Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich (Chick-fil-A Copycat)

This Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich (Chick-fil-A Copycat) is incredible and is cooked in just 12 minutes! It is a brined chicken that is battered and air fried to crispy perfection. Place on a bun, add more pickles, and dive in! Don’t forget the waffle fries!

I love eating at Chick-fil-A, but sometimes it is nice to just stay in and enjoy our evening and not fight the mile-long drive thru line. This crispy chicken sandwich curbs our cravings! 

This stands out because the chicken is brined in pickle juice. It locks in moisture and gives you an incredibly juicy sandwich. 

🍴 Why You Will Love This

• Crispy battered chicken
• Juicy and moist 
• Similar flavor to classic Chick-fil-A sandwich
• No deep frying required 
• Easy steps 
• Affordable 
• Kid-friendly 

This is so good, and rather easy to make at home. Give it a try!

🍔 Ingredients

Chicken Breast | I find the best results using a boneless, skinless breast. It works the best with the brine and is easy to flatten.

Brine | Chick-fil-A is known for brining their chicken in pickle juice, so we’ll do the same. It locks in the moisture and adds an amazing flavor

Breading | A combination of flour, cornstarch and seasonings make up the coating that turns the sandwich crispy and flavorful.

🐔 Instructions

Step One: Place chicken in a gallon bag and pound them out to make them about ½ inch thick. Cut the breasts into four pieces and add the pickle juice brine to the bag. Let them rest in the pickle juice for 30 minutes. 

Step Two: As the chicken marinates, whisk the egg and milk together for an egg wash. Add in your flour, cornstarch and seasonings in another bowl for the dry batter.

Step Thee: Remove the chicken from the brine and dredge it in the egg wash, and then the flour mixture. Place it in your air fryer basket or tray.

Step Four: Spray a little oil so it crisps up the flour mixture when air fried. Make sure to get all sides of your chicken.

Step Five: Cook for six minutes at 340 degrees, turn it over and turn up the heat to 400 degrees for another six minutes. You will want to ensure the temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees.

Step Six: Once chicken is fully cooked, remove and place on a bun with pickles.

I also share how to deep fry this and cook it in the Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot Duo Crisp in the printable recipe card below.

🐔 Storage

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Then reheat in the microwave, or even toss back in air fryer to crisp it up.

If you enjoy meal prepping, make extra chicken and then freeze it for up to three months. All you have to do is remove, reheat and you have a sandwich.

Bake them in the oven to reheat, microwave, or even toss in the air fryer to toast them back up.

📌 Expert Tips

• It is very important to flatten your chicken, or it will not cook properly.
• Use the oil to coat the outside of your chicken. If you skip the flour will look white and not turn golden brown as it air fries.
• Pair with some waffle fries, Chick-fil-A coleslaw, or any other of your favorites.
• Make sure to spray the chicken lightly with oil or the flour will turn white and not crisp up the way you want.
• Double the recipe if you want to freeze some for meal prepping later on.

Recipe FAQs

More Air Fryer Recipes

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