If you loved our homemade Chick-Fil-A nuggets recipe, you are going to go crazy for this perfect Copycat Chickfila Chicken Sandwich recipe, complete with homemade Chickfila Sauce!
Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sandwich Recipe
Want to hear a first world problem?
My closest Chick-Fil-A location is two hours away from my house.
It’s a tragedy, really. But even if your closest Chick-Fil-A is closer than mine, there’s still the crazy expensive prices, super busy lunchtime line-ups, and not-open-on-Sundays policy that can leave you craving a Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich and in need of a homemade alternative.
Well, I was happy to take the task of experimenting and taste-testing several homemade fried chicken sandwiches to deliver you the perfect copycat Chickfila sandwich recipe. This recipe is perfect for parties, tailgating, or just a special weeknight meal where you feel like indulging but don’t want to spend $50 to treat the family to take-out. Pair it with our homemade french fries and you’ll reconsider ever getting in the drive-thru lane again.
Can these Chick-fil-A sandwiches be frozen? Yes, you can freeze these chicken filets either after coating (before frying) or after frying. However, the taste will be different than if they were enjoyed fresh.
Can I used another cut of meat instead of breast meat? Yes, you can use any chicken cut that you like, but I personally recommend chicken breasts. The taste won’t be exactly the same if you use a fattier cut, like chicken thighs, but it will still taste great.
Can I make the coating crunchier? Yes, you can achieve this by either double-coating the chicken breasts with the egg and flour breading, or by adding in crushed crackers or fine bread crumbs to the flour coating.
Why use peanut oil? Peanut oil has a high smoke point, so you won’t experience burning oil or the oil smoking, which adds an unpleasant taste to the food you are cooking. (Exceeding an oil’s smoke point also destroys beneficial nutrients and phytochemicals, while releasing free radicals.) Peanut oil also has a very neutral taste and you can strain and re-use it several times. It may also be healthier than other traditional frying methods. If you can’t get peanut oil, vegetable and canola oils both have high smoke points for frying food.
Can I use something else to brine the chicken instead of pickle juice? I highly recommend using dill pickle juice to brine the chicken for the most accurate copycat results, however, you can use buttermilk (or milk with a tablespoon of vinegar) or a salt water brine in it’s place.
Check out our quick video to see how to make your own homemade Chick-fil-a Sandwiches (and our copycat Chick-fil-a sauce) – and then don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable recipe card:
Chick-Fil-A Sandwich Ingredients
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Chicken breasts, cut into 2″ pieces <– you can use thigh meat, but I prefer the less fatty breast cut for this recipe
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Dill pickle brine (just the liquid from the pickle jar)
- Cornstarch
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Milk
- Egg
- Peanut oil <– highly recommended for any frying due to it’s high smoke point and neutral flavor, but can be replaced with vegetable or canola oil
- Pickles
- Brioche Buns
For the Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce:
- Mayonnaise
- Honey
- Yellow mustard
- Dijon mustard
- BBQ sauce <– you can alternatively just use brown sugar in place of the BBQ sauce and honey, if desired
- Lemon juice
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: if you need to avoid milk, use coconut milk. Use vegetable oil if there is a peanut oil allergy concern.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Deep fryer or dutch oven, for frying <– dutch ovens are great for deep frying, making stock, homemade tomato sauce, etc. They keep a consistent temperature, don’t warp, and can seamlessly transition from stovetop to oven. I love the versatility of mine and it has lasted for over a decade and still going strong!
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Sharp kitchen knife
- Meat mallet
- Small bowls
- Whisk
- Spiral strainer <– this is essential for any deep frying recipe, as it removes the food without the oil and is super easy to clean
- Meat Thermometer
How to Make Chick-Fil-A Sandwiches
Place the dill pickle brine in a container with a lid.
Place the chicken breast on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap or parchment paper.
Flatten the chicken breast with a pie roller or meat mallet, try to get it to 1/2″ thickness.
Remove the plastic wrap, cut the chicken breasts in half and then place in the dill pickle brine.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight. 
In a shallow dish, combine the flour, powdered icing sugar, and seasoning. Set aside.
In a second dish, combine the milk and egg.
Place the 2 cups of peanut oil in a heavy pot (like a Dutch oven) over medium heat.
Dip each piece of chicken in the milk mixture, then dredge in the flour mixture.
When the oil is hot, add the chicken one or two pieces at a time and fry until golden, about 4 minutes. (They need to be at least 165ºF inside to be fully cooked.)
Remove the chicken from the oil and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Repeat with all chicken pieces.
How to Make Chick Fil A Sauce
For the Chick-Fil-A sauce, combine all sauce ingredients together and whisk until well-blended.
To assemble your Chick Fil A Sandwiches:
Layer sauce, chicken and pickles on a brioche bun. You can also butter and toast the bun, if desired.
Serve fresh.
Pin this Homemade Chick-Fil-A Sandwich recipe:
Grab our free printable for our copycat Chick-Fil-A Sandwich recipe:
Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich
The BEST recipe for homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken sandwiches, plus a copycat Chick-Fil-A sauce.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 cups dill pickle brine
- 1 cup flour
- 1 Tablespoon powdered icing sugar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 2 cups peanut oil
For the Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
For the Sandwiches:
- 8 brioche hamburger buns
- Sliced pickles
Instructions
- Place the dill pickle brine in a container with a lid.
- Place the chicken breast on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap or parchment paper.
- Flatten the chicken breast with a pie roller or meat mallet, try to get it to 1/2" thickness.
- Remove the plastic wrap, cut the chicken breasts in half and then place in the dill pickle brine.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- In a shallow dish, combine the flour, powdered icing sugar, and seasoning. Set aside.
- In a second dish, combine the milk and egg.
- Place the 2 cups of peanut oil in a heavy pot (like a Dutch oven) over medium heat.
- Dip each piece of chicken in the milk mixture, then dredge in the flour mixture.
- When the oil is hot, add the chicken one or two pieces at a time and fry until golden, about 4 minutes. (They need to be at least 165ºF inside to be fully cooked.)
- Remove the chicken from the oil and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Repeat with all chicken pieces.
How to Make Chick Fil A Sauce
- For the Chick-Fil-A sauce, combine all sauce ingredients together and whisk until well-blended.
To assemble your Chick Fil A Sandwiches:
- Layer sauce, chicken and pickles on a brioche bun. You can also butter and toast the bun, if desired.
- Serve fresh.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Amazon Brand - Happy Belly Peanut Oil, 128 Fl Oz -
Thermapen Mk4 (Red) Professional Thermocouple Cooking Thermometer
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Tenta Kitchen Stainless Steel Spider Strainer Wire Strainer Skimmer Colander, Stainless steel Handle with hook (7 inch 1pc)
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Lodge EC6D43 Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 6-Quart, Island Spice Red
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 548Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 193mgSodium: 775mgCarbohydrates: 56gFiber: 2gSugar: 16gProtein: 29g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your family loves these homemade Chickfila Chicken Sandwiches as much as mine does! It’s the perfect way to get your Chickfila fix without spending a ton of money (and you can enjoy them on Sundays)!
For more fun copycat recipes, check out our Copycat Cinnabuns recipe or our Copycat Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte recipe.
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