This Whole30 chicken nuggets recipe is inspired by the method used at Chick-Fil-A for super tender and flavorful nuggets with a creamy, smoky, lightly sweet dipping sauce that takes this all over the edge. These paleo chicken nuggets are crispy and tender and just perfect. A favorite Whole30 chicken recipe!
We’re chicken nugget lovers. Except not the little pressed and breaded pellets from fast food places: real chicken cut into little pieces, tossed in some sort of coating, fried up quickly in the cast-iron skillet, and dipped in my favorite Whole30 dump ranch dressing.
Naw, girl. For a truly awesome Whole30 chicken recipe, I had to upgrade.
I was inspired by the bizarre but super effective process Chick-Fil-A follows to produce super tender and flavorful chicken nuggets. Pickle juice, toss in sugar (Pass), and then fry in a pressure cooker (Also pass). So, OK, really, I just marinated the chicken in pickle juice and tossed it all in a coconut flour-spiked mixture, then pan-fried the nuggets really quickly so keep things tender and delish. The result?
Hea-ven.
They were just what I wanted: tender and flavorful and just the teeny tiniest bit sweet from the coconut flour. I whipped up a Chick-Fil-A sauce inspired dip from my Whole30 ketchup recipe, my Whole30 immersion blender mayo, and a touch of liquid smoke for some smoky BBQ sauce depth, and dipped to my little heart’s content.
Why this Whole30 chicken recipe is so good:
- They’re super easy to make, just make sure you give them plenty of time to marinate in that pickle juice.
- This Whole30 chicken recipe produces the most tender and flavorful chicken with just the slightest sweetness from the coconut flour.
- The dipping sauce is so epic: slightly sweet, creamy, and smoky, hitting all the flavor home runs!
Tips
- To make the dipping sauce, make sure you have Whole30 ketchup and Whole30 mayonnaise on hand, but I have recipes on my site that make those super easy to keep around.
- Don’t skip marinating the chicken in pickle juice! This process is what tenderizes and flavors the chicken so beautifully.
- Clean out the skillet in between batches so that the flours don’t burn.
How to make this Whole30 chicken nuggets recipe:
The most important part: marinate your chunks of chicken in pickle juice! This is what produces such tender and flavorful little nuggets. Don’t skip it when you’re making this Whole30 chicken recipe, sister!
Put your beaten egg in a wide, shallow bowl. In another wide, shallow bowl, whisk together your flours and spices.
Remove your chicken from the pickle juice and discard juice. Dip your chicken pieces in the beaten egg, shaking off excess, then toss in the flour mixture. Repeat the process until all nuggets are coated.
Fry those little nugs up! Heat a layer of oil – refined coconut oil and avocado oil work great – in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium to medium-high heat. Fry your chicken in batches, making sure to not crowd, until golden brown on all sides and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes total. Don’t overcook! Remove from the skillet with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper-towel- or brown-paper-bag-lined plate.
To make your sauce, simply whisk all ingredients together!
Where do I get pickle juice?
From a bottle of pickles, you crazy. Seriously, though, buy a compliant jar of pickles (the shelf-stable kind are best for this recipe) and use the juice you need. The pickles will be fine after! Or simply save jars of juice once you’ve eaten through a container of spears.
Alternately, you can do what my pregnant ass did and buy this one-gallon behemoth of pure pickle juice. The crazy thing is I think this stuff is actually Whole30 compliant… I’m just saying.
Do I have to marinate this Whole30 chicken recipe in pickle juice?
Nah, you don’t have to. But if you don’t, the nuggets won’t be as tender or flavorful. I’m bad about planning ahead, too, but even one hour in the marinade will make a big difference!
Can I use _________ flour?
You can substitute arrowroot for the tapioca starch, but I urge you to use the almond flour + coconut flour combination to give these nuggets the right flavor and consistency. They’ll still be good if you use all almond flour, just not as Chick-Fil-A inspired. And if you use all coconut flour, the coating will be quite dry. Flour combo for the win!
What’s the deal with the Whole30 vs. paleo dipping sauce differences?
If you’re on a Whole30, you’ll combine these ingredients for your dipping sauce:
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. Whole30 mayonnaise
- 3 Tbsp. coconut aminos
- 1 Tbsp. yellow mustard
- 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp. Whole30 ketchup
- 3/4 tsp. liquid smoke
- pinch salt
If you’re not on a Whole30, try this instead:
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. Whole30 mayonnaise
- 2 tsp. maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 Tbsp. yellow mustard
- 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp. Whole30 ketchup
- 3/4 tsp. liquid smoke
- pinch salt
Other recipes you’ll love:
- One Minute Whole30 Mayo
- Whole30 Bacon Wrapped Dates
- Whole30 Dump Ranch Dressing
- Whole30 In N Out Burgers
Whole30 Chicken Nuggets Recipe (Paleo, Chick-Fil-A Method)
Ingredients
For the Whole30 Chicken Nuggets
- 2 large chicken breasts about 1.5 pounds, cut into bite-sized chunks
- ½ cup dill pickle juice
- 1 egg beaten
- â…” cup almond flour
- ½ cup coconut flour
- 2 tablespoons tapioca starch
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- refined coconut oil or avocado oil for frying
For the Chick-Fil-A-Sauce
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons Whole30 mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons coconut aminos if ON Whole30
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup if NOT on Whole30
- 1 tablespoon coconut aminos if NOT on Whole30
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Whole30 ketchup
- ¾ teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
For the Whole30 Chicken Nuggets
- Combine chicken breast chunks and pickle juice in an air-tight container or large plastic bag. Refrigerate at least one hour, preferably overnight, tossing every so often.
