Skip the drive-thru, and instead make a Copycat Chick Fil A Sandwich! These sandwiches can be traditionally fried or air fried, whichever you prefer. No matter which way you whip them up, you’re going to love this spot-on copycat recipe!
What’s in This Chick Fil A Copycat Sandwich?
This copycat Chick Fil A sandwich tastes just like the real thing and is available on Sunday! What’s not to love?!
- Chicken: We like boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you could also use thighs.
- Marinade: milk, dill pickle juice, and lemon juice make up the marinade for the chicken. In place of the milk and lemon juice, you could use buttermilk.
- Egg: Helps the coating to stick to the chicken.
- Flour: All-purpose flour forms the coating for the chicken.
- Sugar: Powdered sugar adds a bit of sweetness to the coating without adding grittiness.
- Seasonings: Salt, paprika, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder make up the perfect seasoning blend.
- Oil: We think peanut oil is the perfect oil for frying. If air frying, you can use a peanut oil cooking spray or brush the chicken with peanut oil.
- Buns: We love a hamburger bun for this type of fried chicken sandwich.
- Pickles: Dill pickle slices are perfect topping for these sandwiches.
- Sauce: Make a homemade Chick Fil A sauce with a combination of mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, honey, yellow mustard, and lemon juice!
Variations on a Copycat Chick Fil A Chicken Sandwich
We already love the classic Chick Fil A sandwich, so why not make it spicy? For the chicken seasonings, we like to add cayenne powder. For the sauce, we add either cayenne powder or a drizzle of our favorite hot sauce.
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How to Store and Reheat
We always recommend storing the chicken, buns, and toppings for these copycat Chick Fil A sandwiches separately. Store the crispy chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes, until warmed through, then assemble the sandwiches as desired.
How to Freeze
We do not recommend freezing copycat Chick Fil A chicken sandwiches whole; however, you can absolutely freeze the fried chicken. Place the chicken in an airtight container to freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Notes from the Test Kitchen
If you’re a little nervous that the chicken may not be cooked through all the way, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. If it reads at least 165°F, the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat.
Copycat Chick Fil A Sandwich Recipe (Fried or Air Fried)
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut in half
- 1½ cups milk divided
- ½ cup dill pickle juice from a jar of pickles
- ¼ cup lemon juice from 2 lemons
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Peanut oil for frying
- 4 hamburger buns
- Dill pickle slices for serving
For the Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet OR
- Air Fryer (click for my favorite)
Instructions
For the Chicken
- Place chicken breast between two pieces of plastic wrap and set on a cutting board. Use a meat mallet to pound them to ½-inch thickness.2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- In a large plastic zipper bag, add ½ cup milk, pickle juice, and lemon juice. Seal and shake, then add chicken. Place in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 30 minutes. Drain well.1½ cups milk, ½ cup dill pickle juice, ¼ cup lemon juice
- In a shallow baking dish, whisk together the remaining milk and the egg. In a clean plastic zipper bag, combine flour, sugar, salt, paprika, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Seal and shake well.1 large egg, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground paprika, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Place the chicken in the bag and shake to coat. Dredge each piece through the egg-milk mixture, then return it to the bag and coat well. Shake the excess flour off of each piece and allow them to rest on a metal cooling rack.
FRYING INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat 1 cup peanut oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.Peanut oil
- Working in batches, add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook until evenly golden and crispy, about 5-6 minutes, flipping once. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
AIR FRYING INSTRUCTIONS
- Spray the inside of an air fryer basket with cooking oil, then preheat it to 350°F.
- Place chicken in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed. Lightly spray the chicken with cooking oil.
- Air fry the chicken for 6 minutes. Carefully flip the chicken, spray with additional cooking oil, and fry for 6 more minutes.
- Increase the temperature of the air fryer to 400°F. Continue cooking for 8 minutes, until the chicken is crispy and 165°F internally.
