The Chick-fil-A menu boasts a variety of signature chicken sandwiches, both breaded and grilled. The enduring popularity of these sandwiches often comes down to the beloved Chick-fil-A Sauce, perfect for dipping everything from waffle fries and grilled nuggets to Cobb salads and, of course, the sandwich itself! You can find our Chick-fil-A Sauce Recipe here.

The main types of Chick-fil-A Fried Chicken Sandwiches include:

• Original Chicken Sandwich: Features seasoned chicken breasts and dill pickle chips on a toasted butter bun. Simple perfection!
• Deluxe Sandwich: Elevates the original with fried chicken, dill pickle chips, crisp green leaf lettuce, a slice of fresh tomato, and American cheese.
• Spicy Chicken Sandwich: For those who love a kick, this sandwich includes spicy breaded chicken breasts (with a blend of peppers) and dill pickle chips on a toasted butter bun.
• Spicy Deluxe Sandwich With Pepper Jack: Takes the spicy experience further with spicy breaded chicken breasts, dill pickle chips, green leaf lettuce, fresh tomato, and creamy Pepper Jack cheese.

The Chick-fil-A menu offers an array of delicious dipping sauces and dressings. It’s easy to confuse the iconic Chick-fil-A Sauce with the Chick-fil-A Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce, as they share some similarities.

The Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce is distinctively smokier and carries more pronounced BBQ flavor notes. It was originally crafted to pair perfectly with their Grilled Chicken Sandwich. In contrast, the classic Chick-fil-A Sauce features stronger notes of honey mustard and mayonnaise, and is typically a slightly lighter color. Both dipping sauces are sweet, tangy, and subtly smoky, making them equally delicious choices, depending on your preference!

The official ingredients for the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich include: boneless skinless chicken breasts, seasoning (salt, MSG, sugar, paprika, spices), flour, nonfat milk, leavening (baking soda, baking powder), soybean oil, water, egg, fully refined peanut oil, bun, vinegar, butter-flavored oil, and pickle.

Our homemade interpretation simplifies this list by using readily available spice blends and home alternatives that yield the same fantastic results. Here’s a breakdown of our recipe’s key components:

• Chicken Breasts: We use boneless and skinless chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise to create two thinner, more evenly cooking fillets from each breast.
• Chicken Marinade: A simple yet effective blend of seasoned salt, water, and leavening (baking soda is our secret for tenderizing meat without the need for buttermilk, and white distilled vinegar helps balance any bitterness while adding a subtle tang). This creates that signature tender bite.
• Seasoned Flour: Our meticulously crafted seasoned flour includes all-purpose flour, salt, ground mustard (for that distinct tartness), sugar, black pepper, leavening agents, seasoned salt, paprika (for color and flavor), celery salt, ground sage, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper (for a hint of warmth), ground ginger, and turmeric. This blend is key to the complex flavor and golden-brown crust.

Note: This is a fried chicken sandwich recipe that does not rely on buttermilk. The unique marinade ensures the fried chicken breast remains incredibly moist and tender!

To craft this exceptional fried chicken sandwich at home, begin by preparing your chicken: slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise to create thinner fillets. Then, whip up the chicken marinade and let the meat tenderize while you move onto the next steps.

1. Heat the Frying Oil: Bring your frying oil to a consistent 350°F (175°C) in a large, deep pot. Maintaining the correct oil temperature is crucial for achieving a crispy fried chicken without burning the crust. A reliable frying thermometer is highly recommended to ensure the chicken cooks thoroughly on the inside.
2. Prepare the Buns: Lightly toast your hamburger buns on a non-greased griddle or hot skillet until golden. For that authentic buttered bun taste, brush the tops with melted butter or butter-flavored oil, or use a cooking spray. Set them aside.
3. Drain the Chicken: Carefully drain the marinade from the chicken fillets. DO NOT WASH the chicken after marinating, as this will remove the tenderizing agents.
4. The Milk Wash: Dip each chicken cutlet into the prepared milk and egg wash, ensuring it’s fully coated.
5. The Seasoned Flour: Transfer the chicken from the milk wash to the seasoned flour. Press the coating firmly into the meat on all sides. Gently flip and shake off any excess breading to create a perfectly crisp crust.
6. Fry to Perfection: Carefully place the breaded chicken, rough side down first, into the hot oil. Fry for 4-5 minutes, or until beautifully browned and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). For even browning, you can occasionally flip the chicken breast.
7. Assemble Your Sandwich: To assemble, place 2-3 slices of crisp dill pickles onto the bottom half of a toasted bun. Top with a freshly fried chicken fillet, then crown it with the buttered top bun.
8. Serve with Sauce: Serve immediately with a generous side of your homemade Chick-fil-A Sauce for dipping.
9. Enjoy and Share: Take a bite and let us know what you think of your homemade Chick-fil-A experience!

Absolutely! Chicken thighs will work wonderfully for this fried chicken sandwich recipe. They tend to be even juicier than breasts. When using thighs, leave them whole – there’s no need to slice them in half like you would a chicken breast fillet.

To reheat an assembled Chick-fil-A sandwich, you can either microwave it briefly for convenience or wrap it in foil and bake it in the oven for a crispier result. If you’re reheating individual fried chicken fillets, the best way to revive their crispiness is to place them uncovered in an oven preheated to a low temperature (around 300°F or 150°C) until the breading crisps up again. An air fryer is also an excellent tool for reheating fillets, restoring their crisp texture quickly.

Store any leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. A helpful tip to prevent the bread from getting soggy: pat your dill pickle slices thoroughly dry with a paper towel before placing them into the buns.

Achieving the best fried chicken sandwich requires the right technique, and equipment plays a role. Colonel Sanders of KFC, much like Chick-fil-A, traditionally fried his chicken in a pressure fryer, which is known for yielding incredibly juicy fried chicken. However, the marinade itself also significantly contributes to the chicken’s juiciness.

The good news is, you don’t need a pressure fryer or even a specialized deep fryer to make this recipe. A deep, heavy-bottomed pot (like a Dutch oven) that can hold enough oil to submerge the chicken cutlets is perfectly sufficient. This helps to evenly distribute heat and minimize splattering.

For chicken breast cutlets sliced in half lengthwise (as recommended for even cooking), frying typically takes anywhere from 4-5 minutes, or about 3 minutes per side. Thicker fillets will naturally require a longer cooking time. Always ensure your chicken is fully cooked by checking with a meat thermometer; it should register an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Who owns Chick-fil-A? The beloved fast-food chain was founded in 1946 by Truett Cathy in Hapeville, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. His initial diner was named “Dwarf Grill.” It wasn’t until 1967 that Cathy officially founded and opened the very first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta’s Greenbriar Shopping Center, pioneering the concept of serving chicken in shopping mall food courts. Today, Chick-fil-A has grown into one of the highest-selling fried chicken restaurant chains in the United States, still family-operated by his son and grandson, who serve as the company’s CEO.

A classic Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich contains approximately 440 calories per sandwich. Our Homemade Chicken Sandwich recipe is remarkably close, coming in at around 438 calories, offering a similar indulgence with the satisfaction of making it yourself!

Beyond the classic fries, here are some delightful side dishes to pair with your fried chicken sandwich:

• Creamy Coleslaw or a refreshing Summer Slaw Recipe
• A comforting bowl of Soup, like Chicken Tortilla Soup or this hearty Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
• Decadent Mac and Cheese
• A crisp Salad Wrap
• A vibrant Southwest Salad with Chipotle Ranch Dressing
• For a sweet finish, delicious Dessert options such as Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies
• A tall glass of homemade Lemonade to cut through the richness