Paleo Chick-fil-a Chicken
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Paleo Chick-fil-a Chicken - These Whole30, Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free strips or nuggets are a family favorite! They freeze great, can be cooked in the airfryer or oven, and include nut-free and egg-free options.

Chick-fil-a was our favorite fast food place. I grew up in Texas and half my friends worked there as their first job, so my CFA love runs deep, which I passed on to the next generation. Though it’s on the rare occasion still worth it, my kids have been bugging me to make our own Paleo Chick-fil-a version at home.

SO, I took my most popular 5-ingredient chicken recipe and added 5 more ingredients to give it an amazing breading and a Chick-fil-a twist that is Paleo, Whole30, gluten-free, and dairy-free. All the family concurs – this Paleo Chick fil a Chicken is seriously straight out of a restaurant good!

It freezes fantastically, replacing those so-many-ingredient store bought nuggets. It includes egg-free and nut-free options for those that need them. We love them with my date mustard, chopped up in salads, or rolled up in a wrap. My kiddos even like them cold?!

I give directions for how to cook it in the airfryer, if pan frying isn’t your scene, though the airfryer results in more of a “dry fry” and the pan fry is juicier. We do prefer them cooked in shallow oil on the stove.

It’s our new fave, I hope it’s a hit in your home too!

NOTE: If you are on a Whole30, please keep in mind these are compliant. BUT, if KFC was your thing before the Whole30, this might be too close to old habits and not ideal for you (I encourage you to read the Pancake Rule here), so please use some personal responsibility in deciding if these are right for your Whole30.

Paleo Chick-fil-a Chicken

Autumn @wholefoodfor7
5 from 107 votes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup pickle juice*
  • 2 chicken breast, cut into strips or nugget-sized
  • 1 egg*
  • 1/3 cup almond flour*
  • 1/4 cup tapioca or arrowroot flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • coconut or avocado oil to cook in

Instructions
 

  • Combine pickle juice and cut chicken breast in a bowl. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes up to overnight. The longer you marinate, the stronger the pickle flavor will be.
  • Once marinated, remove from fridge. Drain and discard the pickle juice by putting the chicken in a strainer. Blot the chicken dry by dabbing with a paper towel or other reusable rag. **This drying step is crucial in helping breading stick to chicken - don't skip it!
  • Crack and scramble egg into a small bowl. Combine egg and chicken pieces in a medium bowl, stirring until all pieces are covered with egg. Drain excess egg off of chicken, again using a strainer. Shake the strainer a few times up and down to get off excess. The more excess you get off, the better the breading will stick to the chicken.
  • Combine all dry ingredients (almond flour through pepper) in a small bowl and then sprinkle on top of drained chicken in a medium bowl. Stir gently until all pieces are covered with breading.
  • Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. I use about a 1/4" deep of oil. Once oil is heated, place pieces coated chicken in the oil. Don't crowd the pan, there should be space in between pieces.
  • Cook for 5-6 minutes on each side, until crispy golden brown. Repeat until all pieces are cooked through, with no pink inside.
  • AIRFRYER: Cook chicken at 350 for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  • TO FREEZE: These make great substitutes for frozen chicken nuggets. Make and cook as instructed above, then lay in a single layer in your freezer until frozen on a cooling rack. Once frozen, then store in a sealed container for 3+ months. To reheat, can warm up in the microwave, in the oven at 400 for 10 minutes, or in the airfryer at 350 for 5-7 minutes.
    Want them cooked fresh? You could also prep and freese these raw (following instructions up until the cooking to marinate and bread) and then cook on the stove or airfryer straight from the freezer with the above recipe cooking instructions, adding a few minutes cooking time.

Notes

*Pickle juice - if on Whole30, make sure the pickles you are using are compliant. Yes, I literally just drain the juice from the pickles to use for marinade. You can leave the pickle juice marinade step out, it just adds a great flavor and makes the chicken extra tender. I don't like pickles and I still love this subtle flavor!
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SUBSTITUTIONS - Can't do egg? You can use 1/4 cup dairy-free milk instead (I like the thickness of canned coconut milk). Can't do almond flour? You can do just the tapioca/arrowroot flour OR use 2 tablespoons coconut flour instead of the almond flour. The breading won't turn out as thick, but it's still tasty!
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We love these with my date mustard sauce (pictured).

