Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (2024)

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There are a lot of copycat, Chick-fil-A recipes out there, but there’s none as good as this copycat Chick-fil-a Chicken Sandwich. You may not go to Chick-fil-A again after tasting this sandwich!

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (1)

Chick-fil-a is definitely my favorite fast food restaurant out there. For one, it feels like it’s healthier than other places.

When I was in second grade, I remember writing down that I wanted to work at Chick-fil-a when I grew up.

I’m sure that was mainly because my oldest sister worked there, and it just seemed so cool.

Although I outgrew the desire to work there, I still love their food.

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (2)

My kiddos love it too – whenever you ask my four-year-old what he wants to do, he’ll say, “Let’s go to Chicken-Filet!”

Can I really argue with that?!

Because it’s so delicious, it does cost more than just dropping by a McDonalds.

The other day, I was having a huge craving for it though!

So I searched and searched for recipes, and finally found this one. Along the way, however, I discovered a great debate: Does Chick-fil-a marinate their chicken in pickle juice?

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (3)

Well, I had to find out for sure, so I went to the expert – my sister, Kristalyn. Here’s what she said (sorry the first bit is cut off, it’s the best I could do):

Does Chick-fil-A Soak Their Chicken in Pickle Juice?

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (4)

So there you have it, the nuggets and original sandwich are NOT made with pickle juice, but the chargrilled and chicken strips are. However, I decided to switch things up a little bit and marinate the chicken breast in a mixture of pickle juice and a few other spices.

I added something extra to the batter as well. These sandwiches taste verysimilar to Chick-fil-a, just with a slightly new kick to them. Personally, I think they taste even better, but, of course, I’m biased!

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Best Chick-fil-A Sandwich

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (5)

INGREDIENTS:

For marinade:

  • ½ cup pickle juice
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp sugar

For Sandwiches:

  • 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 Tbsp. water
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 Tbsp. powdered sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. dry milk
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp. ground mustard
  • 1 tsp. pepper
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. Cajun seasoning
  • Peanut oil
  • 8 pickle slices
  • 4 buns
  • 3 Tbsp. Softened butter

INSTRUCTIONS:

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (6)

Put thawed chicken breasts and all the marinade ingredients in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag and shake.

Place in fridge for at least thirty minutes to let the chicken soak up the marinade.

After marinating the chicken, take it out of the fridge and cut each chicken breast in half so you have four thin slices.

Wrap in plastic wrap and pound until it is about ¼-inch thick.

Put enough peanut oil into a deep frying pan to cover the chicken (about 1 inch) and start to heat.

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (7)

In a bowl, whisk milk, water, and egg. In another dish, combine the flour, powdered sugar, dry milk, baking soda, ground mustard, pepper, salt, and Cajun seasoning.

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (8)

Dip chicken into milk mixture and cover.

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (9)

Immediately place into the next dish and coat completely.

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (10)

Shake off excess, and place in oil.

Repeat with remaining chicken breasts.

Fry in peanut oil until chicken is cooked and the coating turns a nice, golden color, about four minutes on each side.

Heat a smaller frying pan. Butter each side of the bun, and place on the pan for a very short time.

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (11)

Place chicken on buns, and top with two pickles.

Homemade Chick-fil-A Sandwich

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (12)

Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwiches

Yield: 0

Ingredients

For marinade

  • ½ cup pickle juice
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp sugar

For Sandwiches

  • 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 Tbsp. water
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 Tbsp. powdered sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. dry milk
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp. ground mustard
  • 1 tsp. pepper
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. Cajun seasoning
  • Peanut oil
  • 8 pickle slices
  • 4 buns
  • 3 Tbsp. Softened butter

Instructions

  1. Put thawed chicken breasts and all the marinade ingredients in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag and shake. Place in fridge for at least thirty minutes to let chicken soak up the marinade.
  2. After marinating chicken, take out of fridge and cut each chicken breast in half so you have four thin slices. Wrap in plastic wrap and pound until it is about ¼-inch thick.
  3. Put enough peanut oil into a deep frying pan to cover chicken (about 1-inch) and start to heat. In a bowl, whisk milk, water, and egg. In another dish, combine the flour, powdered sugar, dry milk, baking soda, ground mustard, pepper, salt, and Cajun seasoning.
  4. Dip chicken into milk mixture and cover. Immediately place into the next dish and coat completely. Shake off excess, and place in oil. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts.
  5. Fry in peanut oil until chicken is cooked and the coating turns a nice, golden color, about four minutes on each side.
  6. Heat a smaller frying pan. Butter each side of the bun, and place on the pan for a very short time. Place chicken on buns, and top with two pickles.
  7. Notes

