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Air Fryer Copycat Chick Fil A Sandwich

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Air Fryer Copycat Chick Fil A Sandwich is juicy chicken that is super crispy in every bite. It is a delicious sandwich that tastes just like the real thing but made in your own kitchen. 

Two air fryer copycat chick oil a sandwich fully cooked and served on a white round plate dressed with pickles, cheese, chicken breast, lettuce, and chick oil sauce. Two extra buns halfway out of the bag are in the top right of the picture.

Made with simple ingredients found in your pantry this dish is easy to make. In about an hour this juicy tender chicken will be on your table ready to enjoy. 

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS COPYCAT CHICK FIL A SANDWICH

You will love this dish because who doesn't love this famous food chain. When made at home you can use the same fresh ingredients and some extra spices to create your own amazing crispy chicken sandwich. 

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This is great to make for a busy weeknight meal when everyone is in a rush. They are perfect to make when having friends and family over on the weekend and allows them to create their own version of this wonderful sandwich.

The air fryer makes delicious sandwiches, like this air fryer grilled cheese sandwich.

Ingredients: 

  • eggs
  • milk
  • boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • all-purpose flour
  • breadcrumbs (plain)
  • pickle juice
  • powdered sugar 
  • kosher salt
  • paprika
  • white pepper
  • chili powder
Picture of all the ingredients used to make copycat chick fil a sandwiches. Starting from the bottom of the photograph is an opened package of buns and a round white plate with lettuce and pickles. In the middle of the photo is a round black measuring cup of milk, a clear container of uncooked chicken, and a can of avocado oil. At the top of the image are four glass bowls, each containing a different ingredient; powdered sugar, flour, pickle juice, and breadcrumb. Two brown eggs, a round, and a white round plate with three measuring spoons, each holding a different ingredient; white pepper paprika and chili powder.

Optional Additional Flavors: Black pepper, garlic powder, teaspoon lemon juice and cayenne pepper. 

How To Make a CopyCat Chick Fil A Sandwich in the Air Fryer: 

  1. Presoak the chicken breasts in pickle juice in a medium size bowl for 20 minutes. 

    Picture of a glass bowl with the raw chicken soaking in the pickle juice. There is a meat tenderizer at the top left of the glass bowl and whole eggs to the top right of the glass bowl.

  2. Place chicken breasts into a sealable bag and pound the chicken breasts to about ½-inch thickness with a meat mallet.

    Picture the raw chicken in a zip lock bag being tenderized with a meat mallet.

  3. Then cut the chicken breasts in half to make 4 total pieces of chicken.

    A picture of the two raw chicken breasts on a cutting board cut in half with a knife lying on the cutting board at an angle.

  4. Whisk milk and eggs together in a shallow bowl then place the chicken breasts into the milk mixture and allow them to sit for 30 minutes.

    A glass bowl with the whisked milk and eggs and the raw chicken soaking in the mixture. In the bottom, left corner of the photograph are two whole eggs, and at the top right of the image are two egg shells with a glass bowl of flour.

  5. In a separate bowl mix the breadcrumbs, flour, powdered sugar, salt, paprika, pepper and chili powder together.

    Round white bowl with all the dry ingredients poured in; breadcrumbs, flour, powdered sugar, salt, paprika, pepper, and chili powder.

  6. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes.

  7. Remove the chicken breasts from the egg mixture and dip chicken pieces in the seasoned flour mixture. Shake each piece gently to remove excess flour.

    Picture of a glass bowl with the raw chicken soaked in a milk and egg mixture. A round white bowl with the flour mixture and one piece of chicken in the process of being coated with the mixture. To the right of the white bowl is a fork used to move the chicken from the wet mixture to the dry mix. To the right of the glass bowl is the can of avocado oil, and there is a small portion of whole eggs at the top land bottom left of the picture.

  8. Place each piece on a baking sheet until you are ready to begin to air fry.

  9. Place the chicken breasts into the air fryer basket. Spray the tops of the chicken with olive oil spray or avocado oil spray.

    A picture of the air fryer basket with the chicken placed inside and ready to air fry. In the bottom left corner of the image is a round white plate with pickles and lettuce. The base of the air fryer is at the top left. The buns are at the top right of the picture.

  10. Air fry the chicken at 400 degrees F for 17-19 minutes, flip chicken halfway through the cooking process and spray the tops to get extra crispy chicken.

    A picture of four pieces of chicken halfway cooked in the air fryer basket before flipping over. The hamburger buns are at the top right corner of the picture.

  11. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees F.

  12. Serve on brioche buns with your favorite sandwich fixings.

Optional Favorite Dipping Sauce: Ranch dressing, honey mustard sauce, spicy mayonnaise or homemade chick fil a sauce.

