Air-Fryer Chick-Fil-A: Crispy, Quick, And Delicious

Are you craving a Chick-fil-A sandwich but don't want to leave the house? Well, you're in luck! This copycat recipe will show you how to make a Chick-fil-A sandwich in your air fryer. It's healthier, cost-effective, and convenient—and it only takes 20 minutes!

Marinating the chicken

Ingredients:

• Chicken Breasts: Opt for fresh, high-quality boneless and skinless chicken breasts.
• Pickle Juice: Use dill pickle juice to infuse the chicken with a tangy flavor and make it tender.
• Buttermilk: Buttermilk helps tenderize the chicken and creates a delicious, juicy texture.

Instructions:

• Trim the fat off the chicken breasts and slice them in half.
• In a large bowl, combine the buttermilk and pickle juice, whisking them together.
• Place the chicken pieces into the buttermilk and pickle juice mixture. Ensure the chicken is fully submerged.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or even overnight for more intense flavor.

The marination process is essential to developing the flavors and ensuring the chicken is juicy and tender. Feel free to adjust the marination time based on your preference and schedule. Now, let's move on to the next step of preparing the coating for your Chick-fil-A sandwich!

Preparing the coating

In a shallow dish, combine all the breading ingredients; flour, powdered sugar, and seasonings. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk and egg until smooth. If frying, add 5-6 cups of oil into a skillet and heat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and dunk it directly into the egg-milk mixture to coat well. Then, transfer each drippy piece of chicken into the flour coating, pressing the flour mixture onto all sides of the chicken to coat it well.

For extra crunchy chicken, you can "double-dip" by placing the chicken back into the egg mixture and again into the flour coating. Shake off any excess flour.

Coating the chicken

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Start by trimming any excess fat from the chicken breasts. Then, cut each breast into halves or even pieces, depending on the size of your buns. You want the chicken pieces to be slightly smaller than the buns as they will bulk up after breading. Place the trimmed and cut chicken into a large bowl or ziplock bag.

Step 2: Make the Brine

In a separate bowl, prepare the brine by whisking together pickle juice and buttermilk. You can also add seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to the brine for extra flavour. Submerge the chicken in the brine, ensuring it is well-coated. Cover the bowl or seal the bag, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to overnight. This brining process infuses the chicken with a tangy flavour and makes it tender and juicy.

Step 3: Prepare the Breading Station

Now, it's time to set up your breading station. You'll need three shallow bowls or containers. In the first bowl, whisk together the egg and milk to create an egg wash. In the second bowl, combine the flour, powdered sugar, and seasonings. The seasonings can include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper—adjust the amounts to your taste preferences. The third bowl will be for the final coated chicken pieces.

Step 4: Coat the Chicken

Take a piece of chicken from the brine, allowing any excess liquid to drip off. First, dip it into the egg wash, ensuring it is well-coated. Then, transfer the chicken to the flour mixture bowl, pressing the flour mixture onto all sides of the chicken to coat it evenly. For an extra crispy coating, you can "double-dip" by dipping the chicken back into the egg wash and then into the flour mixture again. Finally, give the chicken a gentle shake to remove any excess flour. Repeat this process for each piece of chicken.

Step 5: Rest and Air Fry

Once all the chicken pieces are coated, let them rest on a plate for about 10 minutes to allow the breading to set. This step helps ensure the breading adheres to the chicken and reduces the chances of it falling off during cooking.

Now, it's time to air fry! Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil, or line it with an air fryer parchment liner. Place the coated chicken pieces into the basket, making sure they are in a single layer and not overlapping. Lightly spray the tops of the chicken with cooking oil.

Set the air fryer temperature to 350°F (177°C) and cook the chicken for 5 minutes. Then, increase the temperature to 400°F (204°C) and cook for another 4 to 8 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy. Flip the chicken pieces halfway through the cooking time and spray with oil again to ensure even cooking.

Step 6: Check for Doneness

To ensure the chicken is cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). You can also cut into one of the chicken pieces to ensure it is no longer pink inside.

And there you have it! Golden, crispy, and juicy Chick-fil-A-style chicken, ready to be assembled into sandwiches. Enjoy!

Cooking the chicken

To make Chick-fil-A sandwiches in an air fryer, you'll need to start by marinating the chicken. For the marinade, combine pickle juice, buttermilk, and seasonings (such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper) in a bowl. Submerge the chicken in this mixture, cover it tightly, and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.

Next, prepare the coating for the chicken. In a shallow dish, mix together flour, powdered sugar, and seasonings. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk and egg until smooth.

Now it's time to coat the chicken. Take the chicken out of the marinade and dunk it in the egg-milk mixture. Then, transfer it to the flour coating, pressing the flour mixture onto all sides of the chicken. For extra crunchy chicken, you can "double-dip" by repeating this step.

Once the chicken is coated, place it in the air fryer basket, which has been sprayed with oil. Spritz or brush the tops of the chicken breasts with peanut oil.

Cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, then flip it over and repeat the process of spritzing with oil and cooking for another 4-5 minutes. Continue cooking until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and has a crispy, golden-brown coating.

Now your chicken is ready to be assembled into sandwiches! Toast your brioche buns (you can butter them if you like), then add pickles and the cooked chicken. If you want to make a deluxe version, you can also add lettuce, tomato, and cheese.

Assembling the sandwich

Now that you have your chicken cooked to perfection, it's time to assemble the sandwich.

Start by toasting the brioche buns. You can do this in a toaster or pop them into the air fryer for a few minutes. If you like, spread a little butter on the buns.

Next, place the chicken on the bottom bun. Top the chicken with a few slices of dill pickles. If you're making the deluxe version, add some lettuce, tomato, and cheese.

Finally, spread your sauce of choice on the top bun. You can use the Chick-fil-A sauce, honey mustard, or spicy sriracha mayo. Place the top bun on the sandwich, and your Chick-fil-A sandwich is ready to be devoured!

You can serve this delicious sandwich with a side of French fries, a side salad, or some homemade potato salad. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions