that signature Chick-fil-A flavor. Even a quick 30 minute soak makes the chicken more tender and flavorful. Overnight is even better.
- Cut the chicken into even sized pieces. Similar sized pieces cook at the same rate so you will not end up with some pieces overcooked and others still raw.
- Do not skip the rest time. Let the chicken rest for 2-3 minutes after cooking before serving. This keeps the juices inside so every nugget stays moist.
- Use a grill basket if cooking outside. The nuggets are small enough to fall through outdoor grill grates. A grill basket or skewers make it much easier to cook and flip them.
If you’re looking for more dipping sauce options, try this creamy honey mustard sauce or homemade ranch dressisng.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in Chick-fil-A grilled chicken nuggets
The real Chick-fil-A grilled nuggets are made with chicken breast marinated in a seasoning blend that includes sea salt, lemon, garlic, and other spices. This copycat uses a similar simple marinade to recreate that signature flavor at home.
Can I cook these in the air fryer?
Yes! Air fry at 400F for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast?
Yes! Boneless skinless chicken thighs work great and stay even juicier than chicken breast. Just cut them into nugget sized pieces before marinating.
How long will these grilled nuggets keep in the fridge?
Once prepared, allow the healthy chicken nuggets to cool completely. Then, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can reheat them, but I prefer to enjoy them cold on a sald!
Check out these other healthy chicken recipes
Photos by Ella from Alpine Ella.
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
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Recipe
Healthy Grilled Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breast
- ½ cup dill pickle juice
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts in half horizontally so you have 2 thinner fillets. Cut each piece into squares or rectangles that are 1-2” long on each side.
- Whisk pickle juice, milk, brown sugar, salt, onion powder, black pepper, and smoked paprika together in a mixing bowl.Pour cut chicken into the bowl and toss so its fully covered by the marinade.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least half an hour and up to 4 hours.
- Heat a grill pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat and lightly spray with oil.
- Place chicken on the pan in an even layer. Cook for 4 minutes without moving so you get those nice brown grill marks, flip and cook for another 4 minutes. Check for an internal temperature of at least 165F and remove from heat. Serve warm.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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