181 Comments

  1. so good, such a succinct recipe. nothing extra, nothing left out.

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  2. 5 stars
    These are a staple in our house! The kids devour them and the hubby likes them better than CFA! Thanks for a yummy and healthy recipe!

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  3. 5 stars
    Better than anywhere I could buy them. Simple, tasty, amazing!

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    • I love this recipe! I served it today for lunch when I had guests over and it was a big hit!

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  4. 5 stars
    Made them with Chicken Tenderloins as they were on sale this week. The pickle brine is a stroke of genius, do not skip it! I only brine for 30 minutes and it still makes a huge impact.

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  5. 5 stars
    These are a FAVORITE in our house- honestly saved our first Whole30 because we looked forward to this meal every week! My friends now all save their pickle juice for me to make them more 💚 incredible recipe thank you for sharing!

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    • Oh my gosh, I love that your friends save you their pickle juice so you can make them more. Brillant and I need to get on that, ha! So glad you love them and thank you for the review!

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    • You’ve done it again! Another awesome recipe that my family loved. This will be a staple for us from here on out. Thank you so much! I can’t wait to get your cookbook.

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  6. 5 stars
    Made for my family and they didn’t even realize it was gluten free. Everyone ate them up.

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    • 5 stars
      These are WOW. Made a double batch using the pan fry method and my teenager ate about 20 of them 😂 Will definitely be making again!

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  7. 5 stars
    These are so so good and easy to make! And they taste like Chick Fil A! This will be in our regular rotation. Wow!

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  8. 5 stars
    This is a HUGE hit in my house. Thanks, Autumn! Now to go search for a W30 Chick-fil-a sauce recipe…

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  9. 5 stars
    Beyond amazing. So good for adults and kids. The adults had the chicken over shredded cabbage with a mayo-based dressing and hot sauce. Fantastic recipe.

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    • 5 stars
      This is one of our favorite recipes. I usually need to double the egg and coating for the chicken breasts that we buy. I’ve always pan fried these, as the recipe says to, but I deep fried them last night in canola oil (which I doubt is a Whole30 method) and they were so much better, although that probably speaks more of my pan frying abilities than the recipe itself.

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  10. 5 stars
    Almost exactly like Chick-fil-a’s actually chicken! 110% RECOMMENDED!

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  11. 5 stars
    Easy to make and taste great! The pickle juice made these so tender and juicy. My husband and I liked that the coating was just enough crunch, not too thick. Next time, I’ll double the recipe and freeze some. Although, not sure they’d last long enough to make it to the freezer, they’re so good! We served over a salad with butter lettuce, sunflower seeds, shredded carrot, avocado and a homemade Whole30 honey mustard we like.

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  12. 5 stars
    This is an amazing recipe! Our family’s favorite chicken. Easy to follow recipe did t forget to dry the chicken) with great results!

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    • 5 stars
      The chicken turned out great. Even my daughter who is the pickiest chicken eater of all time ate all of it!! She really loved it!!

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  13. 5 stars
    Another fantastic recipe by Autumn! I tried with both the air fryer and pan frying and they were both great! Pair the Paleo Chick-fil-a chicken with the Date Mustard and you will add both to your rotation on a regular basis!

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  14. 5 stars
    My extremely picky step-kids LOVE these. They request them regularly and don’t have a clue that they’re made with paleo ingredients. Love that they freeze well too!

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  15. 5 stars
    Omg we just ate a pound of these 😂 this are so so so delicious!

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    • Aw! I’m so happy you gave them a try and loved them. YAY! And thanks for dropping a review!

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    • Could you bake at 350 as well? My air fryer is dinky. 🙁

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      • Yes, you could bake them in the oven at 350! Probably 15ish minutes, depending on thickness of strips or nuggets. If you have a cooling rack, cooking them on that set into a baking pan will help the bottom of the strips not get mushy.

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  16. 5 stars
    These are a family favorite! Great leftover the next day for a salad (if there is any!).

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  17. 5 stars
    These were a big hit with the kids! They loved that they were marinated in pickle juice! This has replaced my go to recipe for chicken tenders!

