Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Fried or Grilled Chicken Breast, Lettuce, Pickles & Secret Sauce
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Ingredients
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Bread & Assembly
Chicken (for frying or grilling)
Secret Sauce
Method
Secret Sauce
- 1
Make sauce
Whisk mayonnaise, yellow mustard, ketchup, dill pickle relish, apple cider vinegar, sugar, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper together in a small bowl until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning. Refrigerate while preparing the rest (can be made up to 48 hours ahead).
Chicken (for frying or grilling)
- 2
Prepare breasts
If breasts are thick, butterfly them or slice horizontally to make 4 cutlets about 1/2 inch thick. Pat dry with paper towels. Lightly pound between plastic wrap to even thickness if needed. Season both sides lightly with 1/2 tsp salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
- 3
Brine/marinade (optional but recommended)
Place chicken cutlets in a shallow dish and pour buttermilk over them to coat. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes to 4 hours. This tenderizes and flavors the meat.
- 4
Prepare dredge and egg wash
In a shallow bowl combine flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, 1 tsp salt and 3/4 tsp black pepper. In a separate bowl whisk the eggs until blended. Remove chicken from buttermilk (let excess drip off) and pat lightly with paper towel; reserve a little buttermilk for brushing if desired.
- 5
For fried chicken - dredge and fry
Heat 3/4 to 1 cup neutral oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high until oil reaches 350°F (use thermometer) or a small piece of bread sizzles and browns in ~30 seconds. Dredge each piece of chicken: dip in egg, then into the seasoned flour mixture, pressing to adhere. Let coated pieces rest on a rack for 5 minutes. Fry chicken in batches, 3-4 minutes per side depending on thickness, until golden brown and internal temperature reads 165°F. Keep finished pieces on a rack over a sheet pan in a 200°F oven to keep warm while frying remaining pieces.
- 6
For grilled chicken - sear and cook
If grilling, brush both sides of chicken with olive oil and lightly season again. Heat grill or griddle to medium-high (about 400°F). Oil the grates. Sear chicken 3-5 minutes per side until nicely browned and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest 5 minutes before assembling.
Bread & Assembly
- 7
- 8
Assemble sandwiches
Spread about 1.5 tbsp of secret sauce on the bottom bun. Place a lettuce leaf on the sauce, then a hot chicken breast (fried or grilled). Top the chicken with 3 pickle slices and an additional 1 tbsp sauce on the top bun, if desired. Cap with the bun and serve immediately. Repeat for remaining sandwiches. Serve with extra pickles and remaining sauce on the side.