I love recreating foods that I love from fast-food chains and restaurants. This copycat grilled Chick-Fil-A nuggets recipe is a really fun type of food that you can make at home with your grill.
The great thing about this recipe is that you do not need a lot of complicated ingredients. With the simplest ingredients, you will have the best grilled nuggets for a snack or a meal.
I have tried to make the recipe to taste exactly like the ones you order from Chick-Fil-A. This is a really helpful recipe especially for when you suddenly crave the delicious nuggets.
Take note that Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sundays which means that if you suddenly wanted to have nuggets from Chick-Fil-A, then Sundays will be hard for you, that is until this recipe.
With the grilled Chick-Fil-A copycat nuggets, you also no longer have to get in a long line to get the nuggets.
You can now get them with your grill and within the comfort of your own home.
The Copycat Grilled Chick-Fil-A Nuggets Ingredients in this post iis going to blow your mind as it creates the similar tasting nuggets that you find in Grilled Chick-Fil-A Nuggets.
Although you can cook the Chick-Fil-A nuggets in different appliances like a microwave, oven, or an air fryer, I have had the best results doing it on the grill hence the copycat recipe.
Copycat Grilled Chick-Fil-A Nuggets Recipe
Copycat Grilled Chick-Fil-A Nuggets Ingredients
– 1 pound of chicken breast
– Half a cup of Dill pickle juice
– 1/4 cup of milk
– 2 teaspoons of sugar
– 1 and a half teaspoons of salt
– 1 teaspoon of black pepper
– 1/4 teaspoon each of garlic powder, garlic salt, paprika, and seasoned salt.
– Olive oil, just a drizzle or adjusted according to the amount of chicken breast.
Procedure
Step 1: Prepare The Chicken Breast
30 minutes before preparing the grill and the other ingredients, bring out the chicken breast from the freezer and let it thaw on the countertop at room temperature or bring it to the sink.
You can let cold water drip over the chicken breast to thaw it a little quicker. Once it is thawed, wash the chicken breast with cold water and then dry it with paper towels.
Get a chopping board and a sharp knife and then cut the chicken breast into small pieces. I usually go with dividing the chicken breast first and cutting each half into small 1-inch pieces.
Some recipes would recommend you remove the skin or fats of the chicken breast but since you are going to grill the nuggets, this would not matter that much.
The skin and fats add flavor and texture to the chicken nuggets. The bite-sized cuts will also have more surface area for the seasonings to latch onto.
Step 2: Marinate The Chicken Breast Pieces
Get a large bowl or a zip lock bag and then pour the milk and the pickle juice in it. I prefer using a zip lock bag to get the flavors into the meat more effectively by massaging the chicken.
Put the chicken breast pieces into the zip lock bag and then close it. Use your hands to massage the juices into the chicken breast pieces and then leave it to marinate for 30 minutes.
To get as much flavor as you want into the bite-sized chicken breast pieces, I recommend allowing them to marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
Step 3: Set Up The Grill
You do not need the grill to be blazing hot to cook the nuggets. Clean the grill grates first by wiping a wet towel over the grates and then load the firebox with charcoals or pellets.
Light up the coals and then set the temperature of the grill to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. This is medium-high heat if you use a pan on the stove so it is not the hottest setting.
Close the grill lid and allow it to preheat for at least 15 minutes to kill the bacteria and contaminants that might have settled on the grill when it was not in use.
Step 4: Season The Chicken Nuggets
Drain the milk and pickle juice from the zip lock bag or better yet, remove the chicken nuggets from the bag one by one. Place the chicken nuggets on a paper towel to dry them a little.
Pat the chicken nuggets dry and then mix the sugar, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and seasoned salt in a bowl. Place the chicken nuggets in the bowl and then toss to coat them evenly.
Step 5: Grill The Chicken Nuggets
If your grill has grill grates that are too wide apart, I recommend using a metal mesh so that the chicken nuggets will not fall through the gaps. Place the chicken nuggets on the grill to cook.
Grill chicken on any grill of you choice and the results will be the same regardless of the grill you use to grill chicken nuggets.
Grilling the chicken nuggets will take around 8 minutes on each side so flip the chicken nuggets halfway through the grilling process. Just make sure that there are not too many flare-ups.
I do not close the grill lid while you grill Chick-Fil-A nuggets so I can toss them around to cook all sides evenly and be sure to put out any flare-up that might occur.
Once you think you have grill chicken nuggets cooked well on both sides check the temperature just to be sure they are perfect.
Get your meat probe and then measure the internal temperature of the chicken nuggets. If they have reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit, they are cooked to prepare to serve them.
I use my homemade sauce but you can use any sauce that you have available. The copycat grilled Chick-Fil-A nuggets go well with mustard or BBQ sauce so it is up to you to use.
Step 6: Serve The Chicken Nuggets
Once the copycat grilled Chick-Fil-A nuggets are cooked, remove them from the grill and then place them on a plate lined with paper towels. Allow them to rest for at least 5 minutes.
Get your favorite sauce ready and then serve the copycat grilled Chick-Fil-A nuggets while they are still hot! Enjoy your very own Chick-Fil-A nuggets while staying at home!
I hope you love this copycat grilled chick-fil-a chicken nuggets recipe and if you love the recipe, do share on social media!
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