Chick Fil A Grilled Chicken Sandwich (The Best Copycat Recipe)

This Chick Fil A grilled chicken sandwich tastes just as good, if not better, than the real deal! The grilled chicken is super juicy and jam-packed with that iconic flavor. Plus, it's so easy to make at home!

The Best Copycat Chick Fil A Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Chick Fil A has so many delicious options on its menu, but my all-time favorite is the grilled chicken sandwich. Honestly, I think it's the best grilled chicken sandwich that you can get anywhere! I love it so much that I had to try recreating this healthy sandwich at home, and I know I'm biased, but I think I nailed it. 

I mean, each bite is just so flavorful, from the tender, juicy marinated chicken to the combination of seasonings and all the sandwich fix-ins. It's just so good I can't stop making it! 

Plus, this recipe is exactly how you make the Chick Fil A grilled chicken nuggets. So if you want to make grilled nuggets, just slice the chicken breasts into nugget shapes and follow the recipe as is. 

Anyway, since most of the time spent making this grilled chicken sandwich recipe is spent letting the chicken marinate, you'll have plenty of time to whip up some tasty sides to serve with it. If you're wondering what to serve with grilled chicken, my go-to is this Chick Fil A macaroni and cheese for a complete Chick Fil A meal. But if you're looking for something a little healthier, these sugar snap peas are a great option.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

It's easy to make. You basically just soak the chicken breasts in a combination of buttermilk and pickle juice, then season and grill till they're crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside.

Tastes just like the restaurant. The flavor of this chicken is seriously spot on to the one from Chick-Fil-A. Everyone who tries it will be convinced you just went through the drive-thru!

It uses common ingreidents. You'll be surprised by how simple the ingredient list is. If you don't have everything at home, you can easily find them at your nearest grocery store!

Ingredients You'll Need

• Chicken- boneless skinless chicken breasts work best.
• Buttermilk- for the best flavor.
• Dill pickle juice- to make the chicken extra juicy.
• Salt and pepper- a little of each to taste.
• Onion powder and garlic powder- for a savory undertone.
• Paprika- just a pinch for a little spice to balance out the flavors.
• Olive oil- or any neutral oil.
• Burger buns, lettuce, and tomatoes- to serve with.

By the way, if you're craving Chick fil A chicken nuggets, you can use many of these same ingredients to make these Chick Fil A grilled nuggets or this Chick fil A nuggets recipe. 

How To Make a Chick Fil A Grilled Chicken Sandwich

STEP 1: MARINADE THE CHICKEN

Begin by slicing the chicken breast in half and wrapping each half in plastic wrap. Then, using a meat mallet, pound each piece of chicken until they're both thin.

Next, grab a large bowl and combine the buttermilk and dill pickle juice in a bowl. Then you can unwrap the chicken and place both halves in the bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate the chicken for at least 30 minutes or up to several hours. Just so ya know, the longer you marinate the chicken, the more flavor it'll have. 

STEP 2: PREPARE THE CHICKEN FOR GRILLING

Once you've let the chicken marinate, you can prepare the seasoning blend by combining the salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika together in a bowl.

Then you'll want to heat the grill to 350°F or set a grill pan over medium heat on the stovetop. Next, you can remove the chicken from the marinade and season it generously on both sides with the spice blend.

STEP 3: GRILL THE CHICKEN

Now that the chicken has been seasoned you can put it on the heated grill or hot pan and grill the chicken for 3-4 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

While the chicken is cooking, brush the hamburger buns with some cooking oil or butter and quickly grill them for a minute or so until crisp, or you can pop them under the broiler until they are just barely toasted.

By the way, if you want to add some Colby Jack cheese or any other slice of cheese, I recommend putting it on one of the buns now so it melts. And if you want to make the Chick Fil A grilled chicken club sandwich, just cook up some bacon at this time.

STEP 4: ASSEMBLE THE Grilled CHICKEN SANDWICHES

To assemble, first place the green leaf lettuce on top of the bottom hamburger bun, followed by the tomato slices and a piece of grilled chicken. You can spread some of this Chick Fil A sauce or Chick Fil A honey roasted BBQ sauce on top for more flavor. Then you'll want to sandwich it with the remaining half of the bun and serve it warm. Enjoy!

How To Store Leftovers

This recipe for Chick fil A grilled chicken sandwich makes 2 servings. So it's perfect for a quick healthy lunch or dinner for two. 

But if you're just making it for yourself and want to save a piece of chicken for the next day, it stores really well. Just transfer the chicken to an airtight container, and you can store it in the fridge for 3-4 days. 

Alternatively, if you want the chicken to last longer, you can freeze it in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag in the freezer for up to 4 months.

To reheat grilled chicken, I've found the best way is to put the chicken in a baking dish and cover it with aluminum foil. Then bake the chicken at 350°F for about 10 minutes or so until warmed through.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT DOES CHICK-FIL-A MARINATE THEIR CHICKEN IN?

Chick fil A has a secret ingredient in their chicken marinade that helps make it stand out among the rest, and that secret ingredient is pickle juice! It gives the chicken an unbeatable tangy and savory flavor that's irresistible, and it's also what makes the chicken so tender and juicy,

DOES CHICK-FIL-A USE PICKLE JUICE ON GRILLED CHICKEN? 

Yes, Chick Fil A uses pickle juice as their secret ingredient in their grilled chicken marinade for the grilled chicken breast, grilled chicken nuggets, and all of their fried chicken too. It's what makes the chicken from Chick Fil A so delicious compared to the chicken from other places.

DOES CHICK-FIL-A MARINATE THEIR CHICKEN IN MILK? 

Yes, Chick Fil A marinates their chicken in milk. Buttermilk is used in the marinate mix that the chicken soaks in before it's cooked to add another dimension of flavor to the chicken.

More Copycat Recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe and are looking for some more easy copycat recipes, we have a ton on the blog that I think you'll love!

Give one of these recipes a try next:

• Chipotle chicken
• McDonalds French fries
• Olive Garden shrimp scampi
• Taco bell Mexican pizza
• Popeyes biscuits
• Subway tuna salad sandwich

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