Burger King New Chicken Nuggets Recipe: Crispy Copycat Version

If you’re a fan of crispy chicken nuggets, Burger King’s latest menu addition might already have your attention. The chain completely revamped its nuggets promising a juicier center, crispier golden breading and more flavor in every bite.

The new Chicken Nuggets from Burger King are made with 100% white-meat chicken, better marinade and breading that’s crispier. Starting September 1, 2026, you can get them at Burger King restaurants across the country.

But you don’t have to wait to bring those flavors into your own kitchen.

This Burger King New Chicken Nuggets recipe is a homemade copycat recipe of the newly announced nuggets. The chicken breast is tender and marinated for extra flavor, then coated in seasoned crispy breading and fried to a beautiful golden color.

And since nuggets are only as good as what you dip them in, we’re also making an easy creamy savory dipping sauce inspired by the flavor profile of Burger King’s new Special Savory Sauce.

Note: This is an original copycat recipe inspired by Burger King’s new chicken nuggets. It is not Burger King’s official or proprietary recipe.

What’s New About Burger King’s Chicken Nuggets?

Burger King didn’t just launch another limited-time nugget flavor. The company went in and changed the core product.

The new nuggets contain 100% white-meat chicken and a more flavorful marinade to create a juicier bite. Burger King also modified the breading to be crispier and golden.

The changes follow feedback Burger King gathered from customers about its previous nuggets.

The company is also updating its dipping sauces. We’ve updated Honey Mustard, Buffalo and Sweet & Sour, and introduced a new limited-time Special Savory Sauce that offers creamy, tangy and slightly spicy flavors with notes of BBQ seasoning, ketchup, garlic, onion and black pepper.

The combination gave us a lot of inspiration for a homemade version.

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Chicken Nuggets Recipe

There are several reasons these homemade nuggets deserve a spot in your recipe collection.

Crunchy outside: Crispy golden crust made with seasoned coating.

Juicy inside: Marinate the chicken before coating to keep each nugget tender.

Made with real chicken breast: You know exactly what goes into your nuggets.

Family-friendly: The seasoning is tasty without being too spicy.

Freezer-friendly: Make an extra batch and freeze for later use.

Great for Dipping: Serve with savory sauce, honey mustard, BBQ sauce, ranch, or your favorite dip.

And best of all, you don’t need any fancy restaurant equipment to make them.

Ingredients for Burger King New Chicken Nuggets Copycat Recipe

For the Chicken

• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Crispy Breading

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

For Frying

• Vegetable or canola oil, as needed

How to Make Burger King New Chicken Nuggets at Home

Step 1: Cut the Chicken

Begin with skinless boneless chicken breasts.

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; cut into bite-size pieces. Try to keep the pieces about the same size so they cook evenly.

You don’t need to get perfect nugget shapes. A slightly uneven shape makes the homemade nuggets look more natural.

Step 2: Marinate the Chicken

Put the chicken pieces in a large bowl.

Add the buttermilk, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and black pepper.

Mix until all of the chicken is evenly coated.

Refrigerate the bowl, covered, for at least 30 minutes. Allow the chicken to marinate a couple of hours for more flavor.

The marinade does two things: it flavors the chicken and helps keep it juicy when it’s fried.

Step 3: Prepare the Crispy Coating

While the chicken marinates, prepare your breading.

In a shallow bowl, combine:

• Flour
• Cornstarch
• Paprika
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Baking powder

Mix everything thoroughly.

Cornstarch is especially useful here because it helps produce a lighter, crispier exterior than flour alone.

Step 4: Bread the Nuggets

Take 1 piece of chicken from the marinade, allowing excess to drip off.

Stir it into the flour mixture.

Press the coating gently around the chicken to help it stick.

Place the coated chicken on a clean plate or wire rack and repeat with the rest of the chicken.

Add a teaspoon or two of the buttermilk marinade to the flour mixture if you want a crust with extra texture and work it in between your fingers. Those little clumps will stick to the chicken and get crunchy when frying.

Step 5: Heat the Oil

Add enough oil to a heavy-bottomed pan or Dutch oven so the nuggets will fry comfortably.

Heat the oil to about 350°F (175°C).

It’s important to keep the temperature right.

The breading can become too greasy if it’s too cool and absorbs too much oil. If it’s too hot, the outside will brown before the chicken is cooked through.

Step 6: Fry Until Golden and Crispy

Gently drop a few nuggets into the hot oil.

Do not overfill the pan. Frying too many pieces at once can cause the oil temperature to drop quickly.

Deep fry the nuggets until the outside is crisp and golden and the chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

This will usually take around 3–5 minutes depending on their size.

Place the cooked nuggets on a wire rack.

Repeat until the chicken is cooked.

Easy Special Savory-Style Dipping Sauce

The Special Savory Sauce is described as creamy, tangy and lightly spicy, with flavors such as BBQ seasoning, ketchup, garlic, onion and black pepper.

We can take those flavors and use them as inspiration for a quick homemade dipping sauce.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon pickle juice or lemon juice

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.

Taste and season to taste.

Add another pinch of cayenne for more heat. If you want more tang, add a little more pickle juice or lemon juice.

Cover and chill the sauce for 20-30 minutes before serving. This gives the flavors a chance to meld.

Again, this sauce is a homemade version of Burger King’s publicly described flavor profile, not the company’s official recipe.

Tips for Extra Crispy Chicken Nuggets

The difference between average homemade nuggets and truly addictive nuggets often comes down to technique.

Use Cornstarch

Combining flour and cornstarch creates a lighter, crispier coating. Don’t skip it if you’re chasing that fast-food-style crunch.

Keep Your Oil Around 350°F

A kitchen thermometer makes frying much easier.

