Crispy Chicken Sandwich

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If you crave a Chick-Fil-A original chicken sandwich but feel inspired to make your own, stick around to learn how to fry the perfect Crispy Chicken Sandwich in a dutch oven!

It is the best-fried chicken sandwich recipe!

Each piece of chicken is first tenderized in a buttermilk marinade and then coated in a seasoned flour batter to be fried in the Dutch oven.

The crispy chicken fillet is served on a toasted bun with crisp lettuce, sliced tomato, dill pickles, and spicy mayonnaise! 

If you love our Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken Roll-Ups, you’ll love these Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwiches.

My husband said this breaded chicken sandwich is one of his favorite Chicken Recipes, and it is one of my favorite Copycat Restaurant Recipes.

Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Why This Recipe Works
• Ingredients
• How To Make Crispy Chicken Sandwiches
• Recipe Tips
• Variations
• What To Serve With a Crispy Chicken Sandwich
• FAQS
• How Should I Store Leftover Crispy Chicken Sandwiches?
• Is This Crispy Chicken Sandwich Gluten-Free?
• Could I Fry The Chicken In An Air Fryer Instead?
• How Do I Know If My Chicken Is Fully Cooked?
• Can I Make Crispy Chicken Sandwiches Ahead of Time?
• Recipe
• Reviews

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Budget-friendly: This Fried Chicken Sandwich recipe uses everyday ingredients – great for a weekday family meal or when you're trying to watch your pennies but still want the best flavor and texture. 

Family Favorite: This Crispy Chicken Sandwich recipe is loved by kids and adults alike, even the pickiest eaters! It's unlikely that you'll have any leftovers with this delicious sandwich. 

Contrasting Textures: This Homemade Chicken Sandwich has tender, juicy chicken on the inside, a crunchy batter on the outside, and crispy salad toppings, toasted buns, and creamy mayo…absolutely mouth-watering!

Quick and Easy: You can have crispy chicken sandwiches ready to serve your family or guests in under an hour from start to finish! Pair it with a Frosted Lemonade and everyone will be happy.

Why This Recipe Works

Easy. You can easily follow along with my simple step-by-step recipe instructions with photos to ensure that you end up making the best-tasting crispy chicken sandwiches ever!  

Helpful Tips. Recipe tips and questions have been added for your convenience, particularly helpful if you've never made oven-fried chicken sandwiches before. 

Variations. I've included recipe variations and suggestions on adapting this crispy chicken sandwich recipe as a helpful guide and inspiration for your own cooking efforts!

Serving Suggestions. Serving suggestions are listed below should you want to pair your crispy chicken sandwich with delicious side dishes that will easily bulk up the meal – great if you are serving a larger crowd. 

Tried and True. I've been making crispy chicken sandwiches with various types of fillings for the family for quite some time which means that you can trust that I'm guiding you through tried and true techniques and processes. 

Ingredients

Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don't have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.

• Buttermilk. You can make your own buttermilk by adding 4 teaspoons of vinegar to the 1 ½ cups of milk, allowing it to stand for 2 to 3 minutes before using.  
• Chicken breasts. Cut the breasts in half horizontally and pound them out to even thickness and size. You can also use chicken thigh meat instead if you like. 
• All-purpose flour. You can use gluten-free flour instead if you want the fried chicken to be gluten-free. 
• Cornstarch. This helps to create extra crispy chicken. 
• Baking powder. I've used baking powder in this recipe as it thickens the batter a bit, producing a delicious crispier coating. 
• Garlic Powder / Garlic salt. You can use garlic salt, or if you prefer, use garlic powder and then add salt separately better to control the amount of salt in the recipe.
• Onion powder 
• Smoked paprika. This adds a mild spice level, but you could opt for the spicy hot variety if you enjoy your food with a kick of heat.
• Ground pepper. I enjoy the taste of freshly ground pepper in this recipe, but you could use the powder instead. 
• Canola Oil. You could also use another oil that doesn't have a specific taste, such as vegetable oil. 
• Mayonnaise. Use your favorite brand, full fat or low fat. 
• Sriracha. You can use Sriracha or another hot sauce of your choice, like Cholula. 
• Pickle juice. I've used dill pickle juice in the marinade, which compliments the other marinade flavors. 
• Dijon mustard. 
• Sugar. The sugar cuts some of the sharp flavors in the marinade mixture. You can use brown or white granulated sugar. 
• Buns. Use hamburger or brioche buns for these crispy chicken sandwiches. Opt for gluten-free if required for dietary purposes. 
• Butter. Allow your butter to soften at room temperature to spread on the buns easily. I prefer unsalted, but salted butter can also be used. 
• Sliced tomatoes. 
• Lettuce. Crispy lettuce you can use includes Iceberg or Romaine lettuce. 
• Sliced pickles. You could use sliced jalapeños instead if you enjoy a kick of heat. 

