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Healthy McChicken Recipe

Copycat McChicken served on a toasted brioche bun, with a side of fries and a Coke.
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 3 sandwiches
Calories: 396kcal
Protein: 36g
Carbs: 34g
Fat: 13g

Equipment

  • Air fryer or oven

Ingredients

McChicken Patty

  • 1 lb (450 g) chicken ground breast
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • olive oil cooking spray or avocado cooking spray

McChicken Patty Coating

  • 1 cup (30 g) cornflakes
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika

Sandwich

  • ¼ cup (60 g) light mayonnaise
  • 3 lightly toasted brioche buns
  • shredded lettuce

Instructions 

McChicken Patty

  • If oven baking, pre-heat the oven to 390 F (200 C) on fan forced air, 450 F (225 C) conventional.
  • Season the ground chicken and mix until spices are evenly combined.
    1 lb chicken, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    Preparing ground chicken for copycat McChicken sandwiches. Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
  • Form into 3, ⅓ lb balls (about 150 g each). Wet hands first or the chicken sticks.
    Ground chicken mixed into a ball.
  • Add cornflakes and coating seasonings to a high speed blender to form a finely ground coating.
    1 cup cornflakes, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika
    Adding cornflakes, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, to blender for the McChicken coating.
  • Add the coating to a plate, roll each ground chicken ball on the plate to coat it. Once lightly coated, form the ball into a flat, round patty shape, ensure the entire patty is covered with coating.
    Forming a McChicken patty in a cornflake crumb coating.
  • Transfer the patty to a baking sheet lined with baking paper or a silicone mat. Lightly spray the exterior with olive oil or avocado cooking oil spray.
    Coating McChicken patties with olive spray before baking in the oven.
  • Air fry at 375 F (190 C) for 12 - 15 minutes or fan bake in an oven at 390 F (200 C) for 18 - 22 minutes. Bake at 450 F (225 C) for conventional oven baking. Each oven’s efficiency differs. The McChicken patties are cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 F (74 C) and the coating is golden brown.
    Baked McChicken patties, ready to be assembled.

Assembly (from the bottom up)

  • Lightly toast the inside half of each brioche bun in a pan with avocado or olive oil spray.
    3 lightly toasted brioche buns
    Toasted brioche bun for McChicken sandwich.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of light mayo to the bottom half of the brioche bun
    ¼ cup light mayonnaise
    Adding mayo to the bottom brioche bun for a McChicken sandwich.
  • Add the McChicken patty
    Adding the McChicken patty to a brioche bun.
  • Add a small handful of finely sliced iceberg lettuce
    shredded lettuce
    Adding shredded iceberg lettuce to a McChicken sandwich.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of light mayo to the top half of the brioche bun and place on top of the McChicken patty.
    Topping a McChicken sandwich with a brioche bun lid and lite mayonnaise.

Notes

Storage

  • Leftovers - Store the patties separately in the fridge for 3-4 days and build your reheated sandwich fresh.
  • Freeze - Place the patties in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze individually first. Once they're solidly frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container.  Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat - Use an oven or air fryer to reheat them at 350 F to 165 F internal temperature.

Substitutes

  • Gluten free - Ensure all spices are gluten free. Use gluten-free corn flakes and swap the brioche buns for a gluten free option.
  • Vegan - There isn't a slam dunk vegan swap for the ground chicken in the patty. For the best vegan experience, your best bet is to follow this intentionally vegan recipe on The Edgy Vege.
  • Low calorie - Use light mayo for the sauce.
  • Coating - You can use plain breadcrumbs instead of ground corn flakes. We have made it both ways, but prefer the corn flakes because we think they enhance the taste and it give the patties a good looking golden hue.

Variations

  • Higher protein
    • Tailor this sandwich to your targeted protein intake by changing the size or number of chicken patties.
    • Key macro comparison if you want to change it up
      • Single (⅓ lb) - 396 calories - 36 g protein - 13 g fat - 34 g carb
      • Double (⅔ lb) - 583 calories - 66 g protein - 21 g fat - 34 g carbs
      • Half Pound - 536 calories - 52 g protein - 18 g fat - 34 g carbs
  • Spicy
      • Add 1 tablespoon of chili powder and 1 teaspoon of cayenne powder to the ground chicken
    • Add 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the coating mixture
  • Deluxe - Add sliced tomatoes and grilled white onions.
  • Kid friendly - Cut the chicken patties into strips for dipping in sauce instead of eating as a sandwich.
Nutrition Facts
Healthy McChicken Recipe
Serving Size
 
1 sandwich
Amount per Serving
Calories
396
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
13
g
20
%
Saturated Fat
 
2
g
13
%
Trans Fat
 
0.01
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Cholesterol
 
123
mg
41
%
Sodium
 
1091
mg
47
%
Potassium
 
124
mg
4
%
Carbohydrates
 
34
g
11
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
5
g
6
%
Protein
 
36
g
72
%
Vitamin A
 
510
IU
10
%
Vitamin C
 
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
71
mg
7
%
Iron
 
5
mg
28
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.