• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • meet the team
  • blogger resources
  • Contact Me
My Account
Member Dashboard
40 Aprons Premium (Ad Free!)

40 Aprons

Delicious, Healthy-ish Meals for the Whole Family

  • All Recipes
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Cooking Basics
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Meal Prep
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Baking
    • Crockpot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Sous Vide
  • Dietary Needs
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Keto
    • Low Carb
    • Paleo
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Whole30
  • Cuisine
    • American
    • Asian
    • Indian
    • Italian
    • Mediterranean
    • Mexican & Latin
    • Southern
Home Blog Cuisine American

Chick-fil-A Tofu Nuggets with Vegan “Honey” Mustard Sauce

Cheryl Malik
Cheryl Malik Posted: 09/04/14 Updated: 06/02/22
4.96
/5
80 Comments
Jump to Recipe
V Vegan VG Vegetarian

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Chickfila Tofu Nuggets. Vegan and judgment-free, these little bites taste so close to the "real thing"!

I have a confession to make….

I love(d) Chick-fil-A. I know, I know! It’s not healthy, it’s not good for the environment, and it’s definitely not good for our social climate. But there’s something about it I crave–often intensely–until I sate what could’ve been a brisk but shameful dip into, let’s face it, some hateful junk food.

Chickfila Tofu Nuggets. Vegan and judgment-free, these little bites taste so close to the "real thing"!

Except when I say brisk, I actually mean we’d be sitting in line, out in the middle of one our city’s busiest streets, behind 40 other cars doing the same thing. O and I at one time, pre-gay-hatred-exposure, considered franchising one of those places and putting it downtown (packed full of 9-to-5ers rushing to work, no other Chick-fil-A around for miles), sheer dreams of  diving into a sea of coins, Scrooge McDuck-style.

But these days, we’re pretty conscious of where and what we eat, trying to avoid a lot of meat–especially highly processed, factory farmed meat with more injections than Heidi Montag–and spend our money only with companies whose values don’t.. totally clash with what we think is right and acceptable in this life. Sometimes we falter, but most of the time we stay pretty true to that. So what to do when the Chick-fil-A craving strikes?

Chick-fil-A tofu nuggets, people. Chick-fil-A tofu nuggets. With vegan “honey” mustard dipping sauce.

Chickfila Tofu Nuggets. Vegan and judgment-free, these little bites taste so close to the "real thing"!
Chickfila Tofu Nuggets. Vegan and judgment-free, these little bites taste so close to the "real thing"!

I took a few Chick-fil-A nugget copycat recipes and essentially converted it into a fried tofu recipe, complete with a powered sugary breading and pickle juice marinade. We were both amazed at how well these turned out, how similar to the addictive little nuggets we so guiltily crave! The breading is crunchy and flavorful without being too heavy, the torn tofu is equally flavorful and packed with seasoning thanks to the pickle brine, and the tearing leaves little nuggets that are not so perfectly cubed that they seem immediately “chickenless”.

The honey mustard sauce is just like I remember honey mustard sauce, subbing really only vegan mayo for the mayonnaise and agave nectar for the honey. Because really, what’s a chicken nugget without a sauce in which to dunk your little bites?

Chickfila Tofu Nuggets. Vegan and judgment-free, these little bites taste so close to the "real thing"!
Chickfila Tofu Nuggets. Vegan and judgment-free, these little bites taste so close to the "real thing"!
I even made a from-scratch lemonade to go with these Chick-fil-A Tofu Nuggets!

Even better, these come together quickly and without much oil, making them much healthier than the originals. And guess what, none of your money is going towards the “questionable giving” that made Chick-fil-A known for more than its unfortunately delicious bites. About that, you can feel even better about swapping chicken for tofu and a quick jaunt to that infamous locale for a delicious fast-food-inspired spread at home.

Hey – you’ve made it this far, so now we’re basically best friends! If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook, too!

