The Chick-fil-A menu boasts a variety of signature chicken sandwiches, including both breaded and grilled options. A significant part of the enduring love for these sandwiches comes from the versatile Chick-fil-A Sauce, which is perfect for dipping everything from waffle fries and grilled nuggets to Cobb salads and the sandwiches themselves! You can find our amazing Chick-fil-A Sauce Recipe right here to complete your homemade experience.

The official ingredients for the Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich include chicken breast, water, apple cider vinegar, oil, corn starch, salt, yeast extract, sugar, chicken breast meat, chicken broth, dehydrated onion, dehydrated garlic, sea salt, cane molasses, spices, chicken fat, natural flavor (including smoke), lemon peel, red bell pepper, paprika, lemon juice concentrate, parsley, and vinegar. While a lengthy list, my interpretation streamlines these into accessible home alternatives that yield the same fantastic results. Here’s what goes into my essential grilled chicken marinade:

• Chicken Breasts: Use boneless and skinless chicken breasts. For optimal tenderness and even cooking, I recommend slicing each breast in half lengthwise to create two thinner fillets.
• Water: This is used to cover the chicken during the marinating process, ensuring full flavor absorption.
• Baking Soda: My favorite secret ingredient for tenderizing meat. It works wonders when paired with white distilled vinegar to counteract any potential bitterness and achieve that incredibly soft texture.
• White Distilled Vinegar: Essential for activating the baking soda and balancing the marinade’s flavor.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: This ingredient not only further tenderizes the chicken but also imparts a distinctive, tangy chicken flavor characteristic of Chick-fil-A’s grilled offerings.
• Seasoned Salt: A versatile all-purpose seasoning like Lawry’s is fantastic for enhancing the savory notes of the chicken meat.
• Sugar: My secret for fried chicken also applies here! A touch of sugar in the marinade helps with caramelization on the grill and adds a subtle sweetness.
• Liquid Smoke: This is crucial for replicating that authentic backyard smoky flavor, even if you’re grilling indoors. I recommend using hickory-flavored liquid smoke.
• Lemon Pepper: Acts as a brilliant substitute for lemon peel, providing bright, zesty citrus notes.
• Mrs. Dash: This salt-free seasoning blend contains lemon juice powder and lemon oil, contributing to the complex flavor profile.
• Parmesan Cheese: A superb alternative to nutritional yeast (which is a common substitute for yeast extract), adding a savory, umami depth.

Note: This powerful chicken marinade is designed for same-day grilling. Since the tenderizing action of the baking soda is quite fast (as quick as 20 minutes), I advise against marinating overnight. Over-tenderizing can cause the meat to become overly soft or even tear.

1. First, prepare your flavorful chicken marinade by combining all the listed ingredients. Submerge the chicken breast fillets in this marinade and let them tenderize for 20 minutes.
2. While the chicken marinates, preheat your grill or griddle over high heat to ensure perfect sear marks.
3. Optionally, lightly toast your Multigrain Buns for added texture and warmth.
4. Drain the marinade from the chicken breasts. Place the chicken on the preheated grill and cook over high heat for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
5. Assemble your delicious grilled sandwiches: start by placing crisp leafy green lettuce on the bottom half of the bun. Layer with ripe tomato slices, the juicy grilled chicken, a slice of Colby Jack cheese (for the club version), and crispy bacon. Finish with the top bun.
6. Serve your homemade Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich generously drizzled with our amazing Chick-fil-A Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce.

Absolutely! Grilled chicken thighs are an excellent alternative for this grilled chicken sandwich recipe. They tend to be even juicier and more forgiving, adding a rich flavor profile that many people love.

The classic Grilled Chicken Sandwich from Chick-fil-A features tender grilled chicken breast meat, served on a multigrain brioche bun with fresh green leaf lettuce and ripe tomatoes, and is typically accompanied by their signature Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce. The popular Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich takes this a step further by adding slices of creamy Colby Jack cheese and crisp applewood smoked bacon for an extra layer of flavor and texture.

Homemade grilled chicken sandwiches, once assembled, can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. However, in my experience, a recipe this delicious rarely lasts more than one night! For best results when reheating, especially if you’re making several in advance, I recommend reheating the grilled chicken breasts separately. Since grilled chicken doesn’t have a breading, it’s more forgiving and can be microwaved gently, or for a crispier result, warmed in a toaster oven or conventional oven. After reheating the chicken, you can then assemble fresh sandwiches. I often prepare about 10 sandwiches at a time, wrapping any uneaten ones tightly after lunch or dinner to enjoy later.

For my indoor grilling, I personally use a versatile Cast Iron Reversible Grill Griddle that fits perfectly over my oven range burners. This allows for excellent heat retention and beautiful grill marks. You can certainly achieve fantastic results using an outdoor grill, a dedicated indoor electric grill, or even a panini press with a grill grate side. The key is consistent, high heat.

Grilling Tip: To achieve those perfectly seared, distinct grill marks on your chicken, always preheat your cast iron griddle or grill grates over high heat before placing the chicken on it. Once the chicken is on, resist the urge to flip it multiple times; aim for just one flip to ensure those desirable grill marks develop fully on the meat.

Grilled chicken breasts cook relatively quickly. The cooking time will vary slightly depending on your heat source and the thickness of your chicken fillets. Generally, it takes anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes per side for thinner chicken breast fillets. Thicker cuts may require a bit more time. The most reliable way to ensure your chicken is perfectly cooked and safe to eat is to use an instant-read meat thermometer. The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) at its thickest point.

Grilled Chicken Marinade:

Sandwich Assembly:

• Combine the chicken and all marinade ingredients in a bowl. Allow the chicken to tenderize for 20 minutes.
• Preheat your grill or griddle over high heat. Drain the marinade from the chicken. Grill the chicken breasts for approximately 3-5 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked and an internal temperature of 165°F is reached.
• To assemble your delicious sandwiches, place a layer of fresh lettuce and sliced tomatoes on the bottom half of a multigrain bun. Top with a grilled chicken breast, a slice of Colby Jack cheese, and crispy bacon.
• Finish with the top bun and serve immediately with our incredible Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce for dipping!

• Chicken can marinate for up to 4 hours at room temperature, but 20 minutes is typically sufficient due to the baking soda tenderizer.
• For an excellent make-ahead meal, prepare the bacon and these Multigrain Whole Wheat Buns in advance. They both freeze exceptionally well.

Nutrition per serving