I Asked 4 Chefs for Their Favorite Fast Food Chicken Nuggets, and McDonald’s Didn’t Make the Cut

If you poke around the Allrecipes archives, you’ll quickly discover that our love for all things chicken nuggets didn’t fade one bit after childhood. Whether it’s whipping up dishes like Homemade Chicken Nuggets, restaurant-style Spicy Chicken Nuggets, or Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, these recipes keep us feeling like kids at heart. Let’s not forget the irresistible worlds of chicken fingers and tenders, either.

But we’re not always in the mood to DIY, and when cravings strike, we’re not above hitting the drive-thru. With nearly every fast-food joint offering some form of fried chicken pieces, how’s a nugget enthusiast to choose? We called in reinforcements—four chefs with strong opinions on the subject. Here’s what they look for in the ultimate chicken nugget and which chains deliver.

Meet the Chicken Nugget-Savvy Chefs

• Dominic Iannarelli, chef-owner of Prime & Providence in West Des Moines, Iowa
• Leslie Rohland, chef-owner of The Cottage Cafe and The Juice Hive in Bluffton, South Carolina
• Peter Som, a New York City-based award-winning fashion designer, culinary creator, lifestyle expert, and the author of the upcoming cookbook “Family Style”
• Jenner Tomaska, executive chef and co-owner of Esmé and Bar Esmé in Chicago, Illinois

What Makes a Perfect Chicken Nugget?

As we mentioned in our team’s fast food chicken nugget taste test, nuggets generally fall into two categories. Ground meat nuggets, like those from Burger King, Wendy’s, and McDonald’s, are made from puréed chicken mixed with seasonings and binders before being shaped, battered, and fried. In contrast, whole meat nuggets—offered by other spots like Shake Shack and KFC—use pieces of whole chicken breast, cut into bites or strips, then battered or breaded to create something more akin to what we might make in our own kitchens.

Turns out, the chefs unanimously agree: whole meat nuggets are superior. Here’s what they say makes the best nuggets stand out:

• Whole pieces of chicken. “Nuggets made from whole chicken breast instead of processed meat in the shape of a ‘nugget’ is always going to be the better option, in my opinion,” says Som. Iannarelli also strongly prefers “real whole muscle meat for better texture than a paste.” Rohland agrees, noting that ground meat nuggets can seem like “soggy, droopy dollops of ‘chicken.’”
• Moist meat. “Nuggets must be hot, crunchy on the outside, yet moist in the middle,” says Rohland. Som points out that “dry chicken in a nugget is no-go” and is usually the result of overcooking or poor quality meat.
• Crunchy coating. The coating-to-meat ratio matters. “Chicken nuggets should have the right balance of breading to meat,” Iannarelli notes, adding that he prefers country-style batter over a crumb coating. Som emphasizes the importance of a thin, non-greasy coating: “Thick breading is a bummer. You want a thin, crispy coating that enrobes the chicken.” He also points out that greasy nuggets are usually due to improper frying techniques.
• Ample seasoning. Great nuggets get most of their flavor from the breading. Som says, “The seasoning has to be on point: not too salty, but with enough spices and other flavorings to complement the meat and all the sauces.”

The Best Fast Food Chicken Nuggets, According to Chefs

When it comes to fast food nuggets, all the chefs we surveyed favor chains that specialize in chicken. Here are their top picks:

1. Chick-fil-A Nuggets

Topping the list with two votes, Chick-fil-A Nuggets are a chef favorite. “They’re real chicken and actually taste like chicken,” Rohland says. “They’re perfectly fried, light, and airy.” Tomaska praises their breading-to-chicken ratio as “perfection.”

Described by the chain as “bite-sized pieces of boneless chicken breast, seasoned to perfection, freshly breaded and pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil,” these nuggets are a signature menu item alongside Chick-fil-A’s chicken sandwiches and waffle fries.

Grilled Nuggets are also on the menu, ideal as a salad topping, but Tomaska suggests sticking to the classic breaded version for the full experience.

2. Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

Iannarelli’s favorite, Raising Cane’s focuses exclusively on chicken. “This is really the only menu item at Raising Cane’s, so they excel at it!” he says. The chicken is marinated for 24 hours, battered, and cooked to order. “They’re made with whole muscle meat and offer the perfect coating-to-meat ratio,” Iannarelli adds. These chicken fingers are available in orders as small as one and as large as 100.

3. Popeyes Chicken Tenders

The winner of our fast food crispy chicken sandwich taste test also earns top marks from Som. “I’m a fan of Popeye’s. Chicken is what they do, so they’ve really got their nuggets down,” he explains. According to the Popeyes team, whole chicken tenders are marinated in Louisiana herbs and seasonings, coated in a buttermilk batter, then breaded in a crunchy Southern coating before being fried. “The buttermilk batter is full of flavor, and the meat is always juicy,” Som adds.

The Best Dipping Sauces for Chicken Nuggets

Since no nugget experience is complete without a sauce, we asked the chefs for their favorites.

• Barbecue: A classic choice, according to Tomaska and Rohland. (We’ve tried them all.)
• Honey Mustard: “The tang and sweetness bring some acidity to the party,” says Som.
• Ranch: For a smooth, herbaceous companion, Rohland recommends this popular pick.
• Cane’s Sauce: Iannarelli calls this creamy, Thousand Island Dressing-style sauce “top-notch.”
• Popeye’s Sweet Heat: “The balance of sweet and spicy with that perfect dipping consistency is a very satisfying bite,” says Som.