Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich: The Discontinued Classic You Can Make at Home

The first time I tasted Chick-fil-A’s chicken salad sandwich, I was in college, rushing between classes with barely enough time to eat. That sandwich was a revelation: tender chunks of chicken, perfectly seasoned, with just the right balance of creaminess and crunch. When they discontinued it in 2017, I was devastated. Thankfully they shared their recipe, so you can still make this classic at at home.

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What Makes This Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Special?

• The sandwich construction, with its toasted honey wheat bread, crisp lettuce, and fresh tomato, captures the complete Chick-fil-A experience
• It starts with perfectly marinated and grilled chicken that captures Chick-fil-A’s signature flavor
• The chicken is processed to the ideal texture that matches the restaurant’s original sandwich
• The balance of creamy mayonnaise, crunchy celery, and sweet pickle relish creates the perfect texture contrast
• Hard-boiled eggs add richness and depth that sets this chicken salad apart from basic versions

Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe Ingredients

For the Grilled Chicken:

• Chicken breast – Provides the protein base with a mild flavor that absorbs the marinade perfectly
• Dill pickle juice – Tenderizes the chicken while infusing it with Chick-fil-A’s signature tangy flavor
• Buttermilk – Works with the pickle juice to tenderize the meat and adds subtle creaminess
• Salt – Enhances all the flavors and ensures the chicken is properly seasoned throughout
• Ground black pepper – Adds mild heat and depth to the chicken’s flavor profile
• Paprika – Contributes subtle sweetness and a hint of smokiness to the chicken
• Garlic powder – Infuses the chicken with savory notes without the texture of fresh garlic
• Onion powder – Provides aromatic flavor throughout the chicken without the sharpness of fresh onions
• Celery salt – Adds complexity with its unique vegetal saltiness that’s essential to the Chick-fil-A flavor
• Olive oil – Prevents sticking during grilling and helps create beautiful grill marks

For the Chicken Salad:

• Marinated chicken – Delivers the signature Chick-fil-A flavor as the foundation of the salad
• Celery – Contributes essential crunch and fresh, bright flavor to contrast with the creamy elements
• Sweet pickle relish – Adds sweetness, tanginess, and tiny bursts of pickle flavor throughout the salad
• Mayonnaise – Creates the creamy, binding base that holds everything together
• Hard-boiled eggs – Provide richness, additional protein, and a velvety texture to the finished salad
• Salt – Balances and enhances all the flavors in the mixture
• Ground black pepper – Adds a subtle heat and complexity to the chicken salad

For the Sandwich:

• Honey wheat bread with oat topping – Replicates Chick-fil-A’s signature bread with its subtle sweetness and hearty texture
• Green leaf lettuce leaves – Add freshness and crispness to contrast with the creamy chicken salad
• Tomato – Provides juicy acidity and bright color that balances the richness of the chicken salad

How to Make This Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich Copycat Recipe

To prepare the grilled chicken:

1. Trim any remaining skin or fat from the chicken breasts and marinate the chicken in a plastic bag or mixing bowl with the dill pickle juice and buttermilk. For the best results, marinate the chicken for two to three hours, but if you are in a rush, 30 minutes will do. 

2. Preheat the grill to 350°F. If you don’t have a grill, you can use a grill pan or cast iron pan. 
3. While the grill is heating up, whisk together the salt, ground black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and celery salt. 
4. Dry the chicken and sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts with the seasonings. 
5. Lightly oil the grill with the olive oil. 
6. Cook the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the internal temperature is at least 165°F. 
7. Transfer the chicken to a wire rack and place it over a baking tray to cool. 

