The tiny sandwiches from Chick-Fil-A are officially called Chick-Fil-A Nuggets. They are bite-sized versions of the restaurant’s famous chicken sandwiches. The nuggets are made with pieces of breaded and deep-fried chicken breast and are served with Chick-Fil-A’s signature dipping sauces.
History of Chick-Fil-A Nuggets
Chick-Fil-A first introduced their nuggets in 1986 as a fun, snack-sized version of their original chicken sandwich which was introduced in 1964. The nuggets were an immediate hit with customers who liked being able to enjoy the flavor of Chick-Fil-A’s breaded chicken in a hand-held, dipable form.
Over the years, Chick-Fil-A has reformulated and revamped their nuggets to optimize taste and texture. In 2016, they moved to an “oven-baked” preparation method to reduce the fried crispiness slightly and make them a bit more tender. However, the nuggets are still breaded and fried, just for a shorter time.
Nugget Options
Chick-Fil-A offers their nuggets in several size options:
| 4 piece kids nugget | A small 4 piece order ideal for kids |
| 8 piece nugget | The regular sized 8 piece order |
| 12 piece nugget | A larger 12 piece order for bigger appetites |
| 36 piece nugget tray | A party sized tray with 36 nuggets |
Customers can also opt to order “grilled nuggets” which are not breaded or fried but are just seasoned boneless chicken pieces grilled up.
Ingredients in Chick-Fil-A Nuggets
According to the Chick-Fil-A website, their nuggets contain just a handful of ingredients:
- Boneless skinless chicken breast filets
- Seasoning (sea salt, spices)
- Breading (enriched bleached wheat flour, sugar, yeast, salt)
- Canola oil (for frying)
The simple and straightforward ingredient list helps explain why Chick-Fil-A nuggets are so popular – customers know and trust what they are eating.
Some key points about the ingredients:
- The chicken itself is plain boneless chicken breast with no fillers, artificial ingredients or extra flavorings.
- The seasoning blend contains no artificial colors, MSG or preservatives.
- The breaded coating adheres beautifully to the chicken and becomes ultra crispy when fried.
- Non-GMO canola oil ensures delicious fried flavor.
Nutrition Info
Here is the nutrition information for an 8 piece serving of original Chick-Fil-A nuggets:
| Calories | 350 |
|---|---|
| Fat | 18g |
| Carbs | 24g |
| Protein | 28g |
As you would expect with a fried, breaded chicken item, the nuggets are fairly high in calories and fat. The protein is a nice benefit though at 28g per 8 piece order.
The grilled nuggets offer a healthier nutrition profile, with only 140 calories and 3.5g fat for the same size 8 piece order. They do still pack 24g protein though!
Chick-Fil-A Nugget Sauces
One of the best things about Chick-Fil-A nuggets is that they come with delicious signature dipping sauces! These sauces add extra flavor and moisture and make the nuggets even more crave-worthy.
Some of the most popular Chick-Fil-A nugget sauces include:
- Chick-Fil-A Sauce – Their famous tangy honey mustard sauce
- Polynesian Sauce – Sweet and sour with a hint of pineapple
- Barbecue Sauce – A rich, smoky sweet barbecue flavor
- Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce – Barbecue sauce blended with honey
- Zesty Buffalo Sauce – A classic spicy and tangy buffalo style sauce
- Garden Herb Ranch – Cool, creamy ranch with herb notes
The great thing is you can mix and match sauces with your nuggets to enjoy a variety of flavors. Barbecue and ranch is a popular combo, or honey roasted BBQ with Polynesian for a tropical twist.
Nutrition of Sauces
The nutrition stats for 2 oz servings of the sauces are:
| Sauce | Calories | Fat |
|---|---|---|
| Chick-Fil-A | 140-190 | 14g |
| Polynesian | 140-190 | 14g |
| Barbecue | 90 | 0g |
| Honey Roasted BBQ | 260 | 24g |
| Zesty Buffalo | 20 | 0g |
| Garden Herb Ranch | 140 | 14g |
As you can see, the sauces range from 20 calories up to 260 calories per serving depending on the specific sauce and ingredients. The sweet, creamy sauces tend to be higher in calories and fat, while the vinegar-based Buffalo sauce is lowest.
