Fried Chicken Sandwiches

  4.6 – 45 reviews  • Chicken Breast
Level: Easy
Total: 55 min
Active: 40 min
Yield: 6 sandwiches, plus 1 cup of buttermilk herb mayo

Ingredients

  1. 2 cups buttermilk, shaken
  2. 1 shallot, peeled, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
  3. 2 garlic cloves, smashed
  4. 1 jalapeño pepper (with seeds), halved lengthwise
  5. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  6. 3 small skinless, boneless chicken breasts (6 ounces each)
  7. 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  8. 4 teaspoons baking powder
  9. 2 1/2 teaspoons smoked Spanish paprika
  10. 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  11. 1 teaspoon celery salt
  12. 2 (48-ounce) bottles canola oil
  13. 6 potato hamburger buns, toasted, for serving
  14. Buttermilk Herb Mayo, for serving (recipe follows)
  15. 6 Bibb lettuce leaves
  16. Kosher dill pickles, such as Claussen, thinly sliced, for serving
  17. 1 cup good mayonnaise, such as Hellmann’s
  18. 2 tablespoons buttermilk, shaken
  19. 1 teaspoon good white wine vinegar
  20. 2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions, white and green parts
  21. 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
  22. 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
  23. 1/8 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, shallot, garlic, jalapeño, 2 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Place the chicken breasts between 2 pieces of parchment paper and, with a rolling pin or a meat mallet, pound them until they are evenly 1/2 inch thick. Slice each piece of chicken in half crosswise so you have 2 pieces approximately the same size. Place the chicken in the marinade, making sure each piece is well coated, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to (but not more than) 24 hours.
  2. When ready to cook the chicken, preheat the oven to 300˚. Set a wire rack on a sheet pan and place them in the oven. 
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, celery salt, 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper and set aside. 
  4. Pour oil into a medium (9-inch round by 4 1/2-inch high) Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, until it is 2 inches deep. Clip on a candy thermometer and heat the oil over high heat until it reaches 350˚. Meanwhile, lift the chicken from the marinade, dredge it in the flour mixture, submerge it again in the marinade, then again in the flour mixture, lightly shaking off the excess. Transfer the chicken to a plate or sheet pan until ready to fry.
  5. When the oil is 350˚, carefully lower 3 pieces only into the oil with tongs and adjust the heat to keep the oil at 350˚. Don’t crowd the chicken! Cook for 5 minutes, turning once to brown evenly. With a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to the sheet pan in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Sprinkle all the chicken with salt and keep warm for up to 15 minutes, until ready to serve. 
  6. To assemble, place the bottom of each bun on a plate, spread with some of the buttermilk herb mayo, then top with a lettuce leaf, 4 pickle slices, then a piece of chicken. Spread the underside of the top bun generously with more of the mayo and place on top of the chicken, mayo side down. Serve while the chicken is still warm.
  7. Whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, scallions, parsley, chives, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 22 servings
Calories 372
Total Fat 26 g
Saturated Fat 3 g
Carbohydrates 26 g
Dietary Fiber 2 g
Sugar 3 g
Protein 10 g
Cholesterol 22 mg
Sodium 280 mg

Reviews

Melissa Silva
I made this tonight and it was delicious! I followed the recipe and everyone in my family thought I ordered chicken out!
Becky Sims
Yes. The coating fell off. What am I doing wrong?
Melissa Barker
Tried this recipe tonight and oh my goodness, it was awesome ‼️ I love Ina’s recipes. I think I would only dredge once though.
Tina Miller
Fabulous!! crunchy and so tender.
Jeffrey Zamora
This is the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had, following the directions faithfully!
Stacy Alvarado
I made these and they were wonderful.  I used my deep fryer and the chicken was so crispy and tasty.  I would never have thought that adding smoked paprika and celery salt could change the flavor so much but it added that something that made people ask what seasonings I had added.  Another great recipe from Ina!  
David Adkins
FYI. A note to the wise. Make sure your oil is hot enough or else it will stick to the bottom of the Dutch oven.
Good recipe. Ina always rocks it!
Stephen Vargas
Delicious Delicious Delicious!!!
Lisa Ware DVM
Wow! What an incredible recipe! I actually made this in the air fryer and it turned out fantastic! Thank you Ina! 
Justin Gilbert
Wow, Not sure what I did wrong, but
mine came out terrible.

 

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