What’s in This Chick Fil A Copycat Sandwich?
This copycat Chick Fil A sandwich tastes just like the real thing and is available on Sunday! What’s not to love?!
Chicken: We like boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you could also use thighs. Marinade: milk, dill pickle juice, and lemon juice make up the marinade for the chicken. In place of the milk and lemon juice, you could use buttermilk. Egg: Helps the coating to stick to the chicken. Flour: All-purpose flour forms the coating for the chicken. Sugar: Powdered sugar adds a bit of sweetness to the coating without adding grittiness. Seasonings: Salt, paprika, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder make up the perfect seasoning blend. Oil: We think peanut oil is the perfect oil for frying. If air frying, you can use a peanut oil cooking spray or brush the chicken with peanut oil. Buns: We love a hamburger bun for this type of fried chicken sandwich. Pickles: Dill pickle slices are perfect topping for these sandwiches. Sauce: Make a homemade Chick Fil A sauce with a combination of mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, honey, yellow mustard, and lemon juice!
Variations on a Copycat Chick Fil A Chicken Sandwich
We already love the classic Chick Fil A sandwich, so why not make it spicy? For the chicken seasonings, we like to add cayenne powder. For the sauce, we add either cayenne powder or a drizzle of our favorite hot sauce.
How to Store and Reheat
We always recommend storing the chicken, buns, and toppings for these copycat Chick Fil A sandwiches separately. Store the crispy chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes, until warmed through, then assemble the sandwiches as desired.
How to Freeze
We do not recommend freezing copycat Chick Fil A chicken sandwiches whole; however, you can absolutely freeze the fried chicken. Place the chicken in an airtight container to freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Notes from the Test Kitchen
If you’re a little nervous that the chicken may not be cooked through all the way, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. If it reads at least 165°F, the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat.
How to Make a Copycat Chick Fil A Sandwich Step by Step
Prep the Chicken: Place each of 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and set on a cutting board. Use a meat mallet to pound them to ½-inch thickness. In a large plastic zipper bag, add ½ cup milk, ½ cup of dill pickle juice, and ¼ cup of lemon juice. Seal and shake, then add chicken. Place in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 30 minutes. Drain well. Coat the Chicken: In a shallow baking dish, whisk together the remaining 1 cup of milk and 1 large egg. In a Ziplock bag, combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, 1 teaspoon of ground paprika, 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon of onion powder, and ½ teaspoon of garlic powder. Seal and shake well. Place the chicken in the bag and shake to coat. Dredge each piece through the egg-milk mixture, then return it to the bag and coat well. Shake the excess flour off of each piece and allow them to rest on a metal cooling rack. To Fry: Heat 1 cup of peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook until evenly golden and crispy, about 5-6 minutes, flipping once. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. To Air Fry: Spray the inside of an air fryer basket with cooking oil, then preheat it to 350°F. Place chicken in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed. Lightly spray the chicken with cooking oil. Air fry the chicken for 6 minutes. Carefully flip the chicken, spray with additional cooking oil, and fry for 6 more minutes. Increase the temperature of the air fryer to 400°F. Continue cooking for 8 minutes, until the chicken is crispy and 165°F internally. Make the Sauce: Use a whisk or fork to mix ¼ cup of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of barbecue sauce, 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 teaspoons of yellow mustard, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice together in a small bowl. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Assemble the Sandwiches: Place a piece of chicken on each of 4 hamburger buns. Top with sauce, dill pickle slices, and any other toppings you desire.
More Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipes We Love
Fried Chicken Sandwich Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich Fried Buffalo Chicken Sandwich Beer Battered Chicken Sandwich
Note: This recipe is one of those few exceptions on our site that has more than 10 ingredients. We try to keep things VERY easy around here, and limiting ingredients and time spent is one of our favorite ways. That being said, this recipe is too delicious to leave out of our recipe box! It’s an exception that is so flavorful and worth the extra ingredients if you have the time and resources to make it.
