The Air Fryer Copycat Chick-fil-A Sandwich features juicy chicken with a perfectly crispy coating in every bite. It’s a delicious homemade version that tastes just like the real thing, made right in your own kitchen.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 medium eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- ½ cup pickle juice
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon white pepper (or black pepper as a substitute)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Start by soaking the chicken breasts in pickle juice in a medium-sized bowl for 20 minutes.
- Place the chicken breasts into a sealable bag and pound them to about ½-inch thickness using a meat mallet.
- Cut the pounded chicken breasts into 4 pieces.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs. Dip the chicken pieces into the milk mixture and let them sit for 30 minutes.
- In another bowl, combine the flour, breadcrumbs, powdered sugar, salt, paprika, chili powder, and pepper.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- After the chicken has soaked, dip each piece into the flour mixture, gently shaking off any excess.
- Arrange the coated chicken pieces on a baking sheet until ready to air fry.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, spray the tops with olive oil or avocado oil spray.
- Air fry at 400°F for 17-19 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying again to ensure extra crispiness.
- Check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer, making sure it reaches 165°F.
- Serve the crispy chicken on brioche buns with your favorite sandwich toppings.
Notes:
- Optional Dipping Sauces: Ranch dressing, honey mustard, spicy mayo, or homemade Chick-fil-A sauce.
- Optional Toppings: Hot sauce, cheese slice, shredded lettuce, Dijon or yellow mustard, sliced tomato, or dill pickles.
- Optional Flavor Add-ins: Black pepper, garlic powder, lemon juice, or cayenne pepper.
- Air Fryer Notes: I use my Cosori 5.8 qt. or 6.8 qt. air fryer. Cooking times may vary depending on the size and wattage of your air fryer, so adjust by 1-2 minutes if needed.