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  18. 5 stars
    These are my absolute favorite thing to eat when doing a Whole30! Love the date mustard as well.

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    • 5 stars
      By the time I got around to making dinner last night, I was worn out from a long, hard day of work. I couldn’t stand at the stove “frying” the nuggets, so I experimented…I put a cooling/baking rack on top of a sheet pan; put the chicken on the rack and BAKED in the OVEN to PERFECTION for 25 minutes at 425 degrees!!! I was so thrilled with how they turned out, I immediately sent pics and texts to my Dad and BFF stating “best homemade Chick-fil-A ever! “

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      • WAHOO! I’m so happy that oven method worked for you, thank you for sharing and YES to it being so delicious and one you wanted to share about. Thank you!

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  19. 5 stars
    My husband is OBSESSED. With Chick-fil-a and these quickly hit his stamp of approval! They fulfill my craving for fried chicken while allowing me to still feel good!

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  20. On weekly rotation, I batch cook 4 lbs of chicken and freeze them. They reheat so quickly in the air fryer. I use pork rind for breading. So yummy.

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    • 5 stars
      Obsessed. I have made these so many time and every time it hits the spot!!! 10/10 I recommend to all my friends!

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  21. 5 stars
    These are a family favorite , and a plus that they are paleo!
    My oldest son said they were better than chic fil a (and he used to work there , lol )
    Thank you so Much for the amazing recipes

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    • I love that even your son who used to work at Chick-fil-a thinks these are better than the real deal. Thank you!

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  22. 5 stars
    These are always in my fridge. Along with the date sauce. I can eat these at every meal. They are very easy to make and easy to store. Thank you

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  23. 5 stars
    Literally obsessed! Make these almost every week, and they are always in our freezer!

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    • I love that these are a weekly favorite, wahoo!

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  24. 5 stars
    When my family and I did a whole 30 this past year these were a staple for us for lunches and to add to a salad. Now when we make chicken tenders this recipe is always the one requested. They taste amazing reheat well and are pretty easy to make! I definitely recommend making them as well as the honey mustard sauce for dipping! Thank you!!

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    • 5 stars
      The recipe was super easy to follow. One of my toddler actually ate them so I would call it a hit!

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    • 5 stars
      These are fast and delicious! I tried them both baked and fried and my family preferred the fried method but both were tasty. Thanks for another great recipe!!

      Reply
  25. 5 stars
    These chicken nuggets are simply amazing. Crispy, juicy, and absolutely delicious. So thrilled To have found this recipe as a healthier alternative. Making a double batch and keeping some in the freezer is a game changer for those nights where we don’t feel like cooking. Goes great with the cilantro lime ranch, too!

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  26. 5 stars
    Made these for my family tonight and even the picky teenager ate them! So, so good, these will definitely be in my recipe rotation.

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  27. 5 stars
    Easy to make and great tasting! My rather picky 5 year old said he loved them, so a total win in my book for a GF/whole30 chicken nugget option! Did the air fryer this time around but will probably do the pan fry method next time to compare

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  28. 5 stars
    So so good! Hubby loved it and so did I, and it was such an easy weeknight dinner to make (and double…or triple!). 12/10

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  29. 5 stars
    My whole family went crazy for these, from kids to grandparents. Definitely the only way I’ll make chicken nuggets for awhile! We aren’t a huge chicken family because my kids never seem to like it, and I think my 6 year old ate at least 12 of them. 👏🏻

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    • 5 stars
      Excellent! The flavor is spot on – I personally need to work on mastering “pan frying” bc woah, my oil got wayyy too hot so warning for all you new “fryers” but that’s not Wholefoodfor7’s fault… that allll on me! 🙂

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  30. 5 stars
    These were amazing! My whole family loved themselves. We will for sure be making them again!

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  31. Oh my gosh, these are such a hit – even my picky-eater granddaughter went back for seconds and thirds! This definitely on repeat at our house.

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    • Aw, I love that your picky eater even had several helpings! That’s so wonderful, thank you!

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  32. 5 stars
    Oh my goodness, these are awesome! I’ve made them a few times now, changing up between doing nuggets and strips. The pickle juice makes all the difference. I’ll be making these again and again. And paired with your date mustard… I’m salivating just thinking about it! Dare I say, I like it better than CFA.

