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Chick-fil-A fans unite! You’ll adore this homemade Spicy Chick-fil-A Sandwich Recipe. This copycat version is so succulently tender from the tangy pickle brine and it packs a hefty kick of heat!
Blanketed in a slice of pepper jack cheese, topped with crunchy lettuce and ripe tomato and then sandwiched between a buttered and toasted brioche bun.
With this Spicy Chick-fil-A Sandwich recipe you can deep fry it or air fry it! Both variations are easy, but of course air frying is a bit easier and you don’t have to deal with hot grease.
You’ll absolutely love these homemade air fryer Chick-fil-A nuggets recipe and my copycat recipe for their classic Chick-fil-A crispy chicken sandwich.
Why You’ll Love this Spicy Chick-fil-A Sandwich Recipe
- Super Tender – Brined in pickle juice for the ultimate tenderness with a hint of tang
- Just Like Chick-fil-A -The perfect amount of sweetness in the chicken breading, just like Chick-fil-A
- Fiery Heat – from the hot sauce in the brine to the cayenne in the breading, this packs a punch of heat.
- Tons of Flavor – Loaded with a blend of spices and seasonings that result in an addictive flavor.
- Air Fryer Friendly – if you’re looking for an easier or lighter take on this sandwich, the recipe includes steps to make this spicy Chick-fil-A sandwich in the air fryer.
Key Ingredients
Here is what you need to make this tasty Spicy 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
Hot sauce
Flour
Baking powder
Sugar
Powdered sugar
Seasonings – garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper
Cayenne powder
Peanut oil
Brioche buns
ToppIngs – pepper jack cheese, green leaf lettuce, tomato, pickles
How to Make the Spicy Chick-fil-A Sandwich
Step 1: Marinate Chicken
Combine and whisk together all the marinade ingredients in a medium bowl; pickle juice, buttermilk, hot sauce 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, baking powder, powdered sugar, seasonings and cayenne. 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
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.
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.
Step 5: Assemble Spicy Chicken Sandwiches
Toast the brioche buns (I like to use a little butter), then assemble the sandwiches by adding pickles, lettuce, and tomato and place on the spicy chicken breast and top with a slice of pepper jack cheese.
Looking for More Copycat Recipes?
Air Fryer Copycat Chick-fil-A Nuggets
Chick-fil-A Classic Chicken Sandwich (air fryer recipe)
Popeye’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich
Chili’s Honey Chipotle Crispy Chicken Crispers
Starbies Bacon Gruyere Egg Bites
Chuy’s Creamy Jalapeno
I hope you enjoy this air fryer Spicy 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!
Spicy Chick-fil-A Sandwich Recipe (with Air Fryer instructions!)
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts pounded to 1/4" even thickness and halved
- peanut oil enough for frying or spritzing
- 4 brioche hamburger buns
- 4 slices pepper jack cheese
- Toppings: dill pickle slices, green leaf lettuce, tomato
Chicken Brine
- 1 cup pickle juice
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1-2 tablespoons hot sauce like Louisiana or Crystal
- 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
- 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Marinate Chicken
- Combine and whisk together all the marinade ingredients in a medium bowl; pickle juice, buttermilk, hot sauce and seasonings. Submerge the chicken into the bowl, cover tightly with plastic and marinade for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
Prep Coating
- In a shallow dish, combine all the breading ingredients; flour, baking powder, powdered sugar, seasonings and cayenne. 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.
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.
Pan Fry or Air Fry
- 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.
- 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.
Assemble Spicy Chicken Sandwiches
- Toast the brioche buns (I like to use a little butter), then assemble the sandwiches by adding pickles, lettuce, and tomato and place on the spicy chicken breast and top with a slice of pepper jack cheese.
