Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Copycat Recipe Easy Crispy Juicy at Home
A copycat recipe for the iconic Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich that is crispy, juicy, and easy to make at home with simple ingredients and a perfect brine.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes active prep plus 30 minutes brining
- Cook Time: 10 minutes frying plus 5 minutes to toast buns and assemble
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 2 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butterflied or pounded to even thickness
- ½ cup pickle juice (or substitute with mild vinegar like apple cider vinegar with a pinch of sugar)
- 1 cup milk or buttermilk (whole milk or buttermilk preferred)
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (190g) or gluten-free flour blend
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- Peanut oil or vegetable oil (enough for frying, about 2 inches deep)
- 2 brioche or sandwich buns, buttered and toasted
- 4–6 dill pickle slices
Instructions
- Butterfly or pound chicken breasts to about ½ inch thickness.
- In a bowl, mix milk or buttermilk with pickle juice. Submerge chicken and brine in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- In a shallow dish, whisk together flour, powdered sugar, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne.
- Remove chicken from brine, letting excess drip off. Dredge each piece in seasoned flour, dip briefly back into milk mixture, then dredge again in flour for a double coating.
- Heat oil in a cast iron skillet to 350°F (175°C) to a depth of about 2 inches.
- Fry chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Transfer chicken to a wire rack to drain excess oil and keep crispy.
- Melt butter in a clean skillet and toast buns cut-side down until golden and slightly crispy.
- Assemble sandwich by placing chicken breast on bottom bun, adding pickle slices, then topping with the bun crown.
Notes
Do not skip the pickle juice brine for juiciness. Double dip the chicken for extra crispy crust. Maintain oil temperature at 350°F to avoid greasy or burnt crust. Drain chicken on wire rack, not paper towels, to keep crust crisp. Butter toast buns to prevent sogginess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 38
Keywords: Chick-fil-A, chicken sandwich, copycat recipe, crispy chicken, fried chicken sandwich, homemade chicken sandwich