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  33. 5 stars
    We love this recipe! Thank you so much for having an egg free option. My non-paleo family members thought it tasted like the real deal!

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    • 5 stars
      I used the nut-free and egg-free substitute suggestions and they turned out great!

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  34. 5 stars
    My 6 year old declared this the best chicken he has ever had.

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    • Well, he is just too cute for saying that. Thrilled for the kid-win, thank you!

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    • 5 stars
      These are the very best!!! I have left a review of these before but I came back to say that they were the base of our “boneless wings” for the Super Bowl and were SO GOOD tossed in our spicy bbq and Buffalo sauces!! Thank you!

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      • That’s a great idea – thanks for sharing how you used these as the base for your boneless wings!

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  35. 5 stars
    This recipe is SO delicious! It was such a treat for my family during our January Whole30 and definitely the most delicious homemade nuggets I’ve ever tried. Kids love this chicken too! You will not regret making this recipe when you need a fun but clean meal.

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    • 5 stars
      Kiddo asks for these all.the.time! I cook mine in the air fryer. Love the flavor profile of these!

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  36. 5 stars
    Honestly so so good! Fabulous whole30 chicken nuggets – husband approved 🙂

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  37. 5 stars
    Chick-fil-a was the only fast food I would eat!! They are our family’s favorite ( anyone else know the “chick-fil-a “ song ??😁 ) so I was especially eager to try out this recipe. They were Awesome !!! I marinated them for a whole day and I love the pickle flavor! Next time I want to do them more nugget size instead of such big strips to make them easier to handle and to get more of the flavor in and on the meat. Thank you for all your great recipes that you post. You are my favorite blogger of all the ones I started following after doing a whole 30. Keep up the good work!

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    • I’m so happy you loved these and want to make them again. Thank you!

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  38. 5 stars
    These are so amazing and easy to make!

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    • Quick question… Can I substitute something else for the tapioca/arrowroot flour?! I wanted to make these now but don’t have either of those?!

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      • Good question, you could probably use a 1:1 gluten-free flour if you have that!

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      • You could use corn starch instead of arrowroot powder but then it wouldn’t be paleo.

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  39. 5 stars
    LOVE the flavor of this recipe! However I cannot successfully make these without the breading sticking. I have tried spraying the bottom of air fryer and also have tried a layer of almond flour before the egg. Any other ideas?

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    • I’m so happy you love the taste of these! Darn it on the breading sticking. A generous spray is my go-to for airfryer basket sticking problems, but there are some airfryers that are definitely less non-stick than others. Also make sure they are in a single layer, so the weight of another chicken piece isn’t pressing the chicken breading onto the airfryer basket. If that still doesn’t help, then you can always lay down a piece of foil in your airfryer basket. The air won’t circulate to both sides as well, so you’ll have to flip them, but it won’t stick.

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  40. 5 stars
    This chicken is UNREAL. Delicious. Easy. Juicy (we did it with thighs and woooowee it was delicious). Thank you!

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  41. These are amazing. Even my picky eater loved them. Thanks so much!

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  42. 5 stars
    This is our fav! We like to leave the chicken in pickle juice all day long, sometimes even over night for an extra pickle-y flavor! So easy and so delicious!

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  43. 5 stars
    My husband could not believe these weren’t from chick fil a or that they were paleo. I thought I made enough to freeze but they disappeared before I could get them to the freezer! My family is already asking me to make them again.

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  44. 5 stars
    Paleo Chicken is SSSSSo good!! I made these tonight and they are all gone!! So delicious!
    My picky eaters loved them!

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  45. 5 stars
    This recipe was AMAZING! It definitely solved my dilemma of what to do with boring chicken breasts again and it’s a crowd pleaser!! Will be putting this in the regular rotation.

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  46. 5 stars
    I don’t think I’ll ever buy breaded chicken tenders again! They were so juicy! I’ve never had chick fil a since I don’t have one near me, but these beat any restaurant tender’

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  47. 5 stars
    This was such a great recipe! Reminds me of chick fil a but without the bloating and congestion! This will be in our rotation.

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  48. 5 stars
    Love the recipe exactly as written and we always have a big batch of these in the freezer for quick meal options. We recently made this substituting thin cut pork chops and… oh, my gosh! Totally ’70s Shake ‘n Bake vibes!

