These gluten free Chick-fil-A nuggets are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and taste just like the classic—without the questionable ingredients or seed oils. If you’ve ever tried gluten-free fried chicken and ended up with a soggy coating or dry meat, this recipe fixes both with the right marinade and breading method.
They have that signature tender bite and lightly seasoned coating that pairs perfectly with your favorite dipping sauces (especially a homemade Chick-fil-A sauce). If you’ve made my fried recipes or copycat meals, this is one of those staples that brings fast food flavor into your kitchen—with ingredients you actually trust.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy outer layer that reminds you of the nuggets from your childhood drive through days
- Tender, juicy chicken seasoned to perfection
- Simple pantry ingredients
- No additives, preservatives or fillers
- Kid-approved & family friendly
- Freezer/meal prep friendly
“This is the perfect recipe!!”
Ingredients
Please see recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe details.
1. Chicken Breasts
When sourcing quality meat, it helps to connect with local farmers. Farmer’s markets have become a popular way to build community with food producers in the area. For an even more elevated health experience, choose a chicken that is corn and soy free.
2. Gluten-Free One-to-One Flour
A high-quality gluten-free one to-one flour blend provides a flour base for the batter/slurry. I prefer Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour for this recipe because it produces consistent results and fries up evenly.
3. Arrowroot Powder
Arrowroot powder is a light, grain-free starch that works as a natural thickener for sauces, gravies, puddings, and baked goods. It creates a silky, glossy finish without the heaviness of cornstarch and is easier on sensitive stomachs, making it a great clean-ingredient swap for gluten-free and allergen-friendly cooking. If you’d like to sub it out, this can easily be replaced at a 1:1 ratio with Tapioca Flour or Cornstarch.
4. Salt & Other Seasonings
A small amount of salt balances the flavor and deepens the savory flavors within the nuggets. Smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic power, and black pepper all work together to create an amazing flavor profile. You can adjust the ratio of these seasonings to your preference.
5. Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is my go-to healthy fat because it helps crisp up the nuggets without using seed oils. Avocado oil also has a high smoke point, which means your crust will brown beautifully without burning or tasting greasy. If you need to sub it out, try using olive oil or melted tallow.
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Making the Gluten Free Copycat Chick-fila Nuggets
The step-by-step guide to making gluten free chicken nuggets:
1. Prepare seasoning mix for coating the nuggets.
2. Mix until well combined (as seen above).
3. Cut chicken into chunks and place them into
4. Whisk the flour slurry batter together. It should be thick, but not too thick. Adjust thickness by adding water.
5. Preheat oil and when it’s ready for frying (350F), dip the frozen nuggets in the batter and fry.
6. Enjoy your golden and crispy – better than you remember – gluten free nuggets!
Pair with…
Pair with waffle fries.
And Copycat Chick-fil-a Sauce.
Gluten Free Copycat Chick-fil-A Nuggets
Ingredients
- 3 Chicken Breasts Chunks
Chicken Brine
- ½ cup Pickle Juice
Breading
- 1 cup Gluten Free Flour one-to-one
- 1 cup Millet Flour
- 2 ½ TBSP Non-Fat Milk Powder
- 1 ½ tsp Baking Powder
- 2 ½ TBSP Maple Sugar
- ½ tsp Paprika
- 2 tsp Mustard Powder
- 2 tsp Salt
Copycat Chickfila Sauce
- Copycat Chickfila Sauce Recipe
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken Brine
- Cut breast meat into chunks of chicken and place into a glass jar or gallon sized bag with 1 cup of dill pickle juice. Store in the refrigerator to marinade for 4 hours (overnight is best).
Bread the Nuggets
- Whisk all ingredients together in a flat bowl or container.
- Once the nuggets are marinated, drain the brine for the nuggets. In a separate bag, pouring the breading for the nuggets and add the strained nuggets into the coating.
- Seal the bag and mix the bag up really well until all nuggets are coated.
- Once coated, set aside until all of the nuggets are done.
Frying
- Preheat oil to 350°F and fry the nuggets until golden brown.
- Remove the nuggets from the heat and place on a drying rack with a cookie sheet underneath to catch the dripping oil. This allows airflow around all of the nuggets to keep them crispy.
- Mix up some sauce (I suggest Chickfila Sauce) and enjoy!
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Recipe Tips
Freezing the nuggets is extremely important before coating them so that they don’t fall apart in the slurry coating. Do not skip this step.
Use a cookie rack to place the freshly fried gluten-free chicken nuggets on to prevent them from getting mushy as they dry.
Prep/Storage Options:
- Make and freeze: These nuggets can be made completely and then frozen flat and spaced out on a parchment/silicone lined tray. Once frozen, bag them up and freeze for up to 6 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 12-15 minutes or air fry at 350°F for 8-10 minutes.
- Prep & Freeze: You can prep the seasoned meat into nugget shapes, coat in arrowroot powder and freeze them spaced out on a parchment/silicone lined tray. Once frozen, bag them up and freeze for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to make them, mix up the slurry and dip the frozen coated nuggets into the slurry and fry according to the instructions. This allows you to quickly prepare the nuggets and bake the amount you want when you’re ready to eat them fresh.
- Refrigerate: Once the nuggets have been fried, they can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-12 minutes or airfare at 350°F for 8-10 minutes.
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