Let me start out by saying that I don’t eat fast food like, ever. Ok, there was that one incident involving McDonalds and a particularly happy happy hour a few weeks ago, but as a general rule of thumb no, never.
Greasy burgers and deep fat fried onion rings and fries are totally unhealthy, and I end up feeling like crap for about 2 days afterward indulging. It’s just not even close to worth it.
However.
There are exceptions, naturally! Three of them, in fact – In-N-Out Burger, Five Guys, and Chick-fil-A. Each are so delicious that it’s worth a little regret and a grumbly stomach for a few satisfying bites.
Among the three, Chick-fil-A stands out for specializing in succulent, crispy breaded chicken that is always tender, all-white meat, and so dang juicy – plus the seasonings they use are just right. Imagine how tickled I was after coming across a copycat recipe I could make at home and customize to use a fraction of the oil the real restaurant uses, but still have it taste exactly like the real thing?
Chick-fil-A Bites with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce are insane!
Start the Chick-fil-A Bites by cutting a couple large chicken breasts into bite sized pieces, seasoning the pieces with salt & pepper, and placing them in a marinade of milk, 1 egg, and pickle juice.
Yes, pickle juice! I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I once heard that the key to Chick-fil-A’s signature flavor that it’s injected with pickle juice. Ok?!
Let the chicken hang out and marinate in the mixture for 2-4 hours in the fridge.
When you’re ready to cook the chicken, combine flour, powdered sugar, salt & pepper in another ziplock back, and transfer the chicken pieces over using tongs. Shake the bag to coat the chicken pieces completely with the mix.
Next, heat 1/4 cup peanut oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven or large skillet. If you don’t have peanut oil, vegetable or canola oil will totally do.
Test the oil to see if it’s hot enough by dropping a bit of the flour mixture into the pot. If it sizzles, the oil is ready. It it pops and spatters, the oil is too hot. If it does nothing at all, it’s too cold.
Working in two batches in order to avoid crowding the pan, place the coated chicken pieces into the oil using tongs. Cook until one side is golden brown, then flip and cook until the other side is golden brown. It depends on how big you cut your chicken, but my 1″ chicken pieces took about 3 minutes on each side.
Remove the chicken to a paper-towel lined plate, and continue with the other half.
Serve ’em hot and fresh with a simple homemade honey mustard sauce that I kind of wanted to spoon drink – it was da bomb!
free email bonus
Dinner Made EASY
5 days of simple yet flavorful recipes that take the stress out of dinnertime!
Chick-fil-A Bites with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
Description
Chick-fil-A Bites with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce taste even better than the real thing, and are much healthier!
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces then seasoned with salt & pepper
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup dill pickle juice
- 1 egg
- 1-1/4 cups gluten-free or all-purpose flour (dish will not be GF if using all-purpose flour)
- 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup peanut oil, divided (or canola or vegetable oil)
- Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce:
- 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1-1/2 Tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 Tablespoons honey
Directions
- Whisk together egg, milk and pickle juice, and pour into a large ziplock bag or bowl. Add chicken pieces and marinate in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours.
- Combine flour, powdered sugar, salt and pepper in a large ziplock bag. Shake to combine. Remove chicken from the marinade and add into the bag. Shake to coat the chicken completely.
- Heat half the oil in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat (6 or 7 out of 10.) Test the oil by dropping in a bit of the flour mixture. If it sizzles, the oil is ready, if it pops, lower the temperature a bit.
- Gently place chicken pieces into the oil with tongs. Do this in 2 batches, as you don’t want to overcrowd the pan. Cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown on one side. Turn the chicken over and allow to cook for 3-4 more minutes. Remove to a paper-towel lined plate. Heat the remaining oil and continue with the other half of the chicken pieces.
- Stir together the honey mustard dipping sauce ingredients, and serve with the hot chicken bites.
Notes
Adapted from My Name is Snickerdoodle
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I want to make Chick-fil-A Bites for dinner everysinglenight – they were such a hit! The honey mustard dipping sauce gave the bites a pretty good run for their money though. Sweet, just slightly tangy, and so creamy.
Dipped, dunked, and devoured!
Equality Appreciation Day, or: Chick-Fil-A Copycat Nuggets « The Stylist Quo 08.21.2012
[…] for health reasons, but mostly the challenge. I based our attempt on two separate recipes: Iowa Girl Eats Chick-Fil-A Bites and Food Network’s Almost Famous Chicken Sandwiches. What did I learn? If I can say nothing […]
Courtney 08.19.2012
Would I be able to marinate the chicken over night and then cook the next evening? I was planning to make them tonight, but didn’t realize you had to marinate for 2-4 hours.
Thanks!
Iowa Girl Eats 08.20.2012
You could try mixing up the marinade at night, throw the chicken in in the morning, then cook them that night. The chicken *might* turn rubbery though from the pickling juice!
Katie 08.19.2012
Made these for a party and they were a huge hit! Awesome recipe and so easy. Thanks!!!