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  49. 5 stars
    My kids love this recipe! After we started our healthy eating journey, Chick-fil-A was a weakness of ours as well. This has definitely helped us to stay away from the fast food! Thank you for sharing these types of recipes. I saw your post about commenting on recipes on your actual site. I never thought about that before and how it would help you. I’ve always liked or commented on Instagram but I will make an effort to leave a review here as we try things. We probably make more of your recipes than any other food blogger out there so I’ll keep reviewing! Thank you!!

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    • I so appreciate you taking the time to leave and review and support my blog. Thank you for your kind words – I so appreciate them!

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  50. 5 stars
    A family favorite! All four of my girls have learned how to make them. It’s a regular menu item !

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    • That makes me SO happy that your girls have learned how to make them, that’s so wonderful! Thank you!

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  51. 5 stars
    My entire house absolutely loves these chicken nuggets and they are so easy to cook in the air fryer!

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  52. 5 stars
    Big hit! This will be a regular item in our dinner rotation!

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  53. 5 stars
    My family loves these and I make them all the time. Especially yummy with the date honey mustard recipe!

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  54. Requested in my daughter’s house – can’t wait to make this with the date mustard sauce again!

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  55. 5 stars
    This is the best! We make it for every round of Whole30 we do and even when not on a round. So easy and so delicious!

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  56. 5 stars
    LOVED THESE! Whole30 is hard but your recipes keep me sane!! You rock!

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    • I’m so happy my recipes are helping you rock a Whole30, thank you!

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    • 5 stars
      I doubled this recipe and used it to make chicken sandwiches. Everyone loved them, including my picky 11 year old, whose favorite meal ever is a CFA chicken sandwich. She told me I could make these again anytime. 😆

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  57. 5 stars
    Everybody loves these chicken nuggets. This recipe is on repeat in my house. My kids ages 15 to 23 always ask if we can make the chick filet chicken nuggets. I have even taught them how to make this. I also love the dipping sauce. Thank you for this great recipe!

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  58. 5 stars
    Let me start by saying that I was skeptical if I would like these because I am NOT a pickle fan in the least I was concerned it would taste like pickles but boy was I WRONG!! Everyone needs to go make these right away. The pickle juice adds so much flavor. You don’t want to skip that ingredient. Then her breading hack… Why has this not been shared before?! 🤯 Thank you Autumn!

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    • I’m so happy to hear you loved it with the pickle juice. I’m the same, I don’t like pickles, but agree it really makes these tender and with a great flavor. Thank you!

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    • 5 stars
      Made this and it was so delicious! My kids devoured them. Thanks so much for this recipe .

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  59. 5 stars
    This recipe is our new favorite!! We all love it and heats up great as leftovers. Personally, we wouldn’t do much more than a 30 min marinade unless you love pickles. But absolutely amazing!

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  60. 5 stars
    This is an excellent recipe! I didn’t have pickle juice so I skipped that step. The only thing I would note for others considering doing the same is you should probably add another 1/2 tsp of salt to the breading mixture. So delish — thanks Autumn!

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    • Yes, without the pickle juice it’s more of a popcorn chicken, which we enjoy as well. And thanks for the note on the salt. Happy you enjoyed it, thank you!

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  61. 5 stars
    Made this for my family last night, along with the date mustard sauce and it was SO DELICIOUS!! my husband and kids all loved it, it’s definitely a winner in our house and will be added to the rotation! Thank you for the amazing recipe!!

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  62. 5 stars
    Family favorite! We all LOVED this dinner (with the date mustard sauce, too). Easy enough to make and the kids each gave it 2 thumbs up while asking for more. Super bummed we didn’t have any leftovers! Guess I’ll double the recipe next time. Thanks, Autumn!

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    • Hooray for a new family favorite – I’m thrilled to hear that! Thank you!

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  63. Do you think boneless skinless thighs would work okay? Or are they too fatty? I have some I need to use up!

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    • That’s a great question. I haven’t tried it so hard to say, but let me know if you do and how it works!

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      • 5 stars
        Mind blown! So delicious! Crispy, savory.
        Easy!

