Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwiches can be made at home on Sundays or any day of the week, without ever having to visit the restaurant! 😉
Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
KFC Chicken Littles and Chick fil-A Chicken Sandwiches are the bomb, right!
Uou can have Chick-fil-A Sandwiches on Sundays and any day of the year, without ever having to step foot in that restaurant. 😉
After trying many different brands of air fryers, this Ultrean 8.5 Quart Air Fryer (<<< get this one!!!) is my favorite. It cooks very evenly and it is more reliable than most of the other brands.
Cast of Ingredients for Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
Don’t let the list of ingredients scare you away. They are just normal pantry items.
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Ingredients for Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwiches
- Chicken Breast – if you prefer thighs, use thighs.
- Eggs and Milk
- Flour and Potato Starch
- Celery Seed – CFA uses celery salt, but I think it tastes better using celery seed
- Pickles, Salt and Pepper and Paprika
- Secret Ingredient – this is CFA’s secret ingredient
Before you gather ingredients, think about soaking potatoes and make my delicious Air Fryer French Fries or even some Air Fryer Onion Rings as a side.
Place Chicken Breasts in Baggie
How To Pound Chicken
- Place the chicken breast in a large Ziploc Baggie and zip it locked.
- Place the bag of chicken on a wooden cutting board.
- Use a Meat Tenderizer and pound the chicken until it is about 1/2 inch thick and/or pretty even from end to end.
Don’t throw out this bag after pounding as it will be used again for the marinade!
Pounded Chicken Breast
What Size to Cut Chicken Breasts
- Depending on the size of your buns and chicken breasts, cut the breasts into two or three pieces.
- The chicken will bulk up after breading, so cut the chicken into pieces that are a bit smaller than the buns.
Pro Tip: Buns come in so many sizes and size of chicken pieces is dependent upon bun size. For sliders, you may need to cut the chicken into four pieces.
Another delicious recipe to use for parties and events is my Air Fryer Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings. OMG, the goodness in these is incredible.
Place Chicken Breasts into Baggie with Pickle Juice
Why Use Pickle Juice for Chick-fil-A Chicken?
- Dill pickle juice and peperoncini juice both work well to brine and tenderize the chicken. Dill pickle juice however, will give you the exact taste of the famous chain restaurant.
- The chicken will plump up and keep from drying out.
- Pickle juice also makes the chicken very juicy while cooking. You can even brine chicken parts and pieces in pickle juice for cooking with other methods.
Fear not, the chicken is not going to taste like one big ole pickle! My Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Sandwich recipe is great for making ahead and storing in the freezer, for when the mood strikes. Another recipe which uses pickle juice as a brine is my Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Sandwich.
Dunk Chicken in Egg Mixture
In one Mixing Bowl, prepare the flour and seasonings mixture. In another Mixing Bowl, crack open the eggs and Whisk together well.
Can the Chicken Be Frozen in Advance?
- Yes, there are two ways to make freezer meals.
- Prepare several packages of pounded chicken breast with dill pickle juice and use your FoodSaver Vacuum Sealing System and place into freezer for when a sudden Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich craving hits.
- The chicken can also be frozen after the breading has been added. The chicken can be cooked frozen. You will just need to add a few more minutes.
For a low carb version, try my Low Carb Chicken Schnitzel recipe!
Shake off Excess Flour Coating
How to Bread Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
- Drop one piece of chicken at a time into the Egg/Milk Mixture.
- Use Silicone Coated Tongs (you don’t want to scratch your Air Fryer) and pick up the chicken and place in Flour Mixture Bowl.
- Use the Tongs to toss flour over the chicken and flip to make sure the chicken is completely coated.
- The pick up the chicken with the Tongs and shake off any excess flour.
The reason I like to use Tongs, rather than fingers, is that the wet with the flour will gunk up on your fingers and make it difficult for the flour to stick properly.
Prepare Air Fryer Basket for Chicken
For more information on seasoning air fryers, please see my How to Properly Season Air Fryer Basket to Prevent Sticking article.
