Description
This Chicken Nuggets Recipe offers crispy, golden nuggets with a flavorful marinade of dill pickle juice and milk, coated in a seasoned breadcrumb mixture and fried to perfection. Inspired by classic American comfort food, these nuggets are perfect for a tasty main dish or snack.
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
Frying
- Peanut oil, for frying (at least 1 inch deep)
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: Place the chicken chunks in a large zip-close bag, then add the dill pickle juice and whole milk. Seal the bag and gently massage it to coat the chicken evenly. Let it marinate in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes to tenderize and infuse flavor.
- Heat Oil: While the chicken marinates, heat peanut oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring there is at least one inch of oil for frying.
- Prepare Breading Mixture: 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 distribute the seasoning evenly.
- Coat Chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade and drain off excess liquid, discarding it. Dip each chicken piece into the breadcrumb mixture, pressing lightly to ensure a full coating.
- Fry Nuggets: Carefully add the coated chicken pieces in small batches to the hot oil. Fry each batch for 3 to 5 minutes until the nuggets turn deep golden brown and the chicken is cooked through. Avoid overcrowding the oil to maintain temperature.
- Drain and Serve: Remove the cooked nuggets with a slotted spoon and place them on a wire cooling rack to drain excess oil and cool slightly. Continue frying remaining batches. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Use peanut oil for that classic Chick-fil-A flavor, but canola or vegetable oil also works well for frying.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the fryer to keep the oil temperature steady and ensure crispiness.
- Marinating in dill pickle juice tenderizes the chicken and adds a subtle tangy flavor that enhances the nuggets.
- Powdered sugar in the breading helps to balance savory spices and contribute to browning.
- Use a wire rack instead of paper towels to drain the nuggets to keep them crispy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 4 nuggets)
- Calories: 226 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
