Description
This Chicken Nuggets Recipe delivers crispy, golden-brown nuggets marinated in dill pickle juice and milk for extra tenderness and flavor. Perfectly seasoned and fried to perfection, these homemade nuggets are a delicious alternative to fast food favorites.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast (cut into chunks)
- 1 cup dill pickle juice
- ½ cup whole milk
Breading Mixture
- 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 the Chicken: Place the chicken chunks in a large zip-close bag and pour in the dill pickle juice and whole milk. Seal the bag and massage it around to evenly coat the chicken pieces. Let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes to tenderize and infuse flavor.
- Prepare the Breading: In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, plain breadcrumbs, powdered sugar, garlic powder, paprika, baking powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to create an even seasoned breading mix.
- Heat the Oil: While the chicken marinates, heat peanut oil in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pan to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring there is at least 1 inch of oil depth for proper frying.
- Bread the Chicken: Once marinated, drain and discard the pickle juice and milk mixture. Dip each piece of chicken into the breading mixture, coating completely on all sides.
- Fry the Nuggets: Carefully place the breaded chicken pieces into the hot oil in small batches to avoid lowering the oil temperature. Fry each batch for 5 minutes or until the nuggets are deep golden brown and cooked through.
- Drain and Serve: Remove the cooked nuggets from the oil and place them on a wire cooling rack to drain excess oil and cool slightly. Repeat frying with the remaining chicken pieces. Serve warm and enjoy your homemade chicken nuggets.
Notes
- For extra flavor, serve with a copycat Chick-fil-A sauce for a perfect dipping experience.
- Use peanut oil or another high smoke point oil for best frying results.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the fryer to maintain consistent oil temperature for crispy nuggets.
- If you prefer baked nuggets, adjust cooking method and time accordingly but note this recipe is designed for frying.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 226 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 886 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 74 mg