Tips and Tricks for Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwiches
- Cut chicken into slightly smaller pieces than the bun.
- Pound the chicken evenly so that it is the same thickness all around.
- When dredging the chicken more is not better. A light layer will do. Shake off excess coating!!!!! This is key. If you do not shake off excess coating, the coating WILL fall off the chicken when you flip the pieces.
- Grease basket of air fryer well.
-
Generously Spray Chicken Breasts with Oil
Can I use Air Fryer Crisper Lid?
Of course, it is meant to be used as an air fryer.
- Mealthy CrispLid (buy from Mealthy) / Mealthy CrispLid (buy from Amazon)
- Instant Pot Crisping Lid (buy from Instant Pot) / Instant Pot Crisping Lid (buy from Amazon)
Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
Zaxby’s Chicken Dipping Sauce is really good on this sandwich too, in lieu of mayonnaise! Serve along with my Delicious Air Fryer French Fries. Truth be told, I also have a Ultrean 8.5 Quart Air Fryer, so that I can do my fries at the same time. 🙂
You can use your Air Fryer to butter and toast the very soft buns you bought, or, if you love to bake, like I do, use your own homemade Bread Buns. I like to put my Dill Pickle Chips right up on top of the Air Fried Chicken, because they belong on top and not hidden away. Be proud of those Pickles! I also like to add a dollop of mayonnaise to my Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich. Enjoy.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes to Make:
- Air Fryer Persian Kabab Koobideh {Chicken Kabob}
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Jalapeño Poppers – makes a nice appetizer or dinner.
- Lemony Middle Eastern Air Fryer Crispy Sumac Chicken
- Air Fryer Japanese Blistered Shishito Peppers
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Ultrean 8.5 Quart Air Fryer
- J.A. Henckels Classic 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk– a MUST have, probably my most used utensil
- Cilio Olivewood Spatula
- Porcelain & Bamboo Salt Box with Spoon
- My FANTASTIC Teak Cutting & Charcuterie Board & Compartments
- Meat Tenderizer – Breading Station – Silicone Coated Tongs
- Olive Oil Sprayer / Mister for Cooking
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Here is your handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts Boneless/Skinless pounded
- 1/2 cup Dill Pickle Juice
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour
- 2 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Potato Starch
- 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Celery Seed ground
- 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil extra virgin
For Assembling
- 4 Hamburger Buns toasted/buttered
- 8 Dill Pickle Chips or more
Spicy Option
- 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper for spicy sandwiches
Recommended Products
Instructions
- Place chicken into a Ziploc Baggie and pound, so that the whole piece is the same thickness, about 1/2 inch thick.
- Cut chicken into two or three pieces (depending on size). Each piece should be a bit bigger than your buns.
- Place pieces of chicken back into Ziploc baggie and pour in pickle juice. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, beat egg with the milk. In another bowl, combine flour, potato starch, baking powder and all spices.
- Using tongs, coat chicken with egg mixture and then into flour mixture, making sure pieces are completely coated. Shake off excess flour (this is important).
- Spray the basket of your air fryer with Oil and place chicken into air fryer and spray the chicken with oil.
- Cook at 340 degrees for 6 minutes. Using silicone tongs, carefully flip the chicken and spray with oil. Cook for 6 more minutes.
- Raise the temperature to 400 degrees and cook for two minutes on each side.
- Serve on buttered and toasted buns, with 2 pickle chips and a small dollop of mayonnaise, if desired.
Notes
Can an Air Fryer Lid Be Used?
Yes, any crisping lid can be used to make Chic Fil-a Chicken Sandwiches.- Mealthy CrispLid (buy from Mealthy) / Mealthy CrispLid (buy from Amazon)
- Instant Pot Crisping Lid (buy from Instant Pot) / Instant Pot Crisping Lid (buy from Amazon)
What to Serve with Air Fryer Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich.
- Creamy & Crispy Air Fryer Avocado Fries - perfect side dish for Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich!
