A homemade Chick-fil-A-style chicken sandwich — pickle-brined chicken in a lightly sweet, peppery crust, fried golden and served on a toasted bun with pickles.
Recreate the cult-favourite fried chicken sandwich at home — a juicy chicken breast brined in pickle juice, dredged in a perfectly spiced flour, fried golden and stacked on a toasted bun with pickles. The pickle brine is the secret to that signature tang and tenderness.
Prep 20 min
Cook 10 min
Total 60 min
Easy
- 1 Chicken Breast
- 1/4 cup Pickle Juice
- 1 Egg
- 1/4 cup Milk
- 1/2 cup Flour
- 1 tbs Icing Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Celery Salt
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1 cup Olive Oil
- 1 Sesame Seed Burger Buns
Video
Preparation
- Wrap the chicken loosely in plastic wrap and pound gently with the flat side of a meat tenderiser until about ½ inch thick all over, then cut into two even pieces.
- Marinate in the pickle juice for 30 minutes to one hour (add a teaspoon of Tabasco now for a spicy version).
- Beat the egg with the milk in a bowl, and combine the flour, sugar and spices in another bowl.
- Dip each chicken piece into the egg on both sides, then coat in the flour on both sides.
- Heat the oil in a skillet, about ½ inch deep, to 345–350°F.
- Fry each cutlet for 2 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through.
- Blot on paper and serve on toasted buns with pickle slices.
Tips from the ZestyPlate Kitchen
- Don't skip the pickle-juice brine — it tenderises the chicken and gives it that unmistakable flavour.
- Pound the breast to an even thickness so it cooks through without drying out.
- Keep the oil steady around 345–350°F for a crisp, golden coating that isn't greasy.
- A spoonful of icing sugar in the dredge helps the crust brown and adds a subtle sweetness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The acidity tenderises the chicken and infuses it with that tangy, savoury flavour the sandwich is famous for.
Add a little hot sauce to the brine and extra cayenne to the dredge for a fiery deluxe-style sandwich.
Yes — brush the coated chicken with oil and air-fry until golden, though frying gives the crispest result.
