Copycat recipes of chain restaurant favorites have become big business online, and few brands’ ingredients have been subject to as much scrutiny as Chick-fil-A. There are a few different reasons this trend has taken off. First, people like to save money, and doing things like making copycat Starbucks drinks at home is a great way to get your fix at more reasonable prices. But with some chains like Chick-fil-A, there is also the mystery of just how they make such simple pieces of chicken taste so good. Compared to heavily battered or seasoned chicken rivals like Popeye’s and KFC, Chick-fil-A’s sandwiches and nuggets seem extremely basic, with little coating that lacks any discernible crunch. But the juicy meat and deep flavor the chain squeezes out of its chicken is undeniable, leading to the inevitable question: What is its secret to that unique taste profile? Well, some internet experimenters believe it is powdered sugar.
You might be surprised, but if the modern age of processed food has taught us anything, it’s that sugar can help anything taste better, even if you aren’t looking for it to be that sweet. Chick-fil-A’s nutrition facts for its chicken nuggets show sugar as an ingredient, and a slew of internet chefs have determined that the type of sugar that comes closest to making nuggets taste like Chick-fil-A is powdered sugar.
Powdered sugar gives an unexpected flavor boost to nuggets
The powdered sugar (or confectioners sugar) is actually a pretty simple addition to any Chick-fil-A-style nuggets you want to make, as it just gets added to dredge the nuggets get tossed in before frying. It doesn’t take much either, just a tablespoon for every 1 to 2 pounds of chicken. It’s a great example of how sugar can help boost the taste of food. Like salt or acid, sugar can balance the taste of savory cooking, add depth, and boost other flavors in a recipe.
Over the years, there have been numerous rumors as to what makes Chick-fil-A’s chicken taste unique. The long-told rumor that the chain used a pickle brine does not appear to be true, but one flavor booster it does use is MSG. Combine the savory-boosting umami kick of MSG with salt and the sweetness of powdered sugar, and you have a real 1-2-3 punch of balanced flavor.
Finally, Chick-fil-A nuggets are not fried in any old oil, but the Southern favorite peanut oil, which also lends a distinct taste to the chicken. None of these ingredients may be revolutionary, but the combination shows how the key to getting so much out of a relatively bland thing like a chicken breast involves adding as much flavor at every step of the process. You may not be able to make a perfect Chick-fil-A nugget at home, but with powdered sugar, MSG, and peanut oil, you’ll still make something delicious.