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  64. 5 stars
    Wow, this recipe looks so great! I can’t wait to try it out. Thank you for sharing!

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  65. 5 stars
    This recipe is a huge favorite and my husband has said it’s ruined all other chicken recipes for him, haha. It’s hard not to make this more than once a week! Love how simple it is to make once you get the hang of it. Goes great with salads!

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    • Lol, I love it! Thrilled this is a family favorite, thank you!

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  66. 5 stars
    THIS CHICKEN IS SOO GOOD. A staple on my Whole30 and Food Freedom! So crispy and flavorful, with none of Chic-fil-a’s problematic politics. Highly recommend!

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    • Happy this was a winner for you! It’s definitely a staple in our home as well!

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  67. This is my FAVORITE chicken recipe! I would eat this every day if my family would allow it! I was making paleo “fried” chicken with a different recipe, but I saw your son demo this recipe on instagram and I thought i would give it a try. I loved it, and only use this recipe now. Whenever any of my friends ask if I have any recipe ideas, I immediately share this link with them. I have sent this link from my phone so many times that my phone’s browser automatically goes to wholefoodfor7.com Love it, great recipe. Thank you for sharing.

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  68. 5 stars
    This was so good! I loved the subtle pickle flavor. The kids devoured it, too!

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    • 5 stars
      My family LOVES this recipe!

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  69. 5 stars
    These chicken nuggets are one of my favorite recipes! I even made them for my family when I was home over the summer and they loved them!!

    So simple and so delicious. Totally worth making!

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    • 5 stars
      These are amazing and easy to make! Thai you for shaking this recipe!

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  70. These nuggets are easy to make and very good.
    The whole family loved them.

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    • 5 stars
      I have made this recipe numerous times and my family loves it….great eaten hot or cold…even better with the date sauce!!!
      My daughter likes it so much she has submitted an informative essay for her commincations class using this recipe as her topic!!!!

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    • 5 stars
      I made this on my 1st Whole 30. I tried to find recipes that would please the whole family and this was a hit! My husband and 9 year old agree! It’s become a regular on the menu in our home along with the date mustard sauce, its a perfect combination! Delish!!!

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      • I’m so happy this has been a family favorite and regular – thank you!

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    • 5 stars
      These are they best and super easy to make. I struggle to find meals that my picker eater son will eat with the rest of us. They gobbled them up and asked for more!! Double batch next time.

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      • That makes my mama heart happy that this was a picky eater win – hooray!

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  71. 5 stars
    My family and I loved this recipe! I love crunch and was craving something crunchy so this was the perfect healthy alternative, while not sacrificing flavor or crunch!! I marinated the chicken for 30 minutes in the pickle juice – it was just right for my daughter and husband who don’t love pickles.

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    • I agree – 30 minutes is just right for me, as a non-pickle lover, but the longer you marinate, the more you will taste the pickle juice!

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  72. 5 stars
    I have This recipe memorized that is how much I make this. It’s a staple for my weekly menu. Super easy to make. Thank you!!

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  73. These turned out so good! I love your kid friendly recipes and big family, budget friendly options while doing a whole 30! These were easy to make and even my pickle hating husband liked them.

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  74. 5 stars
    KID FRIENDLY! and approved! Not only is this recipe delicious but easy enough for my teenage kids to make on their own. I find that when my kids have a hand in preparing their food they are more willing to eat it, even if it’s mom’s “healthy” food. So family friendly! Would definitely recommend

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    • I love that your teenagers have made these – that’s so wonderful! Hooray for this one being a family win!

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  75. These are THE BEST at home chicken nuggets out there. The pickle juice really makes the recipe! I have tried many at home chicken tender or nugget recipes and after trying this one, I stopped looking!

    We don’t have an air fryer (yet) so I have made them in a pan with oil. The only trick I have found is that the chicken needs to be sliced small enough or thin enough to ensure that the inside cooks through before the outside cooks.

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  76. This is literally the most delicious chicken ever! Loved by all in our household and on regular rotation 💙

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  77. I’m a big fan of these. We tried this version with the coconut flour and really enjoyed them. Then my husband tried a non-paleo version and we liked yours better. I want to try them with almond flour and your dipping sauce. We did two different chick-fil-a sauce knock offs.

