Skip the drive-through, and make yourself a freshly breaded Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich at home!
This chicken sandwich is brined in buttermilk and pickle juice and then air-fried to perfection with a crispy breading.
the best homemade chicken sandwich
Move over Chick-Fil-A, Popeyes, and KFC – there’s a new crispy chicken sandwich in town! And this air fryer chicken sandwich is healthier and tastes just as good as what you’d normally buy.
Chicken sandwich perfection is definitely within reach, using this simple recipe, and you’ll never need to leave your kitchen to get it!
What you’ll need
- Chicken – This recipe will show you how to make two chicken sandwiches, each using a chicken breast fillet. Trim the chicken so that it’s just a bit bigger than your buns, and pound it out so that it’s no more than 1/2-inch thick.
- Brine – The key to a flavorful and juicy chicken sandwich is to brine the meat first! Buttermilk and dill pickle juice will tenderize and season the chicken wonderfully.
- Egg, Flour, and Breadcrumbs – A three-part breading station will ensure that the chicken breasts are well-coated and extra crispy.
- Burger Buns – Use your favorites! Slightly sweet brioche buns are delicious with this crispy chicken.
- Toppings – Add what you like to your chicken sandwich. Lettuce, tomato, sliced pickles, and a delicious homemade honey mustard sauce (recipe included below!) are my choices today.
How to Make this Chicken Sandwich
- Brine the chicken: Place the chicken breasts, buttermilk, and pickle brine in a large ziplock bag or a shallow dish. If you have time, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours. Otherwise, simply allow the chicken to soak in the brine for a few minutes, while you do something else in the kitchen.
- Add the Breading: Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls. In one, add flour and season with salt and pepper. In a second, beat the egg with two tablespoons of the buttermilk brine. In the third, add the breadcrumbs. Bread the chicken, moving it through each bowl to cover and remove any excess.
- Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400°F/200°C. Then carefully grease the basket with cooking oil or olive oil spray. Add the breaded chicken breasts to the basket, and lightly spray with olive oil spray. Cook at 380°F/190°C for 15 minutes.
- Flip: Flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and fully cooked.
- Toast the Buns: To toast buns in the air fryer, spray the cut side lightly with olive oil spray and place them cut side up in the air fryer. Cook at 400°F/200°C for 2-3 minutes or until toasty.
- Assemble the Sandwich: Place the crispy chicken on the toasted buns and add your desired toppings.
Serving ideas
Use your air fryer to crisp up some frozen french fries. Waffle Fries are particularly tasty with a crispy chicken sandwich, but air fryer sweet potato fries are also quite good.
How To Make Chicken Sandwich Sauce
This chicken sandwich is already perfect, but you can make it even better with a tasty sauce!
To make a quick honey-dijon aioli, stir together 1 tablespoon mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon dijon, 1 teaspoon honey, and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder.
Recipe Variations
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Sandwich: After cooking, drizzle each chicken breast with 2 tablespoons of buffalo sauce and add a slice of pepper jack or 2 tablespoons of blue cheese crumbles.
- Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Sandwich: add 2 tablespoons marinara and 2 thin slices of mozzarella to each air-fried chicken breast. Melt the mozzarella for 1-2 minutes in the air fryer, if desired.
Recipe Tips
- Be Flexible. Since all air fryers cook a bit differently, you may need more or less time to fully cook the chicken sandwiches in yours.
- Use a Thermometer. Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.
- Don’t Skip the Brine. The buttermilk pickle brine will add tons of flavor to the chicken, and also keep it moist and tender.
- Try it with Panko. To make your air fryer chicken sandwich extra, extra crispy, swap the regular breadcrumbs for panko instead.
FAQs
Do I have to make a sandwich?
You do not! Enjoy this tasty breaded chicken breast cutlet without a roll, and serve it with your family’s favorite dinner sides. You can also slice the chicken and add it to a low-carb wrap or a lettuce wrap to make a healthier hand-held meal.
Can I make the chicken spicy?
To make a spicy chicken sandwich, add up to a teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder to the breadcrumbs mixture.
Can I make this with chicken thighs?
Yes you can! Trim away any extra fat from boneless, skinless chicken thighs, and cook them the exact same way.
Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich
Skip the drive through, and make yourself a freshly breaded Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich at home! This air fryer chicken is brined in buttermilk and extra crispy.
Servings: 2 Sandwiches
Calories: 608kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded to ½” thick
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup pickle brine
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup plain breadcrumbs
- 2 hamburger buns toasted
- Burger Toppings pickles, sliced tomato, lettuce, cheese, etc.
Instructions
- Place the chicken breast, buttermilk, and pickle brine in a large ziploc bag or shallow bowl (ensure the chicken is covered as much as possible). If you have time, set the chicken aside to brine for up to 2 hours. If you’re in a hurry, just let the chicken brine while you prepare the other ingredients.
- Add the flour to a shallow bowl and season it with a pinch of kosher salt and cracked black pepper.
- In another shallow bowl, beat the egg with 2 tablespoons of the buttermilk-pickle brine mixture.
- In a third bowl, add the breadcrumbs and season them with a pinch of kosher salt and cracked black pepper.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F/200°C for 5 minutes.
- Remove the chicken breasts from the brine and allow any excess brine to drip off. Then dip the chicken breasts in the flour, making sure they are evenly coated on all sides.
- Next dip the chicken breast into the egg mixture and finally into the breadcrumbs.
- Carefully grease your air fryer basket with olive oil spray and then place the breaded chicken breast into the air fryer. Spray the chicken lightly with olive oil spray.
- Cook at 380°F/190°C for 15 minutes. Then flip the chicken and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C.
- (Optional) To toast your buns in the air fryer, spray the cut side lightly with olive oil spray and place them cut side up in your air fryer basket. Cook at 400°F/200°C for 2-3 minutes, or until your desired doneness.
- Place the crispy chicken breast on a toasted bun and add your desired toppings. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Be Flexible. Since all air fryers cook a bit differently, you may need more or less time to fully cook the chicken sandwiches in yours. The cooking time will also depend on the thickness and size of your chicken breast.
- Use a Thermometer. Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C. Use a digital kitchen thermometer inserted into the thickest part of each piece to check for doneness.
- Don’t Skip the Brine. The buttermilk pickle brine will add tons of flavor to the chicken, and also keep it moist and tender. Allow it to sit in the brine for at least 5 minutes, and up to 2 hours.
- Try it with Panko. To make your air fryer chicken sandwich extra, extra crispy, swap the regular breadcrumbs for panko instead.
- Make it Gluten Free. Use all-purpose gluten-free flour and gluten-free bread crumbs, along with your favorite gluten-free sandwich rolls!
Nutrition
Calories: 608kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 161mg | Sodium: 1622mg | Potassium: 695mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 252IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 228mg | Iron: 6mg
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Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