Drew 08.17.2012
I am actually allergic to something in chick-fil-a chicken that makes me really sick, but I LOVE their sandwhiches so much! I’m a vegitarian now, but I think I can sneak these in sometimes :) THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I’m missing you so much. Can’t help it, I’m in love. A day without you is like a year without rain. I need you by my side. Don’t know how I’ll survive. A day without you is like a year without rain. « Wildflowerz' 08.17.2012
[…] to be our go-to taco recipe from now on. Â It’s super easy and very yummy. Â We also tried a copycat CFA chicken bites recipe. Â This one was a big hit, but I don’t see me doing it for dinner much. Â It used a […]
Amy 08.17.2012
I don’t particularly like Chick Fil A nuggets but my husband is obsessed with them so I thought I’d try this out. I made them last night and they are so yummy. I marinated them about 10 minutes due to time restraints and used Canola oil b/c I didn’t have peanut oil. These are so much better (to me) than Chick Fil A and my husband said to make enough every week so he can take them for lunch each day. I think it’s a keeper! Also, I didn’t have greek yogurt so he made the dip with mayo. Not as healthy but it was the best honey mustard I’ve ever had. Thanks for the recipe.
KDenton 08.12.2012
any idea what the calorie count would be on these? I have a diabetic in the home and we are counting calories as well.
Iowa Girl Eats 08.14.2012
I’m sorry, I don’t! It’s just too difficult with the oil (how much is absorbed or not) to do it at home with just the resources I can find on the internet. I apologize!
Tiffany Carroll 08.11.2012
Does anyone know how to make the polynesian sauce? my absolute favorite! I love chick-fil-a but they dont have one where i live right now…always get it when I go home. Thanks!
Cooking | Pearltrees 08.09.2012
[…] Chick-fil-A Bites with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce Let me start out by saying that I don’t eat fast food like, ever. Ok, there was that one incident involving McDonalds and a particularly happy happy hour a few weeks ago, but as a general rule of thumb no, never. Greasy burgers and deep fat fried onion rings and fries are totally unhealthy, and I end up feeling like crap for about 2 days afterward indulging. Do you know what today is? […]
Lunches | Pearltrees 08.09.2012
[…] Chick-fil-A Bites with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce Yummy Lunch Ideas – Yummy Lunch Box Gallery – Easy Lunch Boxes, Bento Lunches | SmugMug 07.29.09 – Here is the updated Monte Cristo recipe so that you too can try the "tasty southern specialty that makes an everyday sandwich into an occasion." Of all the delectable offerings served at the restaurant during the last four decades, the most popular item by far is the Blue Bayou Monte Cristo Sandwich. […]
Merryl Sion 08.07.2012
I tried this recipe tonight, and it turned out great! The nearest Chick-fil-a is about an hour away from me, so this will come in handy when I’m getting that craving :) Thanks for sharing!
Meal Plan: Aug 4-10 « For the Mews 08.05.2012
[…] Chick-fil-a copycat nugget recipe (aka bigoted chicken), french fries, and […]
Sarah 08.07.2012
The chicken isn’t bigoted, the company is. Yet again we have an irrelevant comment. The recipe doesn’t bring them business, it helps people make a quality nugget while avoiding the establishment. Unless someone is part ostrich, they’re very aware of the Chick-Fil-A situation… Thus, your comment is unnecessary and adds nothing of substance to the discussion.
Liz 08.04.2012
I always thought that Chick-fil-a chicken tasted like pickle juice. I always thought that they just took the pickles out of the chicken burgers when I ordered them, and people told me they couldn’t detect it. Thanks for proving me right! ;)
Alicia 08.04.2012
Planning to try these tonight, but using soymilk. The copycat sauce w/ mayo, BBQ, mustard, honey, and lemon juice is very good.
Thinking they might be good for leftover school lunches.
Hollie @ I'm Busy Procrastinating 08.02.2012
We happen to live next door to the owners of our local CFA. We asked them one time if their chicken has pickle juice in it, because we had heard the same. They laughed and said no. They had never even heard that theory before!
Connie 08.02.2012
These were great..we ate them all. Can’t wait to cook them for my grand kids!
Kelly Haugland 08.02.2012
We don’t have a Chick-Fil-a out here in Minnesota, but growing up with one in Wyoming, I can say I miss it terribly! In honor of Chick-fil-a appreciation day yesterday, we made these at home. THEY WERE A HUGE HIT! Thank you so much!!
A Liberal Guide to the Chick-Fil-A debacle: I love your chicken, I hate your politics 07.26.2012
[…] Chick-Fil-A Nuggets 2 and Honey Mustard Sauce […]
Debbie 07.25.2012
This is awesome. First time I made it I wasn’t sure but it was such a hit. I make it once a week. I change it up with fingers and chunks… either way it’s fabulous!! thank you
claire Egliht 07.21.2012
So good!!!!! But definitely use peanut oil!!!!!