The Secret Behind Chick-fil-A Nuggets: How They’re Actually Made

Ever wondered what makes those little golden bites of heaven so darn good? As a huge fan of Chick-fil-A’s nuggets (who isn’t?) I’ve always been curious about how they make ’em so perfectly juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Well I’ve done some digging, and I’m gonna share the tasty secrets with you!

The Birth of the Beloved Nugget

Before we dive into the cooking process, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. The Chick-fil-A nugget wasn’t always on the menu – shocking, I know!

It all started back in the early 1980s when customers loved the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich so much that they began asking restaurant operators to cut it into bite-sized portions They wanted something they could eat by hand or serve at parties. This trend caught on quick, and in 1982, Chick-fil-A officially introduced the nugget as a six-count menu option.

According to Shona Jonson, senior manager of culinary, product strategy and development at Chick-fil-A, “We are still serving the same delicious nuggets today that we started with.” That’s right – the recipe hasn’t changed in over 40 years!

The Three-Step Cooking Method

Chick-fil-A follows a simple but effective three-step method that they’ve been using since their earliest days. This method works for both their nuggets and sandwiches:

1. Seasoning and Milk Wash: The chicken is first seasoned with a secret blend, then dipped in a milk and egg wash.
2. Breading: Next, it’s coated in a seasoned flour mixture.
3. Pressure Cooking: Finally, the nuggets are pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil.

Let’s break down each step in more detail:

Step 1: Quality Chicken First

Chick-fil-A starts with real, whole breast meat chicken – not processed or formed meat. They use free-range chicken that’s free from antibiotics and artificial additives. The chicken is diced into bite-sized pieces before the cooking process begins.

The chicken is also marinated and seasoned with a mix of sea salt, lemon, garlic, and herbs. While the exact seasoning blend remains a secret (of course!), these basic ingredients give the nuggets their distinctive flavor.

Step 2: The Milk and Egg Wash

When it’s time to cook, the chicken pieces are first splashed in a milk and egg wash until they’re thoroughly coated. This wash helps the breading stick to the chicken and adds moisture to keep the nuggets juicy.

Step 3: The Breading Process

Next, the nuggets are tossed in what Chick-fil-A calls a “seasoned coater” – a mixture of flour and their secret seasoning blend. After coating, excess breading is shaken off in a sifting pan. This ensures the breading is even and not too heavy.

Step 4: The Magic of Pressure Frying

Here’s where the real magic happens! The breaded nuggets are dropped into hot peanut oil in a pressure cooker. Chick-fil-A specifically uses 100% refined peanut oil for all their fried chicken products.

Pressure-frying does two important things:

1. It cooks the chicken at a higher temperature, which speeds up the process
2. It prevents moisture from evaporating, which keeps the chicken juicy

The result? Nuggets that are perfectly crispy on the outside and wonderfully moist on the inside.

A Peek Behind the Curtain: The Viral TikTok Video

In December 2020, a TikTok video showing the behind-the-scenes process of making Chick-fil-A nuggets went viral, racking up more than 13 million views! The video was posted by someone claiming to be a Chick-fil-A employee.

The footage showed an employee:

1. Showing a raw chicken breast to the camera
2. Dipping it in a milk wash
3. Coating it in the seasoned flour mixture
4. Sifting off excess breading
5. Deep-frying the nuggets in oil

The comments on the video were overwhelmingly positive, with many viewers expressing relief and approval at the straightforward cooking process. One commenter joked, “Real chicken? Big flex,” while another wrote, “Honestly I was scared to watch this because these nuggets are life!! But I am so relieved they are actually made from scratch!”

Although the video has since been removed from TikTok, it confirmed what many fans hoped – Chick-fil-A makes their nuggets from real chicken using a simple, traditional cooking method.

Evolution of the Nugget

Over the years, Chick-fil-A has expanded on their nugget success:

• Dipping Sauces: By 1984, customers wanted flavor options, so Chick-fil-A introduced Honey Mustard, Barbeque, and Polynesian sauces. The famous Chick-fil-A Sauce didn’t come until 2006, but has since become their most popular sauce.

• Sharing Options: As demand grew, Chick-fil-A introduced nugget party trays in 1989, and in 2018, they added a 30-count nugget option for sharing.

• Breakfast Version: In 2004, Chick-n-Minis joined the menu – basically nuggets served on a roll with honey butter spread.

• Healthier Alternative: Grilled nuggets were added in 2014 for those looking for a lighter option.

Why Are They So Good?

So what makes these nuggets stand out from other fast food options? Several factors:

1. Quality Ingredients: Using whole breast meat instead of processed chicken makes a huge difference.

2. Pressure Frying: This technique locks in moisture and flavor while creating that perfect crispy exterior.

3. Peanut Oil: The use of 100% refined peanut oil gives the nuggets a distinctive taste and texture.

4. Consistent Process: Following the same recipe and cooking method for decades ensures consistency.

5. Secret Seasonings: While we don’t know exactly what’s in their seasoning blend, the combination of salt, garlic, lemon, and herbs creates that unmistakable Chick-fil-A flavor.

Try It At Home?

Many copycat recipes try to replicate Chick-fil-A nuggets, but without a pressure fryer (which most home kitchens don’t have), it’s hard to get the exact same result. However, you can get close by:

1. Using chunks of real chicken breast
2. Marinating in pickle juice (a rumored secret ingredient)
3. Creating a milk and egg wash
4. Making a seasoned flour coating with paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder
5. Frying in peanut oil

But honestly, sometimes it’s just easier to hit the drive-thru!

Fun Facts About Chick-fil-A Nuggets

• Customers love to create their own sauce blends by mixing different Chick-fil-A sauces
• The nuggets and the Chick-fil-A sandwich use the same cooking method
• Chick-fil-A’s pressure cookers are specifically designed for their cooking process
• The original nuggets were literally just cut-up sandwich fillets

Final Thoughts

So there you have it – the not-so-secret secret of how Chick-fil-A makes their delicious nuggets! It’s a simple process that focuses on quality ingredients and a time-tested cooking method. No wonder these nuggets have become a fast food icon!

Next time you’re enjoying those perfect little bites of chicken, you’ll know exactly how they got so crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll taste even better now that you know the love and care that goes into making them.

Now if you’ll excuse me, all this nugget talk has made me hungry. I think I know where I’m heading for lunch today…

Chick-fil-A nuggets are made from 100% boneless chicken breast that is cut into bite-sized pieces, then hand-battered with a unique blend of spices and flour after being dipped in a wash that includes eggs and milk. After breading, the nuggets are pressure-fried in peanut oil until they are golden brown and fully cooked, resulting in a tender, flavorful, and crispy product.

Yes, Chick-fil-A’s fried chicken nuggets are considered a processed food because they involve multiple steps of preparation, including being marinated, breaded, and fried in oil, even though the chicken itself is 100% real, whole, boneless chicken breast. The processing is a result of the entire food preparation and cooking system, not because the chicken is ground or contains fillers.