Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich Copycat Recipe
Chick-fil-A’s Chicken Salad Sandwich earned a devoted following before the chain removed it from menus in 2017, leaving a gap that regular customers have been trying to fill ever since. When they discontinued it, Chick-fil-A made the unusual move of releasing the official recipe, and this copycat follows that blueprint closely. The key details are all here, including the pickle juice and buttermilk marinade, the hard-boiled eggs, and the sweet relish that defined the original. Serve it on toasted honey wheat bread with lettuce and tomato for the closest match to the sandwich people still talk about.
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The Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich was built around a straightforward formula: marinated and grilled chicken, processed to a fine, even texture, folded into a creamy dressing with celery, sweet pickle relish, and hard-boiled eggs, then served on toasted honey wheat bread with green leaf lettuce and a slice of tomato. Nothing about it was unconventional, but the balance between each element was precise enough that people noticed when it disappeared.
What makes this recipe different from a standard homemade chicken salad is that it starts from Chick-fil-A’s own released formula rather than a reverse-engineered approximation. The pickle juice-and-buttermilk marinade is Chick-fil-A’s signature preparation method, and the inclusion of hard-boiled eggs is what separates this chicken salad from a basic mayo-and-celery version.
Why this recipe works
The pickle juice and buttermilk marinade does two things simultaneously. The acid in the pickle juice begins to break down the chicken’s muscle fibers, preventing it from becoming tough or stringy after grilling. The buttermilk reinforces that tenderizing effect and adds a subtle creaminess that carries through into the finished salad. Together, they also infuse the chicken with the signature tangy note that Chick-fil-A’s version is known for, which plain grilled chicken lacks.
Processing the cooked chicken in a food processor rather than simply chopping it by hand is the technique that replicates the texture of the original sandwich. A few pulses break the chicken into small, irregular pieces with a consistent surface area, allowing the dressing to be evenly distributed throughout the salad. Chopped chicken produces larger, less uniform pieces with more visual variation and a slightly chunkier bite. Both are good chicken salads; only one matches the original.
Hard-boiled eggs are the ingredient most people leave out of chicken salad but that Chick-fil-A’s recipe specifically includes. They contribute a mild richness and a softer, smoother texture among the more fibrous chicken pieces, and their fat content helps the salad hold together without requiring extra mayonnaise. Leaving them out produces a noticeably drier, less cohesive result
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:
- Trim any remaining skin or fat from the chicken breasts, then marinate the chicken in a plastic bag or mixing bowl with dill pickle juice and buttermilk. For the best results, marinate the chicken for 2 to 3 hours; if you are in a rush, 30 minutes will do.
- Preheat the grill to 350°F. If you don’t have a grill, you can use a grill pan or cast iron pan.
- While the grill is heating up, whisk together the salt, ground black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and celery salt.
- Dry the chicken and sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts with the seasonings.
- Lightly oil the grill with the olive oil.
- 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.
- Transfer the chicken to a wire rack and place it over a baking tray to cool.
To prepare the chicken salad:
- Dice the cooled chicken breasts into large pieces and add them to a food processor bowl.
- Chop the celery into pieces and add it to the food processor’s bowl.
- 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.
- Remove the chicken salad from the food processor bowl and season it with salt and ground black pepper.
- Place the chicken salad in a bowl, cover, and chill.
To assemble the sandwich:
- Toast the honey wheat bread.
- While the bread is toasting, rinse and dry the lettuce. Slice the tomato. Set both aside for later.
- 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.
- Cut and serve.
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Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich
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.
Notes
- Patting the chicken dry before seasoning it is an important step that the instructions above include for a reason. Excess surface moisture from the marinade creates steam rather than a sear on the grill, which prevents the seasoning from forming a proper crust on the exterior. A dry surface produces better browning and more flavor in the finished chicken.
- Do not assemble the sandwiches until just before serving. Moisture from the tomato and chicken salad can quickly soften the toasted bread, especially if the salad is cold and the bread is still warm. Assembling immediately before eating keeps the bread at its best texture.
- The chicken salad improves in flavor after resting in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to several hours. If you have time, make the salad ahead and let it chill fully before building the sandwiches. The flavors meld noticeably as it sits.
- For a make-ahead approach, the grilled chicken can be cooked up to 2 days in advance. Store the whole, unseasoned grilled chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator, then process and assemble the salad when needed.
Nutrition
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 over 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
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