Optional Additional Toppings: Hot sauce, slice of cheese, shredded lettuce, Dijon or yellow mustard, sliced tomato or dill pickle slices. 

Cooking Tips: If not serving immediately place chicken on a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to remain crispy. Use air fryer parchment paper with holes for easy clean up.

Substitutions: Switch out hamburger buns or potato rolls for brioche buns. Use a baking dish instead of a resealable bag if you do have one. Use confectioners sugar if you do not have powdered sugar.

I make this recipe in my Cosori 5.8 qt. air fryer or 6.8 quart air fryer. Depending on your air fryer, size and wattages, cooking time may need to be adjusted 1-2 minutes.

Chicken sandwich fully cooked from the air fryer served with waffle fries in a red basket. There is a white bowl of sauce above the basket and a small portion of extra buns in the image's top right.

 FAQ's

What can I serve with this dish?

This sandwich is great on its own because it is so delicious. Avocado or waffle fries, corn ribs or a blooming onion will all add extra texture and flavor to go along with this sandwich. For a lighter fare try a simple garden salad or caprese salad drizzled with olive oil.

How to store leftovers?

Allow chicken to completely cool prior to storing. Place them in an airtight container or resealable bag in your refrigerator for up to 5 days. Wrap them in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container or freezer storage bag in your freezer for up to 4 months.                                                  

What other dishes can I make with chicken?

Chicken is such a versatile meat so you can make several dishes with it. A spicy chicken sandwich, bite size popcorn chicken and lemon pepper chicken are always a hit in our house. Since it is so versatile you can chop it and put it in salads, stews and soups or shred it and make tacos, enchiladas or a hearty casserole.

Why do you use pickle juice?

Pickle juice has a lot of salt and is often used to brine chicken and pork. Since it is a brine, it helps carry moisture throughout the entire chicken and which makes it really juicy. It also just simply adds extra flavor to the chicken.

Chick fil a copycat sandwich fully cooked and dressed with pickles, cheese, lettuce, and sauce in a red basket. A small portion of a red basket with waffle fries is in the top right of the picture.

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📖 Recipe

Air fryer copycat chick fil a sandwich dressed with pickles, cheese, lettuce, and sauce and served on a round white plate.

Air Fryer Copycat Chick Fil A Sandwich

Jen
Air Fryer Copycat Chick Fil A Sandwich is juicy chicken that is super crispy in every bite. It is a delicious sandwich that tastes just like the real thing but made in your own kitchen. 
4.64 from 19 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 885 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Air Fryer

Ingredients
  

  • 2 medium eggs
  • 1 cup milk whole
  • 2 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs plain
  • ½ cup pickle juice
  • 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoom chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper black pepper can be substituted

Instructions
 

  • Presoak the chicken breasts in pickle juice in a medium size bowl for 20 minutes. 
  • Place chicken breasts into a sealable bag and pound the chicken breasts to about ½-inch thickness with a meat mallet.
  • Then cut the chicken breasts in half to make 4 total pieces of chicken.
  • Whisk milk and eggs together in a shallow bowl then place the chicken breasts into the milk mixture and allow them to sit for 30 minutes.
  • In a separate bowl mix the breadcrumbs, flour, powdered sugar, salt, paprika, pepper and chili powder together.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes.
  • Remove the chicken breasts from the egg mixture and dip chicken pieces in the seasoned flour mixture. Shake each piece gently to remove excess flour.
  • Place each piece on a baking sheet until you are ready to begin to air fry.
  • Place the chicken breasts into the air fryer basket. Spray the tops of the chicken with olive oil spray or avocado oil spray.
  • Air fry the chicken at 400 degrees F for 17-19 minutes, flip chicken halfway through the cooking process and spray the tops to get extra crispy chicken.
  • Use an instant-read meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees F.
  • Serve on brioche buns with favorite sandwich fixings.

Notes

Optional Favorite Dipping Sauce: Ranch dressing, honey mustard sauce, spicy mayonnaise or homemade chick fil a sauce.
Optional Additional Toppings: Hot sauce, slice of cheese, shredded lettuce, Dijon or yellow mustard, sliced tomato or dill pickle slices. 
Optional Additional Flavors: Black pepper, garlic powder, teaspoon lemon juice and cayenne pepper. 
I make this recipe in my Cosori 5.8 qt. air fryer or 6.8 quart air fryer. Depending on your air fryer, size and wattages, cooking time may need to be adjusted 1-2 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 885kcalCarbohydrates: 105gProtein: 71gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 323mgSodium: 2820mgPotassium: 1257mgFiber: 4gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 559IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 297mgIron: 7mg
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*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.

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Comments

    4.64 from 19 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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  1. Cathy

    Does the nutritional information include the bun? Or is it just the chicken?

    Reply

    • Jen West

      Just the chicken 🙂 And it's an approximation.

      Reply