Description
This Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Sandwich Copycat Recipe delivers a juicy, flavorful chicken sandwich with a crispy, perfectly seasoned coating. Using the air fryer instead of traditional frying makes it a healthier alternative without sacrificing the classic taste and texture. The sandwich is assembled with buttery brioche buns, dill pickle slices, and optional toppings like lettuce, tomato, and cheese for a restaurant-quality experience at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 2 chicken breasts, pounded to 1/4″ even thickness and halved
- 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
Breading
- 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
Wet Dipping Mixture
- 1 cup milk
- 1 egg
Other Ingredients
- Peanut oil (enough for frying or spritzing)
- 4 brioche hamburger buns
- 1/4 cup butter (for buttering buns)
- Toppings: dill pickle slices (optionally: green leaf lettuce, tomato, cheese)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to an even 1/4″ thickness and cut each breast in half to create four pieces. In a bowl, combine the pickle juice, buttermilk, salt, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper to create the marinade. Submerge the chicken pieces and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour to enhance tenderness and flavor.
- Make the Breading: In a shallow dish, mix the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and egg to create the wet dipping mixture.
- Coat the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off. Dip each piece first into the milk and egg mixture, then dredge thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture to ensure an even coating. For best results, repeat the dip and dredge steps for a thicker crust.
- Preheat and Prepare Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (182°C) for about 3-5 minutes. Lightly brush or spritz the air fryer basket with peanut oil to prevent sticking.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Place the breaded chicken pieces in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, making sure they do not overlap. Lightly spray or brush the chicken with peanut oil to promote browning and crispiness. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the coating is golden and crispy.
- Prepare the Buns: While the chicken cooks, melt the butter and brush it onto the cut sides of the brioche buns. Toast the buns in a skillet or in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes until warm and lightly browned.
- Assemble the Sandwiches: Place each chicken piece onto the toasted bun bottoms. Add dill pickle slices and optional toppings such as green leaf lettuce, tomato slices, or cheese. Cap with the top bun. Serve immediately while hot and crispy for the best experience.
Notes
- These air-fried Chick-fil-A sandwiches are surprisingly juicy with a flavorful, crispy crust that rivals the original.
- Using an air fryer significantly reduces oil and fat content, making this recipe a healthier alternative to deep frying.
- Adjust the seasoning and toppings to personalize your sandwich to your taste preference.
- Plan for two sandwiches per person as these are very popular and hard to resist!
- Ensure the chicken is pounded evenly for consistent cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
