"Fried" Chicken Sandwich | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (2024)

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Move over, Popeye’s! There’s a new “Fried” Chicken Sandwich in town, and this one is much healthier than the fast food version!

"Fried" Chicken Sandwich | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (1)

I’m not sure that there is a more beautiful food combination than crispy chicken, soft bread, creamy mayo, and tangy pickles. This hits all of the flavor and texture notes out there. So simple yet so delicious!

I tried to maintain all of the best parts of that traditional fried chicken sandwich, while cutting back on the fat and oil. Just small changes like turns something like this from an occasional treat into a weekly staple. We’ve already made these 5 times in the two weeks I’ve tested the recipe out!

The star, of course, is the chicken. My goal was to get as close to the coated texture of a deep fried version. I mean, it looks pretty close to me!

"Fried" Chicken Sandwich | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (2)

I’ve found that the key to getting that chunky kind of breaded coating is to add a bit of milk to your flour mixture. That creates clumps that mimic the thicker batter and fried quality.

I also opted for a thickened egg wash instead of a traditional buttermilk marinade. This makes for a thicker coating, as the buttermilk and flour combo tends to slide off if you’re not deep frying.

This is what my version looks like before it’s cooked.

"Fried" Chicken Sandwich | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (3)

The breading looks just like real fried chicken, thanks to those small hacks! Just coat with cooking spray, and then you’re ready to cook it up.

What is the best way to cook the chicken?

If you have an air fryer, that is definitely the best way to cook these up. Don’t worry if you don’t, though. I’ve tried making it in the oven and skillet. Both are doable!

The air fryer is the quickest, easiest, and most consistent method. The oven also works, though it takes longer and requires that you flip halfway through.

The skillet is my least favorite way to make these. It requires more oil and the breading can tend to cook unevenly. But you can definitely make it work!

Assembling the sandwiches

You have a lot of different options for making the sandwiches to your taste. We prefer spicy sandwiches in this house, so I add cayenne to the breading and hot sauce to the mayo. The pickles cut through the richness of the chicken, making for the perfect combo!

"Fried" Chicken Sandwich | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (4)

These are also great served burger-style, with regular mayo, lettuce, tomato, and onion. The points won’t change, and the macros will basically remain the same if you eat them this way.

The buns depend on what you like. Brioche buns are great here, but regular hamburger buns will obviously work, too. Sesame buns could add a little extra flavor and crunch.

We’re going to get creative with these in the future, too. We’ve talked about chicken parmesan sandwiches, Korean fried chicken sandwiches, Nashville hot chicken sandwiches. I mean, the list goes on! I’ll definitely share our (successful) experiments with you. For now, enjoy the classic!

"Fried" Chicken Sandwich | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (5)

I’d love to hear from you if you make this recipe! It makes my day when you share your pics on Instagram and tag me (@litecravings). Don’t forget to use #litecravingsrecipes to make sure I see it. If I don’t get a chance to scroll through my tags quickly enough, I won’t see your post. I always make a point to look through the hashtags, though, so I’ll see it there.

If you like fast food copycat recipes, you have to try out my Fast Food-Style Chicken Nuggets!

"Fried" Chicken Sandwich | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (6)

Print Recipe

4.97 from 30 votes

“Fried” Chicken Sandwich

Move over, Popeye's! There's a new fried chicken sandwich in town, and this one is much healthier than the fast food version!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Course: Main Course, Sandwich

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 sandwiches

Calories: 318kcal

Author: Geri

Ingredients

  • 4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 2 large ones, cut in half)
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne (optional for a spicy chicken sandwich)
  • 3 1/2 tbsp almond milk, divided (or skim milk)
  • 1 large egg
  • oil cooking spray
  • 4 tbsp light mayo
  • 1-2 tbsp hot sauce
  • 4 hamburger buns
  • dill pickle slices

Instructions

  • Pound the chicken breasts out to even thickness. Pat chicken very dry with paper towels. Set aside on a cutting board.

  • Create your breading station. In one bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, and seasonings. In another bowl, whisk together egg and 2 tbsp almond milk. Whisk 1 tbsp of the seasoned flour into the egg/almond milk mixture.

  • Coat chicken in seasoned flour mixture. Set chicken aside.

  • Add remaining 1 1/2 tbsp of milk to the seasoned flour blend. Mix the milk through the flour with a fork or your fingers until you see some small clumps of flour in the mixture.

  • Dip flour-coated chicken into egg mixture and let excess drain off. Place chicken into seasoned flour mixture and press the flour into chicken. Gently shake off excess and set on cutting board. Let set for about 5 minutes. Then spray both sides of the chicken with cooking spray–enough to lightly coat the breading.

  • FOR ALL METHODS, make sure you let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before eating. This will set the juices of the chicken and the breading.

FOR THE AIR FRYER (recommended method)

  • Cook at 400F for 18-24 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken.

