January 24, 2024
Review RecipeFried Chicken Sandwich
Table of Contents
This fried chicken sandwich features seasoned breading wrapped around juicy chicken on a sweet toasted brioche bun. Add all of your favorite sandwich toppings and a tasty side dish, and you’ve got a yummy meal.
Fried Chicken Sandwich Ingredients
Marinated in buttermilk, hot sauce, and pickle juice, the chicken is tender and tangy, while a seasoned flour coating adds savory, smoky, and subtly spicy notes.
Served on a buttered, toasted brioche bun with dill pickle slices and Chick-fil-A Sauce, this sandwich is the perfect blend of creamy, tangy, and crispy elements.
You’ll need:
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 ounces each)
- 2 cups of buttermilk
- 2 dashes of Cholula or Tabasco hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons of dill pickle juice
- 1½ cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of coarse sea salt
- 1 teaspoon of coarse black pepper
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- ¾ teaspoon of onion powder
- vegetable oil or shortening for frying (at least 4 cups)
- 6 brioche hamburger buns
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, softened
- Dill pickle slices (for serving)
- 1 recipe Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce
PRO TIP:
Brioche buns are soft and rich to complement the fried chicken, but you can also use hamburger buns or other sandwich buns.
Substitutions And Additions
BUTTERMILK: You can make your own buttermilk using whole or 2% milk and lemon juice or distilled vinegar.
For every one cup of milk, stir in one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.
SPICY: You can add a little extra kick to your crispy chicken burger by adding more hot sauce to the buttermilk mixture and a bit of cayenne pepper to the flour mixture.
Try a little bit of spicy mayo as a condiment on top of the chicken for a kick as well.
CHICKEN BREASTS: If you prefer dark meat or have bone-in chicken thighs handy, go ahead and use them.
Just ensure they are cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure they’re safe to eat.
Thighs can offer a slightly richer flavor compared to chicken breasts.
FLOUR COATING: Don’t hesitate to get creative with the flour mixture. Add a pinch of smoked paprika for a smoky depth, or swap out the paprika for cayenne for extra heat.
A touch of garlic powder can also provide a subtle savory boost. You can even try using seasoned breadcrumbs for an extra crunchy texture.
BRIOCHE BUNS: While brioche buns add a touch of sweetness and richness, you can use other types of buns or bread to suit your preference.
Try ciabatta for a rustic texture or whole wheat buns for a healthier option. Gluten-free buns work for those with dietary restrictions.
CHICK-FIL-A SAUCE: If you don’t have the ingredients on hand to make the copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce, consider using your favorite condiments.
Honey mustard, ranch dressing, or a zesty aioli can all complement the flavors of the sandwich nicely.
How To Make This Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Let’s walk through the easy steps for coating the chicken in the breading and frying it to perfection.
STEP ONE: Use a meat mallet to pound the chicken breasts between two sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap until they are a half inch thick.
Slice the chicken breasts in half to make two smaller pieces.
STEP TWO In a bowl, stir together the buttermilk, hot sauce, and pickle juice. Place the chicken into the buttermilk mixture and leave it to soak while preparing the next steps.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
The longer you let the chicken marinate in the buttermilk, the juicier your chicken will be.
STEP THREE: Whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder in a shallow small bowl.
STEP FOUR: Heat oil in a Dutch oven. Make sure the oil is at least four inches deep, preferably six inches or more.
Heat the oil to 350°F. The oil takes 15 minutes or so to heat to temperature.
Use a candy or food thermometer to check the temperature. It must be the correct temperature before frying the chicken.
PRO TIP:
For perfectly fried chicken pieces, be sure they are not too thick (pound to ½-inch). Maintain a decent depth of oil and the proper oil temperature for best results.
STEP FIVE: Remove the chicken pieces from the buttermilk mixture, and dip the chicken into the flour mixture, coating both sides.
Then dunk each side once more into the buttermilk and back into the flour mixture — two full coats of buttermilk, then flour.
PRO TIP:
For a lighter coating, you can just dip the chicken straight from the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture, but you don’t get anywhere near the same thick, crispy coating that you will if you do a second round of buttermilk and flour.
STEP SIX: Carefully drop one piece of chicken at a time into hot oil and fry on both sides until cooked through. The center should reach 165°F.
The outside should be deep golden brown and crispy.
Maintain the temp of the oil at 350°F for best results. The chicken cooks up in about five minutes.
STEP SEVEN: Place the cooked chicken on a paper towel or brown paper bags to soak up the excess oil.
STEP EIGHT: Meanwhile, prepare the buns. Open up each bun and lay it face up on a cookie sheet.
Spread a bit of butter over each bun. Broil for two to three minutes or until buns just begin getting toasty.
STEP NINE: To serve, place several pickles on the bottom half of a toasted bun. Top with a piece of fried chicken, Chick-fil-A sauce, and the top bun.
STEP TEN: Serve these super-crispy fried chicken sandwiches immediately.
How To Serve
Serve the best fried chicken sandwiches with a side of classic coleslaw and macaroni pasta salad.