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  78. 5 stars
    So easy to whip up & super delicious. The pickle juice adds great flavor. My whole family gobbled them up!

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  79. For real – these are a Chick-fil-a lovers dream! I set my 11 year old out to make these (since I always see pictures of your boys making them!). When we got to taste the final product, both of us were impressed. They were really good! I actually stocked up on pickles just to be able to make these. Now what to do with all the pickles…ha ha!

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    • Lol, if only we could buy just pickle juice?! ; ) So happy your family enjoyed these!

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  80. 5 stars
    I first tried this recipe when me and my husband did our first round ofWhole30. We love it. We are a family of 6 and we make these all the time now, taste just like chick fil a nuggets!

    Reply
    • Woot! Hooray they are a family favorite, thank you!

      Reply
  81. 5 stars
    This recipe is a favorite in my house – we make it at least once a week. The kids call it ‘pickle chicken’ and ask for it often. It’s easy and the chicken is so tender and juicy. 5 stars all the way!

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    • Aw, it makes me so happy your kids love and ask for this one. Thank you!

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  82. 5 stars
    My kids are obsessed with Chick Fil a and Canes, so I had to give this recipe a try. It was a bit labor intensive, but in the end sooooo worth it!! Whole family raved and happily ate it all up. Definitely a keeper recipe for swapping in some healthier options at home.Thank you!

    Reply
    • So happy it was a family win! Agreed it’s more steps than like my 5-ingredient chicken but worth it when you have the time. Thank you!

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  83. 5 stars
    This recipe was so great! I made your recipe for 5 ingredient Chicken which the family loved so I decided to go a step farther and try these Chick-fil-a strips, they were a hit especially the night of. My husband took the leftovers to work the next day too 🙂

    Reply
    • Thank you Deb! They are a little more work than the 5-ingredient chicken, but always a huge hit in our home too. Wahoo!

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  84. 5 stars
    These are insane. Made a triple batch and froze the leftovers for reheating in the AirFryer. They come out fantastically! Amazing alternative when craving something less healthy

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    • “Insane” – I love it! Thank you!

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  85. This is awesome! I made some for my family & they wondered how I got Chick-Fil-A because we love 45 miles from the closest one!!! They couldn’t believe that I made it all from scratch!!

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    • WAHOO! That’s pretty great that these felt like the real deal to your family, I love that!

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      • 5 stars
        THE BEST!!! This is the best chicken nugget recipe- maybe even BETTER than Chick-fil-A!? Everyone loves them.

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  86. 5 stars
    I love pickles! So this is my favorite. However, I used Bubbies Pickle juice so the taste was strong. My non pickle loving family, liked the nuggets but preferred your other chicken tender recipe.

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    • Lol, we definitely have some on both team pickle and non-pickle in our home too! Happy these are a favorite for you!

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      • 5 stars
        These are delicious! And the date mustard is to die for. Can’t wait for my kitchen remodel to be complete so I can try making them in the air fryer and try your other recipes. Thank you Autumn!

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  87. 5 stars
    These were such a crowd pleaser!! I was amazed at how good they were’ my kids loved them which is a win!!

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    • Kid wins are my favorite! So happy this was a crowd pleaser for your family. Thank you!

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      • There isn’t a chicken nugget out there that compares to how delicious these are. My 6 year old would rather have these than go to CFA. They’re so easy to make. They really do freeze beautifully and from frozen, heat in the air fryer in just minutes. I usually don’t like reheated chicken, but this is the exception to the rule. I dip them in a spicy mayo for a super tasty meal.

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        • Hooray! I’m thrilled these are such a win for your family and that kid win just makes my mama heart so happy!

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        • I don’t have children at home, but I love your family friendly recipes. Who doesn’t love a chicken nugget??!! Thank you!

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          • Right?! I like to say my recipes are kid-friendly but not only for kids. I totally agree and thank you!

  88. 5 stars
    This is my family’s go-to chicken recipe. We make it at least twice a month, it is that good! Do not skimp on the pickle juice- it makes the chicken so flavorful and tender!

    Reply
    • I so love that this has become a family go-to! Thank you!

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    • 5 stars
      These were so good! My kids weren’t big fans but my husband really loved them!

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  89. 5 stars
    These are amazing!!! Some of the best chicken I’ve ever had! Highly recommend!!!

