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Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Satisfying Real Crispy Copycat You Need to Make Now

Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich recipe, served and ready to eat, easy homemade dinner
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This Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich is perfect for an easy lunch or quick lunch with crisp and juicy chicken. Enjoy a copycat chicken sandwich that delivers real flavor and is great for lunch ideas featuring crispy air fryer chicken.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts Mine were 6-8oz each
  • 1 cup pickle juice
  • ½ cup buttermilk See notes below for how to substitute buttermilk
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt Adjust to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper Adjust to taste
  • 1 tablespoon powdered sweetener
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper Optional for the spicy chicken sandwich
  • 1 egg beaten
  • cooking oil I used peanut oil
  • 2 buns I use brioche
  • 4 slices dill pickle chips
  • 2 slices leaf lettuce Optional for deluxe sandwich
  • 4 slices fresh tomatoes Optional for deluxe sandwich
  • ¼ cup mayo
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons BBQ Sauce hickory smoked
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
  • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum See substitution in the notes below

Instructions

  1. Place the chicken breasts in a bowl or sealable bag with pickle juice and buttermilk and refrigerate for 30 minutes to marinate.
  2. In a large bowl, mix flour with paprika garlic powder salt pepper and powdered sweetener until combined.
  3. Place the beaten egg in another bowl for dredging.
  4. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil to prevent sticking.
  5. Remove chicken from marinade dip in beaten egg then coat thoroughly in the flour mixture and place in the air fryer basket.
  6. Lightly spray the tops of the chicken with peanut oil.
  7. Air fry at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
  8. Carefully flip the chicken with tongs then spray the other side with oil.
  9. Continue air frying for 5 to 7 more minutes until the coating is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
  10. Toast the buns in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 3 to 4 minutes if desired.
  11. Remove chicken and assemble sandwiches with buns pickles lettuce tomatoes and prepared Chick-fil-A sauce.
  12. To make the sauce combine mayo honey BBQ sauce and mustards then thicken with xanthan gum mixed separately and blended back into the sauce.

Notes

  • You can substitute buttermilk for ½ cup of milk instead of buttermilk in this recipe
  • If you use milk you will need to use the beaten egg
  • Marinate and brine the chicken in pickle juice only
  • After 30 minutes combine the beaten egg and milk and dredge in this mixture before the seasoned flour
  • Use a beaten egg to help the breading stick better
  • Butter the buns if you like
  • Powdered sweetener gives a softer crust than granular
  • Peanut oil mimics Chick-fil-A oil but olive or avocado oil works too
  • Adjust salt to taste because pickle juice is salty
  • Cut chicken into chunks to make nuggets
  • Substitute xanthan gum with 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 1 teaspoon water mixture to thicken sauce

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.amgroyal.com/air-fryer-chick-fil-a-chicken-sandwich/