If there’s anything on this planet that is ‘worth the calories’, it’s a homemade spicy chicken sandwich. We start by brining chicken breasts, tenders, or thighs in a buttermilk pickle juice combo overnight. This allows the flavor to really get all the way into each bite. And then we’ll dredge them in seasoned flour and fry them up until they’re extra crispy. I know, the internet is filled with chicken sandwich recipes. And if you’re not in the mood to make one, fast food chains like Burger King, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and KFC are typically right around the corner. But trust me when I say this, homemade is so much better. The hot and spicy honey mustard sauce gives this such an amazing flavor. Paired with a steamed potato bun, crisp lettuce, dill pickles, the taste is phenomenal! This isn’t your average grab-and-go Chick-fil-A crispy chicken sandwich either! It’s one that’s treated with lots of love and care and enjoyed on hot summer evenings on the patio with friends or family. As I said, it’s actually worth every. single. calorie.
What’s a crispy chicken sandwich?
A tender piece of boneless, skinless chicken that’s dredged in a flour mixture that often contains a variety of seasonings and spices. The flour coating adheres to the chicken, which is often brined in buttermilk or other liquids, creating a crumbly crust. When you fry the chicken, the coating becomes crispy and crunchy! Then, you pop this into a soft bun and top it with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients to make a super crispy chicken sandwich:
Chicken: you have a few different options here, you could use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, or even boneless skinless chicken thighs. This recipe uses 1 pound of chicken (or two hefty chicken breasts) that were cut down the middle and pounded using a meat mallet into an even thickness. This allows the chicken breasts to fry up evenly in the oil so that each bit is perfect.buttermilk: because of its low pH, buttermilk helps tenderize the chicken without toughening it. I usually have buttermilk cubes in the freezer – I freeze leftovers in cubes so I have some when I need them. Or I use ⅓ cup of buttermilk powder with ¾ cup of water for this recipe, instead of the amount written on the package. I find it tastes much better this way!pickle juice: used as a brining liquid that helps tenderize and flavor the chicken. I typically use the juice of dill pickles, but you can use whatever you like here. We’ll add the chicken to a shallow dish and them let it soak in the pickle and buttermilk brine so that it gets nice and tender!sugar: sugar is used both in the brining mixture as well as the crunchy coating to create a well-balanced flavorall-purpose flour: is the base for our dredging mixture. I use a 50:50 mix of AP flour and cornstarch to add a better crunch to the chicken. What you won’t find in my recipe is panko or breadcrumbs! I find that these ingredients absorb a lot of oil during frying and make the sandwich a bit greasy!cornstarch: used 50:50 along with the flour to make the chicken breasts extra crispy.seasonings: we use a combination of chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to create an ultra-flavorful flour coating and brining liquid. If you aren’t a fan of spice, swap the cayenne for paprika.oil for frying: You want to use high-heat oil for frying, such as peanut oil. Using oil that has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor is essential. If you didn’t want to use peanut oil, you could also use avocado, canola or vegetable oil.
How to make a crispy chicken sandwich:
Toppings to use for your chicken sandwich:
homemade coleslaw (a Southern classic!)pickles (you could even use fried pickles instead (!!!)homemade sweet and tangy sauce (recipe below)thinly sliced sweet onionsromaine lettucesliced cheesebeefsteak tomato slices
Homemade Chick-Fil-A sauce:
It’s a simple sauce that tastes just like Chick Fil A sauce! I slather it on my sandwich and even use it to dunk my fries in! Here’s what you’ll need:
2 tablespoons honey2 tablespoons bbq sauce1 tablespoon yellow mustard⅓ cup mayonnaise½-1 tablespoon sriracha (omit for less heat)
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
Crispy Chicken Salad with Sriracha Honey BBQ DressingVietnamese Chicken SandwichBest Homemade Sloppy JoesChicken Gyros with French FriesGreek Gyros with Tzatziki
Original Recipe Shared June 2020, updated August 2023.
Marinade: keep in mind that most of the flavor comes from the marinade. The longer the chicken sits in it, the more flavorful it will be. Plan ahead on this one if you can!To make the sauce: whisk together 2 tbsps honey, 2 tbsps bbq sauce, ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, and ½-1 tbsp sriracha sauce in a small bowl and until smooth.feel free to omit the cayenne pepper from the breading and brining mixture if you prefer to keep this on the mild side!
August 2023 – Recipe updated with minor edits and easier to follow directions.
