Crispy Chicken Sandwich

By Becky Hardin

Updated May 1, 2025

This crispy chicken sandwich is finger-lickin’ good! Seasoned floured chicken breasts are fried before being placed in a bun and finished with your favorite toppings. The chicken is so perfectly tender and juicy and the coating is perfectly crispy and full of flavor!

side view of a crispy chicken sandwich on a wooden cutting board. - 5

5-Star Review

“Delicious, crispy, quick & so easy to make!!!” -Mika

Fried Chicken Sandwich

I’ve always had a soft spot for a really good crispy chicken sandwich—the kind that’s perfectly golden, crunchy on the outside, and tender and juicy inside. After trying out a few different methods, I finally landed on this recipe, and it hits all the right notes. The seasoned coating fries up with the perfect crunch, and I love loading it up with my favorite toppings. It’s become my go-to when I’m craving something satisfying, whether I’m cooking for friends or just treating myself.

To make this crispy chicken sandwich spicy, I like to add a few dashes of hot sauce to the milk, or sometimes increase the amount of chili powder in the flour mixture.

Ingredients1x2x3x

For the Chicken

▢ 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts* (about 4-6 ounces each)
▢ 1 cup milk (or buttermilk)
▢ 2 large eggs
▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour
▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic salt
▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
▢ ½ teaspoon chili powder
▢ ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
▢ Vegetable oil high smoke point for frying

For the Sandwiches

▢ 4 hamburger buns
▢ 4 pieces leaf lettuce
▢ 8 slices tomato
▢ 16 pickle slices
▢ ½ red onion sliced into rings
▢ 8 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Video

Instructions

Place the chicken in a small shallow bowl and then add the milk. Set aside.** 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts*, 1 cup milk
In another small bowl, whisk the eggs until scrambled. 2 large eggs
In a third bowl, stir together the flour and seasonings until well mixed. 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
To prepare the chicken, coat each milk covered chicken breast with the flour/seasonings mixture. Dip the coated chicken breast into the whisked eggs, then back into the flour and seasoning mixture. Gently place each piece of chicken onto a plate until all pieces have been dipped and coated.
Heat the oil in an electric skillet or large/deep pan. Use enough oil to cover the chicken, about 1-2 inches depending on the thickness of the chicken. If using an electric skillet, heat the oil to 375°F. Check if the oil is ready by dropping a little flour mix into the pot. If it fizzes, it’s ready! If you have a thermometer, it should register at 375°F. Vegetable oil
Once the oil is heated, place 2 of the chicken breasts in the skillet and allow to cook until they are golden brown. (I flip them over half way). This will take about 5-7 minutes on each side.
Use an instant-read thermometer to test for doneness. The chicken should register at 165°F.
Assemble the sandwiches with your favorite sauces and garnishes. 4 hamburger buns, 4 pieces leaf lettuce, 8 slices tomato, 16 pickle slices, ½ red onion, 8 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Becky’s Tips

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Make a Crispy Chicken Sandwich Step by Step

raw chicken breasts in milk in a glass baking pan. - 6

Let the chicken sit in the milk : Place the 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a small shallow bowl and add 1 cup of milk to the bowl.

Prepare the eggs : In another small bowl, whisk 2 eggs until scrambled.

Combine the flour with the seasonings: In a third bowl, stir together the 2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon chili powder, and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder until well mixed.

a piece of chicken dipped in seasoned flour in a bowl. - 9

Coat the chicken: To prepare the chicken, coat each milk-soaked chicken breast with the flour/seasoning mixture. Dip the coated chicken breast into the whisked eggs, then back into the flour and seasoning mixture. Gently place each piece of chicken onto a plate until all pieces have been dipped and coated.

Heat the oil: Heat the oil in an electric skillet or large/deep pan. Use enough oil to cover the chicken, about 1-2 inches depending on the thickness of the chicken. If using an electric skillet, heat the oil to 375°F. Check that the oil is ready by dropping a a little of the flour mix into the pot. If it fizzes straight away, you are good to go. If you have a thermometer, it should register at 375°F.

chicken breasts frying in oil in a deep pan. - 10

Cook the chicken breasts : Once the oil is heated, place 2 of the chicken breasts in the skillet and allow to cook until they are golden brown. (I flip them over half way). This will take about 5-7 minutes on each side. Use an instant-read thermometer to test for doneness. The chicken should register at 165°F.

Assemble the sandwiches : Assemble the chicken sandwiches with 4 hamburger buns, 4 pieces of lettuce, 8 slices of tomato, 16 pickle slices, 1/2 a sliced red onion, and 8 tablespoons of Dijon mustard along with your favorite sauces.

How to Store and Reheat

I always recommend storing the chicken, buns, and toppings separately. Store the crispy chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes, until warmed through, then assemble the sandwiches as desired.

I do not recommend freezing crispy chicken sandwiches whole; however, you can absolutely freeze the fried chicken. Place the chicken in an airtight container to freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

These chicken sandwiches are made to be smothered in sauce! Top them with a super flavorful BBQ sauce , a sweet and spicy honey mustard , or a traditional Buffalo sauce . Turn the sandwich into chicