Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwich recipe (2024)

Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwiches are every bit as tender and juicy as the original. Chicken is brined in pickle juice, dredged in an egg mixture and coated in seasoned flour-breading before being fried in peanut oil.

Never stand in a fast food line again after tasting this amazing copycat Chick-fil-A sandwich. Serve withfried mashed potato balls, sweet potato fries, or aMediterranean pasta salad.

Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwich recipe (1)

Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwich

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How to Make a Chick-fil-A Sandwich

Copycat Chick-fil-A may seem like a somewhat elaborate sandwich to prepare, but it’s actually quite easy and the results are so worth it! It requires brining skinless boneless chicken cutlets for about an hour, then coating in a seasoned flour-breading before deep-frying in peanut oil.

  1. Brine the pounded chicken breasts in pickle juice for about an hour.
  2. Mix eggs & milk in bowl and flour, sugar and seasonings in another.
  3. Dredge chicken in egg mixture, then coat in seasoned flour breading.
  4. Fry each side until golden and browned.

Let rest on a paper towel to absorb any extra oil from frying. Then serve on lightly toasted hamburger buns, with the toppings of your choice.

Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwich recipe (2)

What Is On It?

Copycat Chick-fil-A sandwiches are served on broiler-toasted hamburger buns with sliced pickles. You can also include a slice of American cheese, tomatoes or leaf lettuce according to your preference.

Mayonnaise is the classic condiment for a Chick-fil-A sandwich, but here’s where you can get creative. Top with honey mustard, Heinz 57 sauce, or ketchup.

A simple and delicious spread can be made by mixing a ½ cup of mayonnaise with 1 ½ tablespoons of Dijon mustard. Thousand Island dressing is also delicious on this sandwich.

Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwich recipe (3)

How to Reheat a Chick-fil-A Sandwich

Refrigerate your copycat chicken sandwich (if there are any leftovers) but to enjoy this classic chicken sandwich fully, it should be served hot!

  • For best results, reheat the chicken portion in a hot oven to crisp up the coating.
  • Avoid using the microwave to heat because it will just make the coating soggy and toughen the chicken.
  • Top with pickles or your favorite toppings and serve on lightly toasted hamburger buns!

Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwich recipe (4)

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Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwich recipe (5)

4.88 from 57 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwich recipe

This Copycat Chick-fil-A recipe is a delicious homemade sandwich that the entire family will love!

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Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 4 minutes minutes

Marinade 1 hour hour

Total Time 24 minutes minutes

Author Holly

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts boneless skinless
  • ½ cup dill pickle juice
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoon powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon celery salt
  • ½ teaspoon basil
  • 1 cup peanut oil for frying
  • 4 buns buttered and toasted
  • pickle slices for topping!

Instructions

  • Put chicken in zip top bag and pound gently with the flat side of a mallet until about 1/2" thick.

  • Cut each breast into 2 equal pieces. Marinate chicken in the pickle juice for about an hour.

  • Beat together egg and milk in a bowl.

  • Mix together the flour, sugar, and spices in another bowl.

  • Heat the oil in a skillet to about 350°F.

  • Dip each chicken piece into the egg covering both sides, then coat in flour on each side.

  • Fry each chicken piece for 2 minutes on each side, or until golden and cooked through.

  • Place on paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Then serve on toasted buns with pickle slices.

4.88 from 57 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 1269mg | Potassium: 288mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 445IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 12.1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Sandwich

Cuisine American

©The Shortcut Kitchen. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

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Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwich recipe (6)

Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwich recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in Chick-fil-A chicken? ›

That ingredient is monosodium glutamate, more commonly known as MSG. While many people think MSG is only found in Chinese (or Americanized Chinese) cuisine, it's prevalent in dozens of all types of food items, including snacks like Doritos and powder mixes like Hidden Valley's ranch dressing.

What is the ingredient in the Chick-fil-A sandwich that gives it more flavor? ›

While MSG is present in some of our menu offerings as a flavor enhancer, we also offer a variety of options that do not contain added MSG. To help our customers make informed decisions, we provide ingredient statements on the Chick-fil-A app or on your local restaurant's menu page.

What does Chick-fil-A use to marinate their chicken? ›

Chick-fil-A's secret to juicy chicken lies in their bringing process. Brining is the process of soaking meat in a solution of salt, sugar, and water. This helps to tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor. Before cooking it, Chick-fil-A soaks its chicken in a solution of salt, sugar, and milk for up to 24 hours.