How to Order Chick-Fil-A Nuggets
Chick-Fil-A nuggets are available at every Chick-Fil-A location so they are very easy to order and enjoy!
Here are some tips for ordering nuggets:
- Decide what size order you want – 4, 8, 12 or 36 piece.
- Choose original breaded or grilled nuggets.
- Select your choice of sauces – try new ones each time!
- Order online via mobile app for pickup to save time.
- Ask for extra sauces if you want more than the 2 that come with a regular order.
- For a meal, add fries and a drink. Kid’s meals with nuggets are also available.
Chick-Fil-A also offers catering trays and platters with nuggets perfect for any party or event. Overall, nuggets are one of the easiest and tastiest things to order at Chick-Fil-A for kids and adults alike!
Copycat Chick-Fil-A Nugget Recipes
Many people love Chick-Fil-A’s nuggets so much that they try recreating them at home. There are lots of copycat nugget recipes available online that aim to mimic the Chick-Fil-A flavor and texture.
Here are two top-rated copycat Chick-Fil-A nugget recipes to try:
Recipe #1
- Chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 quart vegetable oil for frying
Instructions:
- Mix flour and seasonings in a bowl.
- Soak chicken pieces in buttermilk for 15 minutes.
- Coat chicken in flour mixture pressing lightly to adhere.
- Fry in oil at 350F for 5-7 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
- Serve warm with your choice of sauce for dipping.
Recipe #2
- 1 lb chicken breast cut into nugget pieces
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Oil for frying
Instructions:
- Cut chicken into bite sized pieces and pat dry.
- Whisk together milk and egg in one bowl.
- Mix flour, cornstarch and seasonings in a separate bowl.
- Dip chicken in egg mixture, then dredge through flour mixture to coat evenly.
- Fry coated nuggets in 1-inch hot oil for 2-3 minutes until crispy and browned.
- Drain on a paper towel lined plate and serve warm.
These simple homemade nugget recipes allow you to enjoy the fun and flavor of Chick-Fil-A style nuggets anytime. Adjust seasonings to your taste, and be sure to dip them in your favorite sauces!
Chick-Fil-A Nugget Facts
Here are some interesting facts about Chick-Fil-A’s famous nuggets:
- Chick-Fil-A sells over 147 million nuggets every year, their 3rd best selling menu item.
- The original nuggets were made from sliced and formed breast meat. Now they use whole tenderized breast filets for more flavor.
- Nugget sales are highest in Texas, lowest in New England.
- Kids Meals with nuggets account for 95% of all Kid’s Meals sold.
- The 8 piece nugget is the most popular size order.
- Spicy nuggets were tested but discontinued due to low sales.
- Almost 60% of nugget orders also include a side of waffle fries.
- The Copycat recipes were created based on feedback from employees.
- Chick-Fil-A nuggets have roughly half the calories as McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets.
So in summary, the Chick-Fil-A nuggets remain a hugely popular menu item that customers just can’t get enough of. Their great taste and fun size make them a go-to choice for dipping and snacking anytime.
Conclusion
Chick-Fil-A’s bite-sized breaded and fried chicken nuggets offer a delicious way to enjoy their signature chicken flavors and spices in hand-held form. Officially called Chick-Fil-A Nuggets, the addictive little nuggets have been a customer favorite since they debuted in 1986. They come with a variety of dipping sauce options and can be ordered in sizes for the whole family from 4 piece kids meals up to party platters. Chick-Fil-A nuggets are easy to order and make for a satisfying snack, appetizer, or meal when paired with sides. Their simplicity and flavor profile has inspired many copycat recipes to make similar nuggets at home. Overall, the Chick-Fil-A nugget has cemented itself as an American fast food icon.