Homemade Fried Chicken Sandwich

by Lori Yates June 11, 2024 19 comments

This ultimate Fried Chicken Sandwich recipe is as close to perfection as you can get. Try it once and you’ll find yourself dreaming about it for years to come, guaranteed.

A fried chicken sandwich recipe plated on a piece of newspaper on a plate, with fries.

“I have made this sandwich so many times. I love it and my family loves it too. Best ever!”
—Carrie

This is the BEST Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipe

If you’ve been on the hunt for the ultimate fried chicken sandwich, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s skip the fast food drive through, because you’re about to make a superior sandwich right in your own kitchen.

This idea for this recipe originally came from Bon Appetit, via Son of a Gun restaurant in Los Angeles. Over the years, I’ve made it a bit simpler by taking smart grocery store shortcuts like coleslaw mix and store-bought bread and butter pickles (the original magazine recipe wanted you to make your own pickles).

I’ve also cut back on the ingredient amounts a little bit, because I’ve found that you don’t need quite as much flour or buttermilk as the original recipe calls for, and I don’t want you to waste ingredients when you don’t need to.

I’ve been perfecting this recipe since 2013, when the original was published. The recipe below is as close to perfection as I think I’m ever going to get. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Why you’ll love this Fried Chicken Sandwich

I just can’t stress enough how delicious it is. The combination of perfectly fried, juicy chicken breast + the tangy pickle coleslaw + slightly spicy mayo + toasted brioche bun is honestly something I find myself dreaming about sometimes.
It’s a great way to use up leftover buttermilk. If you have a little bit of buttermilk lingering in the fridge after making blackberry muffins or another baking project, this is the way to use it up.

Ingredients on a white surface, including poultry, slaw mix, pickles, hamburger buns, condiments, spices garlic, jalapeno and onion.

Fried Chicken Breast Sandwich Ingredients

chicken – two large boneless, skinless chicken breasts will be cut in half horizontally (so each breast becomes 2 thinner breast pieces) to make four sandwiches.
buttermilk – used to dredge the chicken. The buttermilk will tenderize the chicken and add flavor.
flour – forms the base of the breading, creating a crispy outer layer when the chicken is fried.
salt and pepper – seasons the flour that will coat the chicken.
oil for frying – canola or vegetable oil will work best to fry up the chicken.
mayonnaise – the creamy base of the sauce for this fried chicken breast sandwich.
garlic – adds a robust flavor to the spicy mayo.
hot sauce – what makes the spicy mayo spicy! I like Frank’s Red Hot here, but you can use any type of hot sauce you prefer, including sriracha.
coleslaw mix – this easy grocery store shortcut provides the crunchy and colorful base of the slaw topping. Buy the tricolor coleslaw mix which consists of red cabbage, green cabbage and carrot.
jalapeno – adds a spicy kick to the coleslaw. You can leave this out for a milder sandwich.
onion – I like to add a bit of red onion to the slaw for a sharp onion flavor, but white or yellow onion also works great.
pickles – store-bought bread and butter pickles (and some of the juice from their jar) will add sweetness and acidity to the slaw.
hamburger buns – get the good brioche ones if you can, because they’re perfect for this crispy fried chicken sandwich.

How to Make the Best Fried Chicken Sandwich

A before and after set of photos showing spicy mayonnaise being stirred together in a glass bowl

1. SPICY MAYO. In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, garlic and hot sauce. Cover and refrigerate this until you’re ready to build the sandwiches.

A before and after set of photos showing a jalapeno and pickle coleslaw being stirred together in a glass bowl

2. SLAW. In a large bowl, toss the coleslaw mix, jalapeno, onion, pickles and pickle juice together until well combined. Also cover and refrigerate this until you’re ready to build the sandwiches.

A set of three photos showing a piece of chicken being floured, dipped in buttermilk and floured again.

3. BREAD THE CHICKEN. In a shallow bowl, stir together the flour, salt and pepper. Pour the buttermilk into another shallow bowl. Dip each piece of chicken (both sides) in the flour, shaking off the excess. Dip the chicken in the buttermilk, shaking off the excess. Then, dip the chicken in the flour again.

A rimmed baking pan topped with four pieces of fried chicken breast.

4. FRY. Pour 1/2 inch of oil into a large, deep pot. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F, then place the chicken in the oil and cook until deep golden brown and 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the breast. Transfer the chicken to a cooling rack set over a paper towel-lined rimmed baking pan to allow excess oil to drip off.

Four hamburger bun halves being toasted in a black skillet.

5. TOAST BUNS. While the chicken is frying, spray the cut sides of the buns with nonstick spray. Toast the buns in a large, dry skillet until they are golden brown.

Fried chicken breast sandwiches on a wooden cutting board.

6. BUILD. Spread the buns with the spicy mayo and assemble the sandwiches using the fried chicken and the coleslaw.

Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich Home Chef Tip

Invest in an instant read thermometer. The internal temperature of the chicken needs to reach 165 degrees F for food safety. An instant read thermometer will also help you check for the proper oil temperature for frying (350 degrees F).
Don’t want to buy pre-shredded coleslaw mix? Make your own by combining 3/4 cup each red cabbage and green cabbage, along with 1/2 cup shredded carrot.

A homemade fried chicken sandwich, cut in half, on a plate with fries.

How to serve a Fried Chicken Breast Sandwich

My favorite side dishes for this fried chicken sandwich recipe include homemade French fries in the oven and Dr. Pepper baked beans.

However, the options are just about limitless. For a ton of great ideas, see my list of the best sides for ribs. All of these will pair well with this homemade fried chicken sandwich, too!