Copycat Fried Chicken Sandwich

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Description

I tried to make a copycat Popeyes® fried chicken sandwich and ended up with a hybrid between that and the one from Chick-fil-A®. So you get the best of both worlds and what’s more, this DIY version never runs out, not even on Sundays.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 dash hot sauce, or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon dry ranch dressing mix (such as Hidden Valley Ranch®)
  • 4 (5 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
  • 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cayenne pepper (Optional)
  • 1 tablespoon dry ranch dressing mix (such as Hidden Valley Ranch®)
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • ¼ cup milk
  • canola oil for frying
  • 4 soft hamburger buns, toasted and buttered
  • 6 tablespoons mayonnaise, or to taste
  • 12 dill pickle slices, or to taste

Instructions

  1. Whisk buttermilk
  2. salt
  3. hot sauce
  4. and ranch dressing mix together in a large bowl. Cut diagonal slits into the thick ends of chicken breasts and toss into marinade until well coated. Transfer to the refrigerator to marinate for 2 to 4 hours.
  5. Meanwhile
  6. make the breading: Mix flour
  7. cornstarch
  8. salt
  9. pepper
  10. cayenne
  11. and ranch dressing mix together in a shallow dish.
  12. Make the wash: Whisk egg
  13. buttermilk
  14. and milk together in another bowl until combined.
  15. Use a fork to pull chicken from marinade
  16. letting any excess drip off. Dip into the breading to coat both sides; shake off any excess. Dip into egg wash mixture to saturate surface; return to breading to coat
  17. shake off excess
  18. and repeat once more. Let sit on a wire rack to dry
  19. at least 15 minutes.
  20. Heat oil in a deep-fryer to between 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  21. Fry chicken breasts in the hot oil until golden
  22. crispy
  23. and no longer pink in the centers
  24. 4 to 5 minutes
  25. flipping halfway through. Transfer to a plate topped with crinkled up aluminum foil to prevent bottoms from getting soggy.
  26. Spread mayonnaise over hamburger bun halves. Stuff with pickles and chicken.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 2 hrs 40 mins

Servings: 4

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