    Reply
    • So happy to hear that! It’s definitely a favorite in our home!

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      • We finally remembered to save the pickle juice. Haha! We used your recommendation for canned cocunut milk and just arrowroot powder. We mixed in a little potato starch. Without an air fryer (gasp!) we shallowed fried them. Thank you for the gift of showing your son making this. My 12yo now makes it solo.

        Reply
        • Well that just makes my mama heart SO happy. Good for your 12 year old, that’s awesome!

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  90. Hello! I haven’t tried these yet, but wondering if you have tried in the oven rather than stove top? They look great!

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    • Hello! I haven’t tried them in the oven, but there’s no reason they wouldn’t work in the oven. If you have one, putting the chicken on a cooling rack inside of a cooking sheet in the oven can help the chicken get the most crispy on both sides in the oven. If not, then just be sure to flip halfway through. I would guess 10-12 minutes (depending on size of nuggets/strips) at 350 for these.

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  91. 5 stars
    These are amazing! I don’t have an air fryer, but pan frying worked great. Serving with some date mustard and already looking forward to leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.

    Reply
    • So happy you loved this one – it’s a family favorite! Thank you.

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  92. 5 stars
    These were very yummy and super easy!

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    • Fabulous! So happy they were an easy win, thank you!

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  93. 5 stars
    I made these last night, the family loved it! Funny how when I did my first whole 30 a few years ago, none of them wanted to eat “that food” now they love to eat clean and whole 30 recipes! ?

    Reply
    • I love a family win and how awesome they love “that food” – way to go on all your hard work and persistence to get there!

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  94. 5 stars
    This was amazing!! We made the chick fix a tenders… and the honey date sauce… My family could not get enough! I am on day 24 of whole 30 and it was a wonderful treat!
    Thank you for your inspiration!!

    Reply
    • How wonderful, I love a family win! Hooray! And WAY TO GO on rocking to the end of your Whole30, that’s so great!

      Reply
    • 5 stars
      This recipe has been a huge help to me. I make it at least 2 or 3 times a month. I crave chick fil a and this fills that craving. I’ve tried a few different recipes and this one is top 2

      Reply
      • I’m so happy this one is on repeat in your home, thank you!

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  95. Yummy, We tried this tonight and it was a hit with the whole family. I used duck egg as there are food sensitivities in my family. p.s. I didn’t tell them with was whole30 ?

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    • WOOT that this was a family win! Love it when it’s just delicious and enjoyed by those on or off a Whole30!

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  96. 5 stars
    My kids love this recipe. They call it “pickle chicken”. It’s such an easy version and we like the crispiness of the air fryer. But love that it can be made other ways. It makes the meal plan rotation at least once a month.

    Reply
    • I’m so thrilled your kids love this one – I love a good kid win! Hooray for it being on the regular!

      Reply
  97. I’m brand new to the air fryer. If I use the air fryer method, I can skip the whole part with the oil on the stove, right?

    Reply
    • Hi! Yes, you are correct – no oil or stove needed for airfryer, wahoo! Just finish breading and then stick straight into airfryer. If you haven’t used your airfryer a lot, I’d spray the bottom of the airfryer basket with cooking oil spray, just so the breading won’t stick. Gently shake half way through the cooking if the chicken is stacked on top of each other at all. Enjoy!

      Reply
      • 5 stars
        These are amazing!!! We love chick fil a and couldn’t wait to try these! Used the air fryer method and they were perfect. Definitely going to be following your directions to freeze these so that my chicken nugget loving 4 year old has a healthier option 🙂

        Reply
        • 5 stars
          This is hands down the best chicken nugget recipe ever! Both of my kids, ages 11 and 16, love them! And I’m happy to have a whole30 option that the whole family enjoys!

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      • 5 stars
        I was hesitant about these. My kids would eat Chick-Fil-A every single day of the week if I’d let them, so the bar was pretty high.
        THESE ARE AMAZING!!! ALL of us enjoyed these. Per the entire family’s request, these will be going into our regular rotation.

        Reply
        • MADE IT INTO THE REGULAR ROTATION! Wahoo! I’m so glad your CFA loving family enjoyed these so much. Thank you!

          Reply

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