- Pour beaten egg in a shallow bowl. Whisk together flours, tapioca starch, and spices in another shallow bowl.
- Drain chicken from pickle juice. Dip chicken pieces in egg then coat in flour mixture. Repeat until all nuggets are coated.
- Heat a thin layer of refined coconut oil or avocado oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Fry chicken nuggets in batches until golden brown and cooked through. This will take about 5-6 minutes total. Do not overcook! Remove from skillet with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
For the Chick-Fil-A Sauce
- In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix together all ingredients.If you are on a Whole30, use only 3 tablespoons coconut aminos. Skip the 2 teaspoons maple syrup and 1 tablespoon coconut aminos in the ingredients list.If you are NOT on a Whole30, skip the 3 tablespoons coconut aminos. Use 2 teaspoons maple syrup and 1 tablespoon coconut aminos.
- Chill sauce mixture until ready to serve, at least 30 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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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.
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Michael W Fox says
Still wondering if there is a suggested serving amount? Serving size 4 nuggets? 6? Just trying to provide accurate nutritional value from the great recipe. Thanks!
Megan | 40 Aprons says
Hi, Michael! Great question!
The nutritional information shown on the recipe card reflects the general information for 1 serving of chicken nuggets and Whole30 sauce, or 1/4th of the total yield, assuming you get 4 servings out of a batch. The exact number of chicken nuggets you get can vary depending on the size of the chicken breasts you start out with and the number of nuggets you cut them into, which is why we don’t indicate a specific number.
This recipe was intended to produce 4 servings, so the easiest way to figure out a serving size would be to weigh the finished nuggets and prepared sauce, then divide those weights (not including the weight of the containers) by 4. That’ll give you the weight of one serving! If you like larger or smaller portions, you can always adjust the amount of total servings, too.
The nutritional values shown on our posts are a general guideline, so if you’re counting things closely, be sure to calculate your specific nutritional information using the nutritional values for your exact ingredients. Macros of ingredients tend to vary from one brand to another, so our numbers may not be exactly the same as what you actually consume!
I hope this helps, and I’m so glad you and your wife love these chicken nuggets! Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Michael W Fox says
I do not see a serving size amount. I love making them but my wife is very technical needing to know the suggested serving size/amount. Thanks!
Stephanie says
Can you fry them in an air fryer?
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
Yes! Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 mins. Place an even layer of nuggets in oiled air fryer basket and fry at 400ºF for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through. Give them a shake about half way through cooking time.
Sarah says
I don’t typically comment on recipes but these absolutely blew our minds! I had to triple check it was a Whole30 recipe! WOW! The best part about Whole30 and recipes like this is it is a reminder that you don’t have to sacrifice taste and after a good meal like this you feel satisfied not sluggish!
Nk says
1 Tbsp coconut aminos if NOT on whole30?
Isn’t coconut aminos allowed on the Whole30 program..?
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
Hi 🙂 You’re correct! The additional coconut aminos are just for the other variation of the recipe. 🙂
Alyah says
These look so good!! I was wondering if the eggs are essential to keep it together because I can’t tolerate eggs very well so I was wondering if there was a substitute for it.
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
The egg wash acts as a coating for the chicken so the breading can stick to the nuggets! You can try oil, although we have not tested that variation. 🙂
Paula Howell says
If I bake these in the oven, what temperature should the oven be and how much time? I can’t wait to try these!
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
Hi! We’d try cooking them at 400° for at least 20 minutes or until internal temp reaches 165°F.
Burgandy Trimmer says
I’m hoping to make these soon but I am wondering if you can bake them instead of frying? If so what steps should I take?
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
Sure! We’d start off with baking them in an oven preheated to 400° F and then baking for 20 mins or until internal temp reaches 165°F.
Theresa Molesky says
I never write recipe reviews but these are the BEST PALEO chicken nuggets I have ever eaten. I have tried many recipes but nothing has come close to these. Moist, flavorful and the batter didn’t fall off! I am adding these to my monthly recipe rotation. The sauce was also a nice compliment to the chicken. PS_I have never had Chick Fil A’s nuggets.
Amelia Camurati says
Glad they were good enough to warrant writing a positive review, Theresa!
Victoria Macedo says
My chicken bits are in the fridge marinating! It’s already been about 11 hours and will probably be another 16 before I get around to cooking. Is there such a thing as letting them sit in the pickle juice for too long?
Thank you for this recipe! Tomorrow’s Day 15 of Whole 30. Excited to try these.
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
If they sit too long in something acidic, then they may turn out a little tough/chewy. Did you try them? How’d it go?