Does Chick-fil-A use pickle juice in their batter? ›

There are two crucial ingredients chick-fil-a uses that most recipes dont have- pickle juice and sugar. They also use MSG- but its also ok without it if you dont like it. Just cut up the breasts into chunks and follow recipe for nuggets.

What are the ingredients in a Chick-fil-A sandwich? ›

A boneless breast of chicken seasoned to perfection, freshly breaded, pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil and served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips, green leaf lettuce, tomato and American cheese. Also available on a multigrain bun.

What is in the breading at Chick-fil-A? ›

INGREDIENTS: Chicken (containing up to 8-16% solution of: water, salt, sodium phosphates, cultured nonfat milk, cornstarch, salt, Vitamin A palmitate, Vitamin D3), enriched bleached flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), corn starch, dehydrated garlic, dehydrated onion, ...

Why do Chick-fil-A sandwiches taste so good? ›

Ultimately, the Chick-fil-A menu team chose a seasoning with simple ingredients: a blend of sea salt, lemon, garlic and savoury herbs. Once the grilled chicken is cooked, it's placed on a toasted multigrain bun with green leaf lettuce and tomato for the Grilled Chicken Sandwich.

Why are Chick-fil-A sandwiches so wet? ›

Using pickle juice to tenderize meat

Pork, turkey and, of course, chicken breast can soak in this zesty brine to pick up a moist texture and some dill flavor from pickling spices. So whether it's for sandwiches, nuggets or fried chicken, save the pickle juice for an extra-tender treat. Courtesy Chick-fil-A, Inc.

How is Chick-fil-A sandwich made? ›

While it seems simple – just a lightly breaded chicken breast with two pickles between a toasted bun – every part of the Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich is truly an original. And it all goes back to its creation more than 50 years ago.

Does Chick-fil-A use pickle juice to marinate their chicken? ›

Despite internet rumors that led me and countless other foodies to think otherwise, several Chick-fil-A-philes (and anonymous employees) have debunked the idea that the key to their chicken bites and chicken sandwiches is a pickle brine.

Does Chick-fil-A soak their chicken in peanut oil? ›

Does Chick-fil-A use peanut oil? Ever since our founder Truett Cathy created the Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich, we've been cooking our hand-breaded chicken exclusively in fully refined, heat-processed peanut oil.

What does pickle brine do to chicken? ›

While brining chicken doesn't make it safe to eat in the same way adding acid to fish to make a ceviche might, much of what happens to the protein on a microscopic level looks awfully familiar. Sodium chloride-rich pickle brine unravels the alpha helix of the chicken protein in a process called denaturing.

What brand of pickles does Chick-fil-A use on their sandwiches? ›

Chick-fil-A's pickles come from one source and one source only: Bay Valley Foods of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

What kind of lemon juice does Chick-fil-A use? ›

According to the Stockpiling Moms blog, a clever lemonade fan obtained the secret recipe while visiting the Chick-fil-A corporate offices and Chick-Fil-A uses only Sunkist brand lemons. That detail was confirmed by Chick-fil-A's own site The Chicken Wire.

Does Chick-fil-A soak their chicken in pickles? ›

Although Chick-fil-A doesn't use pickle juice in their brine, you can make homemade fried-chicken sandwiches with your own Claussen-infused brine for a juicy, zesty sandwich that rivals Chick-fil-A's award-winning brine.

What's the secret to Chick-fil-A? ›

It's a chicken fillet dipped in an egg and milk wash, hand-breaded and cooked in a pressure cooker. It's served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickles, so what seasons it? Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy came up with the secret it in the 1960s, and more than 50 years later, the recipe remains unchanged!

How does Chick-fil-A make their chicken so moist? ›

Originally Answered: How does Chick-Fil-A make their chicken so tender? They brine it in a mixture of pickle juice and other ingredients. That helps break down the bonds in the chicken making it oh so juicy and tender.

Why does Chick-fil-A chicken taste different? ›

One Reddit user, who claims to be a former Chick-fil-A manager, says the chicken is marinated in pickle juice and then quickly dipped in buttermilk before breading. If that's the case, it would certainly make sense because Chick-fil-A's chicken does have a slightly tangy, vinegary flavor to it.

Is Chick-fil-A chicken real or processed? ›

Our chicken is raised in barns (not cages), on farms in the United States, in accordance with our Animal Wellbeing Standards, and with No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM). * No artificial or added hormones are used in the production of any poultry in the United States.

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