How To Make Crispy Chicken Sandwiches

1. Marinate The Chicken. (Image 1)
   • Combine the buttermilk, pickle juice, and hot sauce in a large ziplock bag or container. 
   • Place the chicken in the buttermilk and seal. 
   • Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or longer.
2. Prep The Chicken. (Images 2, 3, and 4)
   • Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, garlic salt, onion powder, paprika, and pepper together in a shallow dish.
   • Remove one piece of chicken from the buttermilk, shake off any excess, then dredge in the flour mixture. 
   • Place in the buttermilk again, then dredge once more in the flour.
3. How To Make Crispy Chicken. (Images 5 and 6)
   • Heat the oven to 200° to keep the chicken warm.
   • Pour 4 inches of oil into a large dutch oven and heat to 350°.
   • Add the chicken to the hot oil and cook each side for about 3-4 minutes. 
   • You can check for doneness with a meat thermometer.  A Thermometer should reach 160° when cooked.
   • Remove the chicken from the oil, shake off any excess oil, and place it on a wire rack.

• Make The Sauce. Combine all the ingredients for the sauce, stirring well.
• Prepare The Buns.
  • Spread butter over each brioche bun and toast in the oven for a few minutes.
  • Spread sauce over the buns.
• Add The Sandwich toppings. Add chicken, lettuce, and tomato to the sandwiches.

Recipe Tips

Marinade. Let the chicken marinate for a few hours before making this dish.  It makes such a difference, creating super tender and flavorful chicken. 

Flatten Chicken. Ensure to pound your chicken out to the same thickness so it cooks evenly. It's also a good idea to select similar-sized chicken pieces for this recipe. 

Mini Me Sandwiches. You can cut your chicken breast into smaller pieces so they fit on the buns easier. If you do, be mindful of cutting all the chicken to uniform sizes so that all cook evenly for the same amount of time. 

Food Thermometer. Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of the oil, which needs to remain at a constant 350F. It's also good practice to test the readiness of the chicken by inserting the thermometer into the thickest section. 

Dutch Oven. For this recipe, you will need to use a large dutch oven for frying the chicken. If you don't have one, use a thick oven-safe deep dish/pot with a fitted lid. Consider also using a splatter guard when frying with oil in the oven. 

Don’t Crowd. It's best to cook only 1-2 pieces of chicken at a time so that the dutch oven is not overcrowded. 

Draining Chicken. After removing the chicken from the oil, drain it on a wire rack. It is important to have air circulating all around the chicken, including under the chicken to keep it crispy.

Toasty! Butter and toast all sides of the buns in the oven just before assembling the crispy chicken sandwich for an added crunchy texture. 

Variations

Gluten-Free. Make these crispy chicken sandwiches gluten-free by using gluten-free flour and a gluten-free bun. 

Spicy Version. Increase the heat of these chicken sandwiches by adding in some cayenne pepper or even garnishing the sandwiches with sliced jalapeño peppers instead of the dill pickles.

Low Carb. For a low-carb dish, omit the hamburger bun and serve the fried chicken with a simple side salad or coleslaw. 

Grilled Chicken Sandwich. If you prefer your chicken grilled instead of fried, then try the Grilled chicken sandwich recipe on this site.

Sliders. Make Crispy Chicken Sliders by simply cutting the chicken into smaller sizes before coating and frying. Make sure that all pieces are of a uniform size.  

What To Serve With a Crispy Chicken Sandwich

Looking to add to these crispy chicken sandwiches? Here are some great add-ons to consider:

• Baked Sweet Potato Chips
• Sweet Potato Waffle “Fries”
• Homemade Tortilla Chips
• Window Pane Herb Potato Chips
• Spicy Cilantro Lime Slaw
• Cucumber Tomato Salad
• Broccoli Salad 

FAQS

How Should I Store Leftover Crispy Chicken Sandwiches?

Leftover fried chicken pieces can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can reheat the chicken in the oven or in an air fryer which will definitely help to regain some of the lost crispiness due to storage. 

Is This Crispy Chicken Sandwich Gluten-Free?

No, not as it is with the use of all-purpose flour and regular buns, but you could opt for gluten-free flour and bun instead to make this recipe completely gluten-free. 

Could I Fry The Chicken In An Air Fryer Instead?

Yes, you can! If you don't enjoy the deep frying method, you could certainly cook the coated chicken in an air fryer instead. Make sure to create sufficient room between the chicken pieces for an even fry. 

How Do I Know If My Chicken Is Fully Cooked?

The last thing you want is to serve raw chicken sandwiches to your guests or the family! If you're unsure whether your chicken is cooked through, take an instant-read thermometer and test the chicken by inserting the thermometer in its thickest section. 

The internal temperature of the fried chicken pieces should be at least 165℉ for them to be safe to eat. 

Can I Make Crispy Chicken Sandwiches Ahead of Time?

The chicken breast meat must be marinated for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator, which means that this recipe is already a make-ahead dish. 

With that said, you could allow the marinating to continue a few more hours and also prepare the fresh sandwich ingredients such as the sliced tomatoes, dill pickles, and lettuce – all to be stored in separate containers in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble the sandwiches.

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