Description

This Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Sandwich Copycat Recipe offers a healthier, yet equally delicious version of the classic fast-food favorite. Juicy, tender chicken breasts are marinated in a flavorful buttermilk and pickle juice brine, coated in a perfectly seasoned flour mixture, and air fried to crispy perfection. The sandwiches are finished with buttery brioche buns and classic dill pickle slices, delivering an irresistible blend of textures and tastes without deep frying.

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

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

Wet Ingredients for Coating

1 cup milk
1 egg

Sandwich Assembly

4 brioche hamburger buns
1/4 cup butter (for buttering buns)
Dill pickle slices
Optional toppings: green leaf lettuce, tomato, cheese
Peanut oil (enough for spritzing or light frying)

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Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to an even 1/4 inch thickness and cut each breast in half to create 4 pieces. This ensures quick and uniform cooking.
Make the Brine: In a large bowl, combine pickle juice, buttermilk, salt, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. Submerge the chicken pieces in this marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to tenderize and infuse flavor.
Prepare the Coating: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, beat together the milk and egg. This will be used to help the flour mixture adhere to the chicken.
Coat the Chicken: Remove chicken pieces from the marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off. Dip each piece first in the milk and egg mixture, then dredge into the seasoned flour mixture, pressing firmly to ensure a thick coating. For extra crispiness, double-dip by repeating the wet and dry steps.
Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and let it preheat for about 5 minutes.
Air Fry the Chicken: Lightly spritz the coated chicken pieces with peanut oil spray to encourage crisping. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overlapping. Cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Prepare the Buns: While the chicken cooks, spread butter on the cut sides of the brioche buns. Toast them in a skillet over medium heat or in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes until lightly browned and buttery.
Assemble the Sandwiches: Place the cooked chicken onto the bottom half of each toasted bun. Top with dill pickle slices and any optional toppings like lettuce, tomato, or cheese. Cover with the top bun and serve immediately.

Notes

These air-fried Chick-fil-A style sandwiches are a healthier alternative to traditional deep-fried versions without sacrificing flavor or texture.
Double-coating the chicken can yield a thicker, crunchier crust.
Ensure the chicken is pounded evenly to 1/4 inch thickness for uniform cooking and juiciness.
Use peanut oil spray for the best crisp texture and authentic flavor.
To make it gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
Plan for each person to enjoy two sandwiches as these are very popular and satisfying.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 sandwich
Calories: 540
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 850mg
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 47g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 38g
Cholesterol: 110mg