To prepare the chicken salad:

1. Dice the cooled chicken breasts into large pieces and add them to a food processor bowl. 
2. Chop the celery into pieces and add it to the food processor’s bowl.
3. Add the remaining ingredients (mayo, sweet relish, boiled eggs), except salt and black ground pepper, to the food processor. Pulse a few times or until the mixture reaches your desired consistency. If you don’t have a food processor, you can cut all the ingredients into tiny pieces. 
4. Remove the chicken salad from the food processor bowl and season it with salt and ground black pepper. 
5. Place the chicken salad in a bowl, cover, and chill. 

To assemble the sandwich:

1. Toast the honey wheat bread.
2. While the bread is toasting, rinse and dry the lettuce. Slice the tomato. Set both aside for later.
3. Place one piece of lettuce on a slice of toasted bread. Add a slice of tomato. Top with a good amount of chicken salad. Cover with another piece of toasted bread. 
4. Cut and serve. 

Chick Fil A Chicken Salad Sandwich

Recreate Chick-fil-A's beloved discontinued chicken salad sandwich with this detailed copycat recipe. From the perfectly seasoned grilled chicken to the creamy, flavorful salad mixture and signature honey wheat bread, this recipe captures all the elements that made the original so popular.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chick Fil A Recipes

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Marinate: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 637kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

Grilled Chicken

• 16 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1/2 cup dill pickle juice
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon celery salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil to brush the grill

Chicken Salad

• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 hard-boiled eggs
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste

Sandwich Assembly

• honey wheat bread with oat topping
• green leaf lettuce
• tomato slices

Instructions

• Place the chicken, dill pickle juice, and buttermilk in a zipper bag. Place the bag in the fridge, and let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, but preferably for several hours.
• In a small bowl, combine the salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and celery salt. Remove the chicken from the marinade and season on both sides with the seasoning blend.
• Heat the grill to 350°F or use a grill pan. Brush the grill with oil.
• Place the chicken on the grill. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
• Remove the chicken from the grill, let it cool, and chop it into 1-inch cubes.
• Place the chicken, celery, sweet pickle relish, mayonnaise, and hard-boiled eggs into a food processor. Pulse a few times until the chicken has a very fine texture. Season with salt and pepper.
• Lightly toast 2 slices of bread. To build the sandwich, place a few lettuce leaves on one slice of bread followed by a few tomato slices and some chicken salad. Place the other slice of bread on top.

Nutrition

Calories: 637kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 181mg | Sodium: 1985mg | Potassium: 901mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 4274IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 177mg | Iron: 3mg

What to Serve With a Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich

There are endless possibilities for sides with this recipe. Although a bag of potato chips is an easy and tasty option, here are a few more that may be a little more interesting:

• Coleslaw. Creamy and crunchy at the same time, everyone loves traditional coleslaw. Want something a little different? Try Hawaiian Coleslaw With Pineapple. 
• Soup. There’s nothing more comforting than hot soup. Double up on the chicken with a classic Chicken Noodle Soup, or sneak in the veggies with a cup of Three Cheese Broccoli Soup.
• Fruit Salad. Add a touch of sweetness to your meal with a fruit salad. Try drizzling Jason’s Deli Fruit Dip on top of the fruit salad for a little tang. 

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

• Refreshing: Add a small amount of fresh mayonnaise to revive chicken salad that has been stored
• Refrigeration: Store chicken salad in an airtight container for up to 3 days
• Make-Ahead Components: Grill and season chicken up to 2 days before making the salad
• Best Practices: Keep chicken salad chilled until ready to serve

Love the food at Chick Fil A? Try these copycat chicken recipes!

• Chicken Nuggets
• Cobb Salad
• Cool Wrap
• Fried Chicken Sandwich
• Grilled Chicken Sandwich
• Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Favorite Sandwich Recipes

• Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich
• Ham Salad Sandwich
• McDonald’s Bacon Ranch McCrispy
• Loose Meat Sandwich
• Panera Frontega Chicken Sandwich
• Subway Tuna Sandwich
• Turkey Devonshire

Check out more of my easy sandwich recipes and the best copycat Chick Fil A recipes on CopyKat!