Chick Fil A Spicy Chicken Sandwich

My obsession with recreating the perfect Chick-fil-A Spicy Chicken Sandwich began one Sunday when the craving hit and, naturally, all locations were closed. After months of testing, I discovered their closely-guarded secret: pickle juice brine. This unexpected ingredient transforms ordinary chicken into something extraordinary, creating that signature tender, juicy interior that Chick-fil-A is famous for.

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What Makes the Chick Fil A Spicy Chicken Sandwich So Delicious? 

This Chicken fil A Spicy Chicken Sandwich recipe perfectly combines heat, sweetness, and tang. The spiciness of the hot sauce-flavored egg wash and the tang from the pickle juice chicken marinade provide the zip, while the brioche bun offers a sweet counter-balance.

Add a shaggy breading that delivers an extra crunch factor and helps keep the chicken perfectly tender, and you have one darn-good spicy crispy chicken sandwich. 

Why You Should Try This Recipe 

The little effort it takes to make this spicy chicken burger at home is worth it once you have your first bite. If you are nervous about frying, don’t be. It’s easier than you think. Get yourself a good deep-fry thermometer or an inexpensive deep-fryer, and you won’t have any problems.

Once you master this copycat Chick-fil-A recipe, it’s sure to become one of your go-to recipes when craving fast-food restaurant-style meals at home.

Spicy Chicken Sandwich Ingredients 

For this Chick fil A Spicy Chicken Sandwich recipe, you’ll need:

For the Chicken:

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts – Provides the perfect portion size and tender meat
• Dill pickle juice– Tenderizes and seasons the chicken from within
• Whole milk – Creates a rich base for the wet coating
• Hot sauce – Adds the signature heat
• Large egg – Helps the breading adhere and creates a crispy crust

For the Breading:

• All-purpose flour – Forms the base of the crispy coating
• Powdered sugar – Creates subtle sweetness and helps with browning
• Salt– Enhances all flavors
• Freshly ground black pepper – Adds subtle heat and depth
• Smoked paprika – Provides color and smoky flavor
• Cayenne pepper – Delivers the signature spicy kick

For Assembly:

• Brioche hamburger buns – Offers sweet, buttery contrast
• Butter – Helps achieve perfectly toasted buns
• Dill pickle chips – Add tangy crunch
• Peanut oil for frying – Provides clean, neutral flavor with ha igh smoke point

For Deluxe Version (Optional):

• Lettuce leaves – Adds fresh crunch
• Tomato slices – Provides juicy freshness
• Pepper jack cheese slices – Adds extra heat and creaminess

Peanut oil is best in this recipe for its high smoke point, but you can use your favorite cooking oil instead if you are concerned about allergies or other health concerns.

Ingredient Substitutions

Instead of a white brioche bun, you can use a toasted multigrain brioche bun or whole wheat bun.

You can add some garlic powder to the spice mix for an extra bit of flavor.

Instead of pepper jack cheese, you can use Colby-Jack cheese or Cheddar Cheese.

How to Make a Spicy Chicken Burger

To prepare the chicken:

1. Trim any extra skin or fat from the chicken breasts. 
2. Cut the boneless breast of chicken in half horizontally. If you use smaller chicken breasts, use four instead of two and pound them flat to ensure they cook evenly. 
3. Marinade the chicken breasts in a covered bowl of pickle juice for about 2 hours in the fridge. 

To bread the chicken:

1. Place two large shallow bowls and a wire rack on a rimmed cooking tray on the work surface. 
2. Pour the milk, hot sauce, and egg into the first bowl and whisk well. 
3. In the second bowl, stir together the flour, powdered sugar, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cayenne.

4. Remove the chicken pieces from the pickle juice and pat them dry on paper towels. Discard the pickle juice. 
5. Dip one piece of chicken into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Shake off any excess and transfer the chicken to the bowl with the dry ingredients. Coat the chicken well with the flour mix and lightly shake off the excess. 
6. Place the breaded chicken on the wire rack and repeat with the remaining chicken pieces. 
7. Place the baking tray with the breaded chicken in the fridge to set up while heating the oil. 