FOR THE OVEN

  • Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 400F for 20 minutes. Gently flip chicken, then bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

FOR THE SKILLET

  • Add 2 tsp oil to a large skillet on medium heat. Swirl to coat the pan with the oil, then add chicken. Cook for 7-10 minutes, flip and cook for a remaining 7-10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Check the crust often to make sure it doesn't burn.

ASSEMBLE THE SANDWICHES

  • Mix together mayo and hot sauce.

  • Lightly toast hamburger buns. Spread mayo mixture evenly across all 4 bottom buns. Lay pickle slices on top of mayo.

  • Place chicken on pickles. Top with more hot sauce, if desired. Place bun on top and enjoy!

Notes

Click hereto determine your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe (if you are logged in to your WW app, it should calculate for you automatically).

WW Green SmartPoints: 10 per sandwich

WW Blue and Purple SmartPoints: 7 per sandwich

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g

"Fried" Chicken Sandwich | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in Chick-fil-A chicken? ›

The seasoning mix is the only thing that Chick-fil-A confirms goes into the chicken recipe—besides a milk and egg wash that keeps the breading in place. However, for years the internet has speculated that Chick-fil-A's chicken is marinated in pickle juice to give it its signature flavor.

Does Chick-fil-A use pickle juice in their batter? ›

There are two crucial ingredients chick-fil-a uses that most recipes dont have- pickle juice and sugar. They also use MSG- but its also ok without it if you dont like it. Just cut up the breasts into chunks and follow recipe for nuggets.

What keeps fried chicken crispy? ›

To keep fried chicken crispy once you've prepared it, place it in the oven at an extremely low temperature until you're ready to serve. If you'd like to reheat fried leftover chicken, you just need to heat it in an oven to an extremely high temperature. This will allow the coating to dry while the chicken is warming.

How to keep the breading from falling off chicken fried chicken? ›

Place the breaded chicken on a cooling rack (or a platter) and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This cooling time will help the layers of breading ingredients solidify and adhere better after the chicken cooks. Once you start cooking the chicken, be patient and don't flip it over too early.

What does soaking chicken in pickle juice do? ›

It breaks down the proteins in the meat, leaving you with chicken that's exceptionally succulent with well-balanced tart, tangy, and savory flavors. This easy chicken pickle recipe involves marinating chicken in pickle juice overnight, then throwing it on the grill until it's moist and lightly charred.

How to spice up a chicken sandwich? ›

Flavoring and seasonings: Simply roast/stir fry the chicken in a pan and flavor with spices or any store bought seasoning like steak seasoning, garam masala, all-purpose seasoning etc. Creamy spread like a mayo, sour cream or cream cheese imparts that creamy and delicious richness to the chicken sandwich filling.

How does Chick-fil-A soak their chicken? ›

But don't just take it from me — this is the (not-so-secret) secret that's fueled the love affair so many people have with Chick-fil-A. It's the pickle brine! Well before being fried to perfection, the chicken breasts are brined with pickle juice for super-juicy, tender meat. People go wild for this chicken.

Can you leave chicken in brine too long? ›

Chicken can safely rest in its brining solution for anywhere from a few hours to two days, but generally, for a liquid based brine, you'll want to stick to about one hour of resting in the fridge per pound of meat you're preparing.

What brand pickles does Chick-fil-A use? ›

It turns out that the pickles Chick-fil-A gets from Bay Valley are a little different from standard pickles. The company selects cucumbers specifically for size and texture, of course, but what really makes the difference is the brine.

Is Chick-fil-A chicken real or processed? ›

Chick-fil-A sources real, whole, boneless breast of chicken with no added fillers, steroids or hormones, so its natural flavor shines. We're committed to serving chicken with No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM).

What makes fried chicken taste so good? ›

It's all about that crunch

Done properly, deep-frying creates a satisfying contrast between the crispy-crunchy coating and tender chicken. Beyond that simple textural enjoyment, the crispness actually sends our brain a message that the food itself is in good condition.

Should I use cornstarch or flour for crispy chicken? ›

When paired with all-purpose flour, cornstarch helps prevent gluten development, which makes the flour coating crispier, and absorb moisture (from the frying and the chicken), which also means a crispier coating. If you already have a favorite fried chicken recipe, try replacing a quarter of the flour with cornstarch.

Why won't my fried chicken get crispy? ›

If your oil temp is too high, your fried chicken will be scorched on the outside with meat that is undercooked. If the oil is too cool, your chicken will be greasy and will lack the golden-brown crispy exterior you want.

Do You Dip chicken in egg or milk first? ›

How To Batter Chicken
  1. Dry Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour. 1 teaspoon garlic powder. ...
  2. Wet Ingredients: 1 egg. ½ cup whole milk. ...
  3. Batter the chicken: The trick to getting the batter to stick to the chicken pieces properly is to dip the chicken into the seasoned flour, before dipping into the egg mixture.

Why do people soak chicken in milk before frying? ›

Tenderness: The lactic acid in milk helps to break down the proteins in the chicken, resulting in a tender and moist texture. Flavor Infusion: Milk can act as a carrier for other flavors, such as herbs and spices, allowing them to penetrate the chicken and create a delicious taste profile.

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