For the Sauce
- Use a whisk or fork to mix sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
For Assembly
- Place a piece of chicken on each bun. Top with sauce, pickles, and any other toppings you desire.4 hamburger buns, Dill pickle slices
Notes
- Don’t cook the chicken for too long in the oil, or you’re going to have greasy chicken sandwiches!
- While the traditional frying method is delicious, the air fryer method is also great, especially if you’re looking for a bit of a healthier option.
- Remember to pound the chicken not matter what, or it won’t cook evenly and the middle may be raw while the outside it burned.
- Nutritional information is for 1 fried chicken sandwich.
How to Make a Copycat Chick Fil A Sandwich Step by Step
Prep the Chicken: Place each of 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and set on a cutting board. Use a meat mallet to pound them to ½-inch thickness. In a large plastic zipper bag, add ½ cup milk, ½ cup of dill pickle juice, and ¼ cup of lemon juice. Seal and shake, then add chicken. Place in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 30 minutes. Drain well.
Coat the Chicken: In a shallow baking dish, whisk together the remaining 1 cup of milk and 1 large egg. In a Ziplock bag, combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, 1 teaspoon of ground paprika, 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon of onion powder, and ½ teaspoon of garlic powder. Seal and shake well. Place the chicken in the bag and shake to coat. Dredge each piece through the egg-milk mixture, then return it to the bag and coat well. Shake the excess flour off of each piece and allow them to rest on a metal cooling rack.
To Fry: Heat 1 cup of peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook until evenly golden and crispy, about 5-6 minutes, flipping once. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
To Air Fry: Spray the inside of an air fryer basket with cooking oil, then preheat it to 350°F. Place chicken in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed. Lightly spray the chicken with cooking oil. Air fry the chicken for 6 minutes. Carefully flip the chicken, spray with additional cooking oil, and fry for 6 more minutes. Increase the temperature of the air fryer to 400°F. Continue cooking for 8 minutes, until the chicken is crispy and 165°F internally.
Make the Sauce: Use a whisk or fork to mix ¼ cup of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of barbecue sauce, 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 teaspoons of yellow mustard, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice together in a small bowl. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Assemble the Sandwiches: Place a piece of chicken on each of 4 hamburger buns. Top with sauce, dill pickle slices, and any other toppings you desire.
More Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipes We Love
- Fried Chicken Sandwich
- Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich
- Fried Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
- Beer Battered Chicken Sandwich
Note: This recipe is one of those few exceptions on our site that has more than 10 ingredients. We try to keep things VERY easy around here, and limiting ingredients and time spent is one of our favorite ways. That being said, this recipe is too delicious to leave out of our recipe box! It’s an exception that is so flavorful and worth the extra ingredients if you have the time and resources to make it.
Skinnytaste published their version of this ago and I tried fried and air fryed and couldn’t get them to come out without the flour still being visible on outside.. Breading came off immediately, disappointing all around. How is your version different?
Hi Greg,
I am a completely separate company from Skinnytaste and I am not affiliated with them so cannot comment on their recipes. Definitely give this a try and see if it works for you!
ALMOST there but you forgot the secret ingredient: MSG!!!
Yes you read that correctly. The reason these sandwiches keep us coming back and that little delicious little somethin somethin is because they use MSG for umami. There’s nothing wrong with using flavor enhanced food but just wanted to let you know. Try it and you’ll see for yourself.
By the way I’m in no way saying this wrong of Chick-fil-A but I think for the full experience you’ll want to add it in the recipe.
Good tasting recipie. I had to air fry the chicken in batches. The first batch was very crispy with the extra 8 mins on the end at 400 degrees. Next batch I did the last air fry at 400 for 4 mins and it was better!! Would make again!!
Thanks for sharing, Todd!
I LOVED this recipe! It came out perfect! I didn’t have pickle juice on hand so I used 1/4 tsp ground dill weed and it tastes better than Chick fil A!
Thanks so much for sharing, Shaina!
Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve never pounded my chicken just cut the breast in half make 2 from one lay it flat cut it like your butterflying it works Everytime