I also love dunking my fried chicken sandwiches into this chicken finger dipping sauce (trust me, it’s awesome).
Make a batch of our air fryer fried chicken or popcorn chicken for more crispy fried chicken choices.
MORE SANDWICH RECIPES
Storage
Once you’ve enjoyed your homemade fried chicken sandwich, you’ll want to know how to store any leftovers or prepare ahead for future cravings.
MAKE AHEAD: If you’re planning to make your fried chicken sandwiches ahead of time, you can prepare the chicken and coating mixture in advance and store them separately.
Marinate the chicken in the buttermilk and hot sauce mixture, and keep it refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.
When you’re ready to serve, simply dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour and fry it up for a fresh and crispy sandwich.
IN THE FRIDGE: Store your crispy chicken in an airtight container for two to three days. The fried coating is best right after cooking.
IN THE FREEZER: We don’t recommend freezing this fried chicken as the breading will lose its crispness.
REHEATING: To restore the crispy goodness of your fried chicken, you have a few options.
If you have a toaster oven, use it to reheat the chicken at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes.
Alternatively, you can use your regular oven at the same temperature, placing the chicken on a baking sheet to warm it through for approximately 15-20 minutes.
For a quick fix, the microwave is an option, though it won’t be as crispy.
Place the chicken on a microwave-safe plate, cover it with a damp paper towel, and heat in 20 to 30-second intervals until it’s warmed to your liking.
Why We Love This Recipe
CRISPY PERFECTION: This recipe delivers a fried chicken sandwich with an irresistibly crispy coating that encapsulates tender, juicy chicken.
FLAVORFUL MARINADE: The buttermilk and hot sauce marinade not only tenderizes the chicken but also infuses it with a delightful tangy and slightly spicy flavor.
Even better than take-out, make this buttermilk fried chicken sandwich recipe at home for an irresistible meal. Loaded with spices, the breading is out-of-this-world delicious, and the chicken is incredibly moist and juicy.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s quite easy to fry chicken at home. Make sure you have a deep pot or Dutch oven, a candy thermometer, and a metal slotted spoon.
Classic sides for these tasty fried chicken sandwiches include macaroni salad and coleslaw.
Vegetable oil, canola oil, and peanut oil are the best choices for making fried chicken. Olive oil doesn’t have a high enough smoke point for frying.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Zinger Burger
- Chicken Roll-Ups
- Dill Pickle Chex Mix
- Onion Burger
- Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Refrigerator Pickles
- Tomato Sandwich
- Cheeseburger Quesadilla
- The Best Burger
- Cucumber Sandwiches
- Peanut Butter Chicken
- Cheeseburger Pie
- Egg Salad Sandwich
- Baked Hamburgers
- Onion Rings
- Crack Slaw
- Ranch Roll Ups
- Spinach and Artichoke Grilled Cheese
Fried Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless (6 ounces each)
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 dashes Cholula hot sauce, or Tabasco hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- 4 cups vegetable oil or shortening for frying
- 6 brioche hamburger buns
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, softened
- dill pickles, for serving
- 1 recipe Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce link for sauce here
Instructions
- Use a meat mallet to pound the chicken breasts between two sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap until they are ½ inch thick. Slice the chicken breasts in half to make two smaller pieces.
- In a bowl, stir together the buttermilk, hot sauce, and pickle juice. Place the chicken into the buttermilk mixture and leave to soak while preparing the next steps.
- Whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder in a shallow bowl.
- Heat oil (at least 4 inches deep, preferably 6 inches or more) in a Dutch oven. Heat the oil to 350°F. The oil takes 15 minutes or so to heat to temperature. Use a candy or food thermometer to check the temperature. It must be the correct temperature before frying the chicken.
- Remove the chicken pieces from the buttermilk mixture, dip into the flour mixture, coating both sides. Then dunk each side once more into the buttermilk and back into the flour mixture — two full coats of buttermilk then flour.
- Carefully drop one chicken piece at a time into heated oil and fry on both sides until cooked through (the center should reach 165°F). The outside should be deep golden brown and crispy. Maintain an oil temperature of 350°F for best results. The chicken cooks up in about 5 minutes.
- Place cooked chicken on paper towels or brown paper bags to soak up excess oil.
- Meanwhile, prepare buns. Open up each bun and lay it face up on a cookie sheet. Spread a bit of butter over each bun. Broil for 2 to 3 minutes or until buns just begins getting toasty.
- To serve, place several pickles on the bottom half of a bun. Top with a piece of fried chicken, Chick-fil-A sauce, and the top bun.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Brioche buns are soft and rich to complement the fried chicken, but you can also use hamburger buns or other sandwich buns.
- The longer you let the chicken marinate in the buttermilk, the juicier your chicken will be.
- For perfectly fried chicken pieces, be sure they are not too thick (pound to ½-inch). Maintain a decent depth of oil and the proper oil temperature for best results.
- For a lighter coating, you can just dip the chicken straight from the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture, but you don’t get anywhere near the same thick, crispy coating that you will if you do a second round of buttermilk and flour.
Comments
Gloria says
Always a big hit for our family!
Kathy says
Very good