Notes

Inspired by http://www.fromaway.com/cooking/chick-fil-a-copycat-chicken-sandwiches

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (13)
Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (14)

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (15)

Katie Clark

Katie is a Colorado-native, BYU graduated, and most importantly, wife to one and mother to three beautiful boys. She is passionate about sharing her experiences with others – especially about pregnancy, breastfeeding, cooking, and crafts. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She loves spending time with her family and helping others find joy in family life.

Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Recipe | Copycat Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in the Chick-fil-A chicken 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 the secret ingredient in Chick-fil-A 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.

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

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.

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

Many bloggers and Chick-fil-A regulars believe that the chicken breast is brined in pickle juice before it's breaded and fried. This theory makes sense, because pickle juice contains salt. This key ingredient helps carry moisture and flavor deep into the chicken in the same way it would help flavor a cucumber.

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 cook their chicken in? ›

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.

Does Chick-fil-A marinate their chicken in? ›

Before the chicken is grilled though, it is seasoned and marinated. But finding the perfect recipe wasn't easy. In fact, it took several years for the Chick-fil-A culinary team to test 1,200-plus seasoning combinations.

Are Chick-fil-A sandwiches marinated in pickle juice? ›

Yes, it's true that Chick Fil A includes pickle juice in their marinade, but it's not the sole ingredient responsible for the chicken's taste. Pickle juice serves as a flavor enhancer, adding a tangy and slightly acidic note to the chicken.

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

Real ingredients

Chick-fil-A sources real, whole, boneless breast of chicken with no added fillers, steroids or hormones, so its natural flavor shines. We're committed to serving chicken with No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM).

Does Chick-fil-A marinate their chicken in sugar? ›

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 season their chicken? ›

The seasoning mix is the only thing that Chick-fil-A confirms goes into the chicken recipe—besides a milk and egg wash that keeps the breading in place. However, for years the internet has speculated that Chick-fil-A's chicken is marinated in pickle juice to give it its signature flavor.

Why does Chick-fil-A grilled chicken taste so good? ›

The secret to the tender meat and delicious flavor also lies in Chick-fil-A's proprietary marinade of lemon, sea salt, garlic, and herbs. Another interesting fact: Grilled Nuggets are one of the healthiest and lowest-calorie options on the menu. (They're also keto-friendly, according to the company.)

What does soaking chicken in pickle juice do? ›

Why marinate chicken in pickle juice? Marinating your chicken in pickle juice is the same as creating a brine for it. The pickle juice helps keep moisture in so it's super tender when cooked and doesn't dry out.

Why is Chick-fil-A chicken so expensive? ›

Rising costs of ingredients, packaging and transportation due to inflation added to supply disruptions, Aaron Anderson, the CEO and founder of franchise consulting firm Axxeum Partners, told Newsweek. "Higher menu prices can lead to reduced frequency of visits or spending per visit by consumers," Anderson said.

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 healthiest chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-A? ›

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

If you want to keep things healthy while ordering at Chick-fil-A, one trick is to “go grilled.” “It's made with a boneless breast of chicken, marinated in a blend of seasonings and grilled for a tender and juicy backyard-grilled taste,” said Mohr.

Are chicken sandwiches healthy from Chick-fil-A? ›

Many of the most popular items at Chick-fil-A, such as breaded chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, and potato chips, are high in calories, fat, carbohydrates, and sodium. But the chain also offers several grilled chicken options, which are lower in calories and fat.

Does Chick-fil-A use MSG in their chicken sandwiches? ›

When it was publicized that Chick-Fil-A uses MSG, people got upset. The popular fried chicken chain Chick-Fil-A is in hot water this week after somebody read the ingredients list and learned that the tasty breading contains, horror of horrors, monosodium glutamate. (That's MSG.)

Is Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich breaded? ›

Many of our menu items are hand-prepared daily, right in our restaurant kitchens. For example, the chicken breast we use to make our sandwiches, strips and nuggets is breaded by hand; it never comes to us as a pre-breaded nugget that needs to be reheated.

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