To fry the chicken:

1. Place a clean wire rack over a rimmed cooking tray close to where you will fry the chicken. 
2. Pour the oil for frying into a Dutch oven-style pot. Attach a deep-fry thermometer to the side of the pot. You can also use a deep-fryer for this recipe.
3. Heat the oil to 350°F. 
4. Remove the chicken from the fridge and carefully add one or two pieces to the hot oil. You will need to work in batches to prevent the oil temperature from falling below 325°F. 
5. Fry the chicken for three to four minutes per side. The chicken should be golden and very crispy. 
6. Remove the chicken from the hot oil using a spider. Use an instant-read thermometer to double-check that the interior of the chicken is at least 165 degrees. If it isn’t, put it back in the oil for a minute or two oil longer. 
7. Repeat with the remaining chicken pieces. 

To assemble the chicken sandwich:

1. Butter the buns and toast them butter-side down in a skillet over medium-low heat.
2. Place the breaded chicken and pickle slices on the toasted bottom bun.
3. Cover with the top bun and serve. 

For a spicy deluxe chicken sandwich:

1. Place lettuce, sliced tomato, breaded chicken, pepper jack cheese, and pickle slices on the toasted bottom bun.
2. Cover with the top bun and serve.

Pro Tips and Variations

• For extra crispy coating: Double-dip in wet and dry mixtures
• For more heat: Add extra cayenne to flour mixture
• For lighter version: Air fry at 400°F for 12-15 minutes
• Oil temperature: Maintain between 325-350°F for perfect results

Dietary Modifications

• Gluten-free: Use gluten-free flour blend and buns
• Dairy-free: Replace milk with buttermilk alternative
• Lower carb: Serve on lettuce wrap
• Less spicy: Reduce cayenne and hot sauce by half

Scaling the Recipe

• For a crowd: Double recipe; fry in batches
• For meal prep: Make extra, freeze unassembled
• For two: Halve recipe but keep marinade ratio

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

Q: Why isn’t my chicken as crispy as Chick-fil-A’s? A: Ensure oil temperature stays consistent and don’t overcrowd the pan.

Q: Is the pickle juice taste strong? A: No, it just enhances the chicken’s flavor and tenderness.

Q: Can I skip the marinating time? A: Minimum 30 minutes, but 2 hours yields best results.

What to Serve With This Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Chick-fil-A is famous for its waffle-cut fries, but regular fries will taste just as good. You can also serve the chicken burgers with onion rings, cole slaw, or a salad.

How to Store the Leftovers 

Keep any extra fried chicken patties in an airtight container in the fridge for a maximum of three days. You can freeze leftovers for up to two months in a freezer-safe bag. 

What Is the Best Way to Reheat a Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Reheating in an air fryer is ideal:

1. Preheat the air fryer to 365°F.
2. Heat the thawed fried chicken burgers for about five minutes or until hot. 

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can reheat the chicken in the oven:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Lay the fried chicken burgers on a baking sheet and cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil. 
3. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the foil, flip the chicken patties, and cook them for five more minutes or until heated through. 

More Chick-fil-A Copycat Recipes

• Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing
• Chick Fil A Lemonade
• Chick Fil A Sandwich
• Chick Fil A Sauce
• Peach Milkshake

Favorite Fast Food Burgers and Sandwiches

• Arby’s Chicken Sandwich
• Baconator
• Burger King Cheeseburger
• Culver’s Burgers
• Krystal Burger
• McDonald’s Smoky BLT Quarter Pounder
• Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt
• Taco Bell Sandwich

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

Remember, the key to perfect Chick-fil-A style spicy chicken is patience with the marinade and precise temperature control during frying. Take your time and enjoy the process – the results are worth it!