Copycat Chick fil A Grilled Nuggets

Behind This Chick fil A Grilled Nuggets Recipe

We don’t eat fast food often but when we do, my first choice was always Chick fil A. And while I love their fried chicken, their grilled nuggets are actually one of my favorite menu items. They’re just so flavorful, without the breading or frying of most nuggets.

This copycat Chick fil A grilled nuggets recipe comes after many rounds of trial and error to get that smoky, grilled flavorful while keeping the nuggets tender and juicy. I love that the ingredients list is short and sweet, with real ingredients that I can actually pronounce, and that the recipe is so easy to make.

If you prefer regular nuggets, be sure to check out my air fryer Chick fil A nuggets recipe. I’ve also recreated the classic Chick fil A sandwich and spicy sandwich too.

Tips From My Kitchen

• Don’t marinate too long. This is not a recipe you want to leave marinating overnight. The apple cider vinegar breaks down the chicken, which is great in small amounts, but you don’t want to leave it for more than a few hours.
• Preheat the grill pan. The grill pan should be fully preheated to medium heat before adding the chicken. This helps ensure the chicken cooks immediately and creates the nice grill marks on the outside.
• Flip once. Resist the temptation to constantly flip the chicken and flip just once. It should easily release from the pan when it’s ready to flip. If you are constantly touching it, it won’t get the nice grill marks or cook as evenly.
• Don’t overcook the chicken. Since these grilled chicken nuggets are small, they cook quickly. On my grill pan, it takes about 4 minutes per side. Use an internal thermometer and remove them from the heat when they heat 165F to avoid dry chicken.
• Use a grill. These grilled chicken nuggets can, of course, be cooked on an actual grill. Since they are small enough to fall through the grates, I recommend putting them in a grill basket or on skewers first.

Ingredients You’ll Need & Why

These copycat Chick-fil-A grilled nuggets have straightforward ingredients, most of which are probably already in your kitchen. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

• Chicken tenderloins – I love to use tenderloins (if you can find them). Breasts can work as well but tenderloins are much more tender. Olive oil – Used both in the marinade and in the grill pan.
• Apple cider vinegar – This will not only add a tang, but it also helps break down the chicken to make it softer.
• Lemon Juice – Used in combination with the vinegar and adds a bright lemon flavor.
• Seasonings – Onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
• Sugar – Just a good pinch of sugar to help round out the acidity.
• Liquid smoke – This is also found in the Chick fil A version to add a smoke flavor without firing up the grill.

But What About Pickle Juice?

I know some readers will be surprised to find no pickle juice in these copycat Chick fil A grilled nuggets. There’s much debate about whether Chick fil A’s secret is marinating the chicken in pickle juice and while I do that for my regular breaded Chick fil A nuggets, I didn’t notice a difference in flavor when I added it to these grilled nuggets. Feel free to add some to the marinade if you want to but it’s not necessary, in my opinion.

What To Serve With Grilled Nuggets

These Chick fil A grilled nuggets can be paired with pretty much any side. French fries are the obvious option. I haven’t recreated Chick fil A fries (yet), but I love these copycat Wendy’s French fries. Oven baked fries are a good option too and you can never go wrong with mac and cheese.

For a lighter side, consider a simple fruit salad or a side salad and your favorite dressing.

And, of course, don’t forget the dipping sauce! Chick fil A sauce is the obvious pairing but I’m pretty partial to BBQ sauce myself.

Proper Storage

Leftover grilled chicken nuggets can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. For longer storage, flash freeze them on a baking sheet then transfer to a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Reheat in the microwave, air fryer, or oven, just until hot to avoid drying the chicken out.

Looking for More Copycat Recipes?

• Better Than Olive Garden’s Chicken Alfredo
• Best KFC Coleslaw
• Wingstop Cajun Corn
• Panda Express Hot Orange Chicken
• Chili’s Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers

I hope you enjoyed this copycat recipe for these Copycat Chick-fil-A Grilled Nuggets! I look forward to your questions and feedback below.

Please be sure to tag me @BadBatchBaking using hashtag #badbatchbaking if you made this recipe and I will feature you on my story! Plus, I LOVE to see your baking accomplishments.