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Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe [Copycat]

Copycat Chick-fil-A grilled chicken sandwich, served with waffle fries and iced tea.
Print or Download Recipe
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 4 sandwiches
Calories: 275kcal
Protein: 30g
Carbs: 27g
Fat: 5g

Ingredients

Marinade Ingredients

  • 1 lb (500 g) chicken boneless, skinless breast
  • 1 cup (250 ml) dairy or dairy-free milk
  • 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) vinegar or lemon juice
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) pickle juice

Chicken Seasoning Spice Mix

  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) paprika
  • ½ teaspoon (½ teaspoon) salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon (¼ teaspoon) ground black pepper or to taste

For Assembling

  • olive oil cooking spray
  • 4 (4) brioche burger buns
  • 4 (4) lettuce leaves
  • 2 (2) large tomatoes

Instructions 

Marinate The Chicken

  • Cut excess fat off the chicken breast.
    1 lb chicken
  • Cut each breast into roughly ¼ lb portions and pound it until it is an even thickness, around ¼” thick.
  • Combine marinade ingredients in a small bowl (or just pour it directly into the container to save a dish).
    1 cup dairy or dairy-free milk, 1 tablespoon vinegar, ⅓ cup pickle juice
  • Add the marinade mixture to the plastic bag, seal it, and refrigerate for 3-4 hours (30 min minimum, the longer the better).
    Chicken breasts marinating in a pickle juice and buttermilk brine in preparation to make a Chick-fil-A grilled chicken sandiwch.

Cook The Chicken

  • Combine the salt and pepper and spices in a bowl to form the seasoning.
    1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon salt or to taste, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste
    Assembly ingredients for Chick-fil-A grilled chicken sandwich: brioche buns, lettuce, tomato, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper.
  • Pre-heat a grill or pan to medium-high heat.
  • Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade, letting the excess marinade drip off.
  • Sprinkle the seasoning onto the chicken breasts and press it so it sticks and you have full coverage.
    Pan frying chicken breast to make a Chick-fil-A grilled chicken sandwich.
  • Grill the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165 F (4-5 minutes per side). If pan frying, cook the chicken on medium-high heat for one minute, then lower the heat to medium and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for another 4-5 minutes.
    Pan frying a chicken breast.

Assemble & Serve

  • Lightly toast the hamburger buns in a pan with cooking spray until golden.
    olive oil cooking spray
    Toasting brioche buns before assembling a grilled chicken sandwich.
  • Construct your sandwiches in order of bottom to top: brioche base, lettuce, two slices of tomato, a piece of chicken, your favorite sauce or mayo and finally the brioche lid.
    4 brioche burger buns, 4 lettuce leaves, 2 large tomatoes
    Chick-fil-A grilled chicken sandwich served with iced tea and waffle fries.
  • Serve with waffle fries or sweet potato fries.

Notes

  • Substitutions
    • Gluten free - Use a gluten free bun, and make sure all spices are free from fillers containing gluten.
    • Vegan - Swap the chicken breast for your favorite brand of firm tofu. Be sure to score the tofu before marinating so it soaks up the marinade.
    • Lower calorie - Try Natures Own Butter Buns, at 140 calories each. Opt for light mayonnaise as your sauce of choice.
  • Variations
    • Higher protein
        • Make it a double and add two pieces of chicken to your sandwich. Each additional piece of chicken adds 24 g of protein and only about 130 calories.
        • Key macro comparison:
            • Single - 275 calories - 30 g protein - 5 g fat - 27 g carbs
            • Double - 405 calories - 54 g protein - 8 g fat - 27 g carbs
    • Spicy - Mix in black pepper or cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon at a time to the spice mix to raise the heat level. Black pepper tends to provide a mild heat, and cayenne pepper really dials it up. Use whatever spice you prefer.
    • Deluxe - Add a slice of cheddar or Colby jack cheese, bacon, and grilled white onions.
    • Kid friendly - Use slider buns to serve as mini-sandwiches.
  • Storage
    • Make ahead - It's best to cook the chicken right before serving, but you can marinate the chicken earlier on the day you are cooking or overnight. 
    • Leftovers - Store cooled leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 5 days.
    • Freeze - You can freeze leftover chicken breasts in a freezer friendly container for up to 3 months.
    • Reheating - We recommend reheating in an oven or air fryer to reheat without drying the chicken out. Preheat an oven or air fryer to 350 F. Place the chicken on a pan with a wire rack, and add water to the pan. Place aluminum foil over the top of the chicken and cook it for about 15 min, or until it's reheated throughout. If using an air fryer, just place the chicken in the air fryer and cook for 3 minutes on each side, flipping the chicken after the first side has cooked.
  • Nutrition facts exclude added sauce
Nutrition Facts
Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe [Copycat]
Serving Size
 
1 sandwich
Amount per Serving
Calories
275
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
5
g
8
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Trans Fat
 
0.01
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Cholesterol
 
73
mg
24
%
Sodium
 
647
mg
28
%
Potassium
 
761
mg
22
%
Carbohydrates
 
27
g
9
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
6
g
7
%
Protein
 
30
g
60
%
Vitamin A
 
2816
IU
56
%
Vitamin C
 
19
mg
23
%
Calcium
 
90
mg
9
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.