Allow the oil to return to temperature between batches.

Don’t Overcrowd the Pan

Cook in small batches. Giving each nugget enough room helps maintain the oil temperature and allows the coating to crisp evenly.

Use a Wire Rack

Instead of placing freshly fried nuggets directly onto paper towels, transfer them to a wire rack.

Air can circulate around the nuggets, helping the coating remain crisp.

Can I Make These Chicken Nuggets in an Air Fryer?

Yes.

They won’t taste quite like deep-fried nuggets, but an air fryer is a good alternative.

Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Arrange the breaded nuggets in a single layer, not touching. Spray nuggets lightly with cooking spray.

Air fry for 9 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.

Cooking time will depend on the thickness of your nuggets and your air fryer, so always check that the chicken is 165°F internally before serving.

Can I Bake the Nuggets?

You can also oven-bake these copycat nuggets.

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).

Arrange the nuggets on a wire basket over a baking sheet and spray with a little cooking oil.

Cook for about 15-20 minutes, turning once during cooking.

Check internal temperature before serving

The oven version will be lighter, but deep frying will get you closest to the texture of classic fast-food chicken nuggets.

What to Serve With Burger King-Style Chicken Nuggets

These crispy chicken nuggets can easily become a complete meal.

Try serving them with:

• French fries
• Onion rings
• Coleslaw
• Potato wedges
• Mac and cheese
• Side salad
• Pickles
• Sweet potato fries

For dipping sauces, try BBQ sauce, honey mustard, Buffalo sauce, ranch, sweet and sour, or the homemade savory sauce included above.

You can even create a nugget platter with several different sauces for parties or game day.

How to Store Leftover Chicken Nuggets

Allow leftover nuggets to cool completely before storing them.

Transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate promptly. For best quality, enjoy them within 3–4 days.

Avoid leaving cooked chicken at room temperature for extended periods.

How to Reheat Chicken Nuggets and Keep Them Crispy

The microwave is convenient, but it tends to soften crispy breading.

For better results, use your oven or air fryer.

Air Fryer

Reheat at 375°F for approximately 4–6 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Oven

Place the nuggets on a baking sheet and reheat at 400°F until hot and crispy.

Always ensure leftovers are heated thoroughly before eating.

Can You Freeze Homemade Chicken Nuggets?

Yes.

First, cook the nuggets and let them cool completely.

Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze until firm. Freeze and transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container.

First, freeze the nuggets separately so they don’t stick together.

Heat from frozen in an oven or air fryer until heated through and crispy.

Burger King’s New Dipping Sauce Lineup

Burger King is changing more than just the nuggets.

The restaurant is also rolling out a new selection of sauces.

The new Special Savory Sauce is a limited-time sauce that has creamy, tangy and mildly spicy flavors and is made with BBQ seasoning, ketchup, garlic, onion and black pepper.

Burger King has also updated three of its classic sauces:

Honey Mustard: creamy, sweet and tangy

Buffalo: Cayenne-forward, buttery, garlicky flavors.

Sweet & Sour: Pineapple sweetness balanced with tangy, savory flavors.

The combo gives customers a lot of different ways to customize their nuggets.

Final Thoughts

Burger King’s full commitment to rethinking its nuggets makes the Burger King New Chicken Nuggets one of the more intriguing fast-food launches of 2026.

The official version promises white-meat chicken, a juicier marinade and crisper golden breading. But if you’re more of a cook than a wait-in-line-at-the-drive-thru kind of person, this homemade copycat version brings those same ideas to your kitchen.

Juicy marinated chicken, crunchy seasoned coating and a creamy savory dipping sauce make for these nuggets perfect for dinner, parties, game day or an easy weekend treat.

And since you’re the one making them you can tweak the seasoning, crispiness, nugget size and dipping sauce to be just the way you like them.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Marinating Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: About 1 hour 5 minutes
• Servings: 4–6
• Cooking Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American / Fast-Food Copycat

Mary Johnson

Burger King New Chicken Nuggets Copycat Recipe

Crispy, juicy homemade chicken nuggets inspired by Burger King’s new chicken nuggets. Tender white-meat chicken is marinated, coated in seasoned breading, and fried until golden and crunchy.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Calories: 390

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• For the Chicken
• 1½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• For the Crispy Breading
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cornstarch
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp baking powder
• For Frying
• Vegetable or canola oil as needed

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Shallow bowl
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven
• Kitchen thermometer
• Tongs or slotted spoon
• Wire cooling rack
• Baking sheet

Method

 

1. Cut the chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into evenly sized, bite-sized nugget pieces.
   
2. Marinate: Combine buttermilk, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper. Add the chicken and coat well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
3. Prepare the breading: Mix flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and baking powder in a shallow bowl.
4. Coat the nuggets: Remove each chicken piece from the marinade, let the excess drip off, then coat thoroughly in the flour mixture.
5. Heat the oil: Heat frying oil in a heavy-bottomed pan to approximately 350°F (175°C).
6. Fry: Fry the nuggets in small batches for about 3–5 minutes, or until golden, crispy, and cooked through.
7. Check temperature: Make sure the center of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
8. Drain and serve: Transfer the nuggets to a wire rack and serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

• This is a homemade copycat recipe inspired by Burger King’s new chicken nuggets, not Burger King’s official proprietary recipe.
• Cornstarch helps create a lighter and crispier coating.
• Don’t overcrowd the frying pan because this can lower the oil temperature.
• Keep the oil close to 350°F for an evenly golden crust.
• For an air-fryer version, cook at 400°F for approximately 9–12 minutes, flipping halfway through and ensuring the chicken reaches 165°F.
• Serve with honey mustard, BBQ, Buffalo, sweet and sour, ranch, or savory dipping sauce.