- Air Fryer Greasy Spoon Home Fried Potatoes - you will think you are in a New York diner!
- Quick Air Fryer Doughnuts {Cinnamon & Sugar Donuts} - don't forget dessert.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Make:
- Air Fryer Rib Eye Steak with Blue Cheese Butter Keto - this will be the best thing you ever ate!
- Air Fryer Carne Asada Recipe {Grilled Meat Tacos} - totally incredibly delicious!
- Air Fryer Simple Grilled American Cheese Sandwich - you won't believe the ease of this recipe.
- Air Fryer Southern Fried Catfish {Louisiana Cajun Style}
Nutrition
PIN this Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich {Copycat Recipe}!
Any suggestions for a gluten free flower that will brown well?
Hi Jill,
I love this recipe! But my husband and I are trying to stay away from wheat flour. Will it work with almond or coconut flour?
Could you use almond flour? I’m a diabetic and can’t use flour.
Hi Dee. I have not tried the recipe with almond flour. Jill
I made it with both flour and almond flour. Had trouble with breading sticking on both. Tastes delicious but I gave up on the air fryer and put them in the oven.
Not going to give up though.
I made this and it was a hit, very delicious. I cooked 4 at a time and made a total of 11 i also had trouble with the breading not sticking and them not browning prooerly. I used different times on them, but it made no difference.
Me too ?
AH! What did I do wrong? Chicken stayed white and floury even with the sprayed oil….still tastes yummy though. 😉
Did you shake off the excess coating? Jill
The recipe calls for powdered sugar??
The above recipe calls for powdered sugar. Is that correct? Thank you!
Hey
Thank you for taking the time to produce this. I’m totally new to all things cooking but have started air frying so again, as I also love all things Chicken. I’m in the UK so what could I use instead of the Dill Juice?
You don’t have jars of dill pickles in the UK?
Just use the juice from pickles. Or whatever vinegar based juice you can find? ??♀️
I lived in the UK for nearly two years and was able to find dill pickles via Asda, Tesco and Waitrose…just search for pickled gherkins. You can also find them in the Polish food section of certain shops. 🙂
Need to really press the flour on i guess because all mine fell off.
Once you bread the chicken it needs to sit for about 20 minutes to allow the breading to adhere to the chicken. This is standard no matter what your breading.
Double drip your chicken and put in the fridge for 30 minutes I found it to be crispy
it was very good but the smell of pickle was very strong which turned my picky kids off! Did you rinse the chicken when you took it out of the pickle juice before you put it into the egg?
I followed your instructions to a tee. The chicken was tender, flavorful, and very much like the original. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.
Thanks, Clare. I am glad you enjoyed the recipe. Jill
I followed the exact recipe. DELICIOUS!!
This is going to become part of our weekly meal routine. Thank you so much for the detailed directions.
can u use gluten free flour
Can I use chicken thighs as well as chicken breasts at the same time. (My husband will only eat thighs and I will only eat breasts.) ???
Do you Air Fry the chicken before putting it into the freezer?
This was perfect!! I am a southern-born, chicken frying lady but will not be pan-frying these anymore! (I have madebthat version several times.) I used PAM bc my oil sprayer got gunky and clogged. That is the only change I made. This is definitely a winner!
I ya NO problems with the breading coming off. Wish I could post my pics!
Wonderful. So glad you enjoyed the recipe. Jill
Absolutely amazing!!! I made nuggets as I had chicken tenders on hand but they are great. I just keep the already cooked ones warm in the oven till meal is ready.
I am very excited to try this! I just got a GoWise Air Fryer and have followed an Instant Pot recipe of yours. Thanks for sharing! My kids will be the ultimate critics. ?
Let me know, Katie. We love this recipe. Jill
Should the air fryer be pre heated?
I have made chicken tenders, chicken breast and they are great. I marinate chicken dip in flour , then egg wash and in ritz crackers crushed like bread crumbs. My family loves them.