This Fried Chicken Sandwich is THE BEST! It really doesn’t get much better than crispy and juicy fried chicken on a toasted bun with a smoky paprika sauce. It’s easier than you think to make your own fried chicken at home and this recipe will ensure you have succulent chicken every time!
Table of Contents
Chicken Sandwich
Each layer of this chicken sandwich brings its own unique and tasty flavor profile. Add them all together and you’ve got an unforgettable sandwich. Crisp greens and sweet bread and butter pickles balance out the rich fried chicken. The smoky paprika sauce adds creaminess and just a little bit of heat.
Frying is undoubtedly more work intensive than many chicken recipes, but it is absolutely worth it. Once you make fried chicken once, you’ll want to make it again and again. Wow your family (and your taste buds) by making delicious fried chicken at home.
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Best Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipe – step by step
- Add chicken, buttermilk, hot sauce, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt to a large resealable bag and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
- Heat 1 ½ inches of canola oil in a dutch oven or large pot to 350 degrees.
- In a wide bowl, combine flour, remaining salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and canola oil. Remove the chicken from the buttermilk marinade and dip each piece in the flour mixture until well coated.
- Fry two piece of chicken at a time until golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Rest the cooked chicken on paper towels to cool.
- Make the sauce by combining all sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
- Assemble sandwiches by spreading the open sides of the toasted buns with sauce. Top the bottom bun with fried chicken, pickles, lettuce, and the top bun.
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
The History of the Fried Chicken Sandwich
Move over, Colonel Sanders and Chick-fil-A cows, there’s a new fried chicken sandwich in town! While KFC is known around the country for their fried chicken, Chick-fil-A maintains that they created the original chicken sandwich.
Theirs is served with pickles on a steamed bun and, while delicious, the sandwich could use an upgrade.
In the South, fried chicken is often made spicy with a buttermilk and hot sauce marinade or sweet and served over a waffle with sweet syrup. There’s the famous Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, which includes a sticky hot-sauce drenched piece of fried chicken.
In the midwest, it’s common to put cheese on a fried chicken sandwich. In this combination you’ll get a combination of all the best trends from around the country.
What you need to fry chicken at home
It might sound intimidating to turn your kitchen into a fry zone. With just a few simple tools, you’ll have a no-fail setup for a safe, clean, and (dare I say) fun frying experience.
- Frying Thermometer: this will help you get the oil to the right temperature to cook the chicken properly to create a crispy crust and fully-cooked interior.
- Spider: the easiest way to get things in and out of the fryer.
- Splatter Screen: Protection from any rogue oil splashes.
- Dutch Oven: A thick enameled cast iron pot that will conduct and evenly distribute heat.
To get ready to fry, use a large high-sided pot and be sure to keep your oil at 350 degrees. My favorite trick is to use a splatter screen to protect yourself (and your counters) from any oil.
To make incredible fried chicken, you want the exterior of each piece to get dark and crispy.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich
Just like the grilled buttermilk chicken kebabs, this fried chicken sandwich recipe uses a buttermilk marinade to make the chicken extra tender and juicy. If you don’t have buttermilk, don’t worry!
You can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 cup of milk.
Crispy Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Frying is the best way to ensure a crispy chicken, and every bite of this sandwich is full of texture and flavor. Sandwiches and burgers are all about the toppings, and this one is no different.
The acid of the pickles cuts through the oil and fat and I always use soft buns to balance out the crunch of the chicken.
How to Make Fried Chicken Healthier
Let’s not pretend that a fried chicken sandwich is a healthy option, it’s definitely a treat meal, but making it at home is a way better option than a takeout version. This sandwich is less than 700 calories and you can also make these changes to make the dish healthier if you so wish…
- Use a low fat / non fat mayonnaise.
- Use chicken breast instead of thighs.
- Use a whole wheat bun, rather than these brioche buns.
- Add in some more fresh veggies such as tomatoes and onions to your toppings.
Juicy Fried Chicken
Let you chicken marinate for at least four hours in the buttermilk, longer if possible. If the chicken can marinate at least this long (or even overnight), you’ll be sure to have the juiciest fried chicken!
More Recipe Notes and Tips
- Make sure your oil is at 350 degrees before frying the chicken.
- Fry the chicken in batches, don’t overcrowd the pot.
Top Reader Reviews
- “Thank you so much for this recipe! I love it it’s the best!” – Haley
- “I love making chicken with buttermilk! Adding the hot sauce gave this a nice kick!” – Suzy
If you have tried this fried chicken sandwich recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
The Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- canola oil for frying
Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
Assembly
- 4 brioche burger buns toasted
- 1 cup thinly sliced cabbage
- bread and butter pickles
Instructions
- Add chicken, buttermilk, hot sauce, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt to a large resealable bag and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
- Heat 1 ½ inches of canola oil in a dutch oven or large pot to 350 degrees.
- In a wide bowl, combine flour, remaining salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and canola oil. Remove the chicken from the buttermilk marinade and dip each piece in the flour mixture until well coated.
- Fry two piece of chicken at a time until golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Rest the cooked chicken on paper towels to cool.
- Make the sauce by combining all sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
- Assemble sandwiches by spreading the open sides of the toasted buns with sauce. Top the bottom bun with fried chicken, pickles, lettuce, and the top bun.
Elise says
Is it a mistake or do I really put canola oil in the flour mixture? Just wondering!!
molly early says
Add the canola oil to your dutch oven for frying!
Nick says
Four minutes on each side and the chicken wasn’t even close to being done.
Becky Hardin says
I am sorry it didn’t work for you! Make sure your oil is heated to 350 and definitely keep going until it is cooked all the way. Everyone’s stovetops work a little differently!
Linda ly says
This was the first crispy chicken sandwich recipe I’ve ever tried and it was SOOO GOOD. My husband has had it 3 days in a row (by request) and still isn’t sick of it. Probably the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had! The only condiment needed besides the spicy mayo is some homemade honey mustard. sooooo goooooood
Becky Hardin says
Thanks for sharing, Linda!