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If you don’t have meal plans this week, stop what you’re doing and immediately make this Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Sandwich copycat recipe. Yes, it’s THAT good!
You won’t believe these copycat Chick-fil-A sandwiches are air fried! From the juiciness of the chicken, flavor of the crispy coating, to the buttery bun (and the fact that they are a much healthier take), these taste 100x better than the restaurant. Everyone you serve them to will adore these and want two, so plan accordingly!
As a lifelong fanatic of Chick-fil-A, this idea was spawned by that guilty little voice in the back of my head that likes to remind me that Chick-fil-A is still fast food. Somehow, we lovers of CFA don’t really constitute them as such. So, I went on a quest to still enjoy my favorite fried comforts and these air fryer Chick-fil-A sandwiches were born.
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Sandwich
- Lighter Take on the world famous chicken sandwich using an air fryer and just spritzing with oil
- No Frying Required you don’t need to heat any oil for this recipe, all you need is an air fryer.
- Flavor Heaven! these air fryer Chick-fil-A sandwiches are perfectly seasoned, and incredibly craveable
- Signature Sweetness just like the restaurant, this recipe uses sugar in the brine and coating to give the chicken a hint of sweet
- Surprisingly Crunchy – you wouldn’t expect this air fryer Chick-fil-A sandwich to have so much crunch and texture from an air fryer. You’ll be so impressed!
Key Ingredients
Here is what you need to make this tasty and healthier take on a copycat air fryer Chick-fil-A sandwich recipe (reminder: the full measurements are down in my recipe card below):
Chicken breasts or cutlets
Pickle juice
Buttermilk
Milk
Egg
Flour
Sugar
Powdered sugar
Seasonings – garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper
Peanut oil
Brioche buns
Butter
Toppings – pickles (cheese, green leaf lettuce and tomato for the Deluxe version)
How to Make Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Sandwich
Step 1: Marinate Chicken
Combine and whisk together all the marinade ingredients in a medium bowl; pickle juice, buttermilk and seasonings. Submerge the chicken into the bowl, cover tightly with plastic and marinade for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
Step 2: Prepare Coating for Chicken
In a shallow dish, combine all the breading ingredients; flour, powdered sugar, and seasonings. In a medium bowl whisk together milk and egg until smooth. If frying, add 5-6 cups oil into a skillet and heat oil to 350 degrees.
Step 3: Coat Chicken
Remove chicken from marinade and dunk directly into the egg-milk mixture to coat well. Then transfer each drippy piece of chicken into the flour coating, pressing in the flour mixture to all sides of the chicken coating it well.
For extra crunchy chicken, you can “double dip” by placing it back into the egg mixture and again into the flour coating. Shake off excess flour.
Step 4: Pan Fry or Air Fry
Air Frying: Place chicken in air fryer basket that’s been sprayed with oil. Spritz or brush the tops of each chicken breast several times with peanut oil.
Cook for 4-5 minutes at 400 degrees, flip and repeat by spritzing with oil and cooking another 4-5 minutes or until it’s a crispy golden brown and the internal temp reaches 165 degrees.
Pan Frying: Place a few pieces of chicken at a time into the hot oil, cooking about 3-4 minutes per side or until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees. Remove and drain on a cooling rack.
Step 5: Assemble Chicken Sandwiches
Toast the brioche buns (I like to use a little butter), then assemble the sandwiches by adding pickles then topping with the chicken. Of course if you’d like to make the Deluxe version, you can add lettuce, tomato, cheese, etc.
Looking for The Spicy Chick-fil-A Sandwich?
Click here for my recipe to an air fryer copycat version of the Chick-fil-A sandwich? Look no further than this delicious fiery crunchy sandwich.
Did Someone Say Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Nuggets?
Yes, I made an air fryer version of Chick-fil-A nuggets as well – can you tell I am obsessed with CFA?
My Favorite Tools for This Recipe
Ninja Stacked Air Fryer
Oil Spritzer
I hope you enjoy this Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Sandwich Recipe. Be sure to comment below with any questions or feedback!
If you make these or any other recipes, don’t forget to tag me on IG @BadBatchBaking to be featured on my story. Seeing your recreations makes my day!
Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Sandwich Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts pounded to 1/4" even thickness and halved
- peanut oil enough for frying or spritzing
- 4 brioche hamburger buns
- toppings: dill pickle slices optionally: green leaf lettuce, tomato and cheese
- 1/4 cup butter for buttering buns
Chicken Brine
- 1 cup pickle juice
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Wet Chicken Coating
- 1 cup milk
- 1 egg
Dry Flour Coating
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Step 1: Marinate Chicken
- Combine and whisk together all the marinade ingredients in a medium bowl; pickle juice, buttermilk and seasonings. Submerge the chicken into the bowl, cover tightly with plastic and marinade for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
Step 2: Prepare Coating for Chicken
- In a shallow dish, combine all the breading ingredients; flour, powdered sugar, and seasonings. In a medium bowl whisk together milk and egg until smooth. If frying, add 5-6 cups oil into a skillet and heat oil to 350 degrees.
Step 3: Coat Chicken
- Remove chicken from marinade and dunk directly into the egg-milk mixture to coat well. Then transfer each drippy piece of chicken into the flour coating, pressing in the flour mixture to all sides of the chicken coating it well.
- For extra crunchy chicken, you can "double dip" by placing it back into the egg mixture and again into the flour coating. Shake off excess flour.
Step 4: Pan Fry or Air Fry
- Air Frying: Place chicken in air fryer basket that's been sprayed with oil. Spritz or brush the tops of each chicken breast several times with peanut oil**.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes at 400 degrees, flip and repeat by spritzing with oil and cooking another 4-5 minutes or until it's a crispy golden brown and the internal temp reaches 165 degrees.
- Pan Frying: Place a few pieces of chicken at a time into the hot oil, cooking about 3-4 minutes per side or until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees. Remove and drain on a cooling rack.
Step 5: Assemble Chicken Sandwiches
- Toast the brioche buns (I like to use a little butter), then assemble the sandwiches by adding pickles then topping with the chicken. Of course if you'd like to make the Deluxe version, you can add lettuce, tomato, cheese, etc.