Chickfila Tofu Nuggets. Vegan and judgment-free, these little bites taste so close to the "real thing"!
4.96 from 24 votes

Chick-fil-A Tofu Nuggets

Prep:45 minutes
Cook:15 minutes
Total:1 hour
Flavorful tofu nuggets that taste oh-so-close to the Chick-fil-A original nuggets, complete with a vegan "honey" mustard sauce! Way healthier and a lot less.. judgy.
Print Save Saved! Click Here to Remove Ads
4 servings

Ingredients

  • oil for frying; vegetable, canola, or peanut oil preferred

For the Tofu Nuggets

  • 1 pound tofu firm or extra-firm
  • ¾ – 1 cup dill pickle juice (you want the old-school, bright green juice; not the deli-pickle kind)

For the Tofu Nugget Breading

  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 2 ½ tablespoons powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon powdered mustard
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the Honey Mustard

  • ¼ cup vegan mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon agave nectar
  • ¾ teaspoon lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric

Equipment

  • medium bowl with lid (or plastic wrap to cover)
  • 2 small bowls
  • Large skillet
  • plate lined with paper towels (or wire cooling rack over paper towels)

Instructions 

  • Tear tofu block into nugget-sized pieces and place pieces in medium bowl. Pour pickle juice over tofu and cover bowl. Let tofu marinate in pickle juice 25 minutes.
  • While tofu marinates, whisk together breading ingredients in small bowl until mixture is fully combined. Set aside.
  • In third small bowl, mix together all honey mustard ingredients. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • After tofu has marinated 25 minutes, drain all liquid and transfer tofu to breading mixture. Toss or stir well to thoroughly coat tofu pieces in breading.
  • Pour thin layer of oil (approximately 1 tablespoon) in skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Once oil is hot and shimmering, add breaded tofu to skillet in one even layer, working in batches as needed to avoid overcrowding. Turn pieces over regularly to brown on all sides.
  • Transfer browned tofu pieces to plate lined with paper towels or wire cooling rack over paper towels. Let excess oil drain and repeat process with any remaining breaded tofu, until all tofu has been fried. Serve warm with chilled honey mustard sauce.

Notes

  • For crispier breading, drain the tofu on a wire cooling rack rather than a plate lined with paper towels.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 335kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 1672mg, Potassium: 204mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 128IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 44mg, Iron: 2mg, Net Carbs: 46g

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

 

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

 

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

© Author: Cheryl Malik

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @40aprons on social and be sure to leave a review on the blog post!

Rate Recipe Tag Me on Instagram
Cheryl Malik

Meet Cheryl Malik

Cheryl Malik is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind the healthy, flavorful, family friendly recipes at 40 Aprons. She's been a blogger for 10+ years and is known for her delicious recipes and detailed recipe instructions. Cheryl is a mom of three who lives in Memphis, TN.

Read more...

You may also like...

  • Healthy frosted lemonade in a glass with a straw and lemons in the background
    Healthy Chick Fil A Frosted Lemonade Recipe (Paleo, Vegan)
  • Equality Appreciation Day, or: Chick-Fil-A Copycat Nuggets
  • Tofu Mayonnaise (Vegan)

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Jess says

    Posted on 6/2/22 at 3:12 pm

    Are the paprika , garlic, and powdered mustard to be mixed in with the cornstarch or are those for the honey mustard?
    It’s not clear what ingredients are for what parts.

    This looks delicious- can’t wait to make this!

    Reply
    • Megan | 40 Aprons TeamMegan | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 6/2/22 at 4:19 pm

      So sorry, that was laid out kind of confusingly! We’ve added headings to make everything more clear. Let us know how you like the recipe!

      Reply
  2. Cecilia says

    Posted on 4/8/22 at 12:34 pm

    These are amazing!! Taste very similar to Chick-fil-A !!!5 stars

    Reply
    • Anna Claire | 40 Aprons TeamAnna Claire | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 5/1/22 at 4:28 pm

      So glad you enjoyed it!5 stars

      Reply
  3. Mary says

    Posted on 5/19/20 at 9:36 pm

    Do you think you could bake the tofu instead of frying? This looks delicious!

    Reply
    • Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 2/23/21 at 9:57 am

      You can try!5 stars

      Reply
  4. Kerri says

    Posted on 4/10/20 at 12:04 am

    These are so good! I froze the tofu first (first time freezing and first time marinating tofu in pickle juice). I will definitely be making this again!5 stars

    Reply
    • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

      Posted on 5/13/20 at 11:40 pm

      That’s awesome!

      Reply
  5. Shane says

    Posted on 8/19/19 at 10:39 pm

    I cannot say enough good about this recipe… It blew me out of the water! Each time I find a new, showstopping way to prepare tofu (this certainly fits the bill!), I fall in love with this ingredient all over again. Marinade in pickle brine and use a breading with powdered sugar…! I never would have thought to try this, but it works so well!
    Where did you get the idea for these ingredient combos, if you don’t mind me asking?

    First, I froze my tofu and drained it thoroughly (for texture). Then marinated it in pickle brine for 5 hrs (I didn’t have enough so made some to bulk it up: 2 cups apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 Tbsp kosher salt). Then I increased all of the spices in the breading about 1.5x and did 3 Tbsp powdered sugar, for increased flavor. I tried air-frying in addition to pan-frying, and definitely prefer the pan-fried texture (much more fluffy interior). And the honey-mustard vegan mayo is perfect.

    Thank you for your wonderful recipe!5 stars

    Reply
    • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

      Posted on 8/20/19 at 4:49 pm

      Thank you for the positive review!

      Reply
  6. Mark says

    Posted on 1/15/19 at 5:03 pm

    I used to love Chic~Fil~A! But love humans more and am now a vegan so… Was just telling my wife that I bet I could marinate jackfruit in pickle juice and come up with something close, was worried tofu would end up tasting like fried pickles. But I haven’t found un-marinated jackfruit and I have tofu in the fridge, this is going down tonight! (immediately opens new tab to search for homemade vegan Polynesian sauce)

    Thank you!!

    Reply
  7. Valerie says

    Posted on 7/7/18 at 8:10 am

    Think arrowroot powder would work as well, instead of the cornstarch? Corn and chicken allergy have put chick-fil-a off the menu for my husband and it has always been a favorite of his. Hoping I can adapt this.

    Reply
    • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

      Posted on 7/10/18 at 1:26 pm

      I think that would work fine!5 stars

      Reply
  8. Kim says

    Posted on 6/17/18 at 9:11 pm

    I decided on a whim to make this recipe, based on the reviews. I didn’t realzie how many reviewers had not actually made the recipe.

    It is not complete.

    How much liquid for the batter?

    I went through this, assembling ingredients and now have to figure out how much liquid to add, and hope for the best. This may be the tastiest thing on the planet, but for the love of our grocery budgets please make sure when you post a recipe, that it is complete.

    Reply
    • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

      Posted on 6/18/18 at 11:11 am

      The recipe is not incomplete. There is no liquid in the breading.

      Reply
  9. Charla Gonzales says

    Posted on 11/26/17 at 12:41 am

    That was a really helpful entry. Thanks, Cheryl!5 stars

    Reply
    • Cheryl MalikCheryl Malik says

      Posted on 11/27/17 at 8:43 am

      <35 stars

      Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

What’s Popular?

Reusable meal prep trays with sweet potato, scrambled eggs, and sausage for a whole30 breakfast

Whole30 Breakfast Meal Prep

Crispy, golden air fryer tater tots in a large white serving bowl next to a small ramekin of bright red ketchup.

Air Fryer Tater Tots

Overhead view of marry me chicken in a cast iron skillet

Marry Me Chicken (Chicken in a Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce)

Instant pot chicken and rice in a bowl

Dreamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

In Season

Whole30 In-n-Out burgers close up

Whole30 Burgers – Burger Joint Style (Paleo, Low Carb)

Overhead photo of keto chicken tortilla soup in a rustic bowl

Keto Chicken Tortilla Soup (Low Carb, Gluten Free)

Air fryer chicken wings on a platter with sauce

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings in Buffalo Sauce

Instant pot frozen chicken breast - easy chicken recipes for dinners with few ingredients

Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast

As seen on:

More Goodies + NO Ads!

Become a 40 Aprons Premium Member!

All the 40 Aprons content you love - now even better.

  • Member-Exclusive Recipes
  • Meal Plans & Grocery Lists
  • eBooks
  • NO ADS!
Join now

Privacy Policy

Accessibility

Disclaimers

Contact

© 2023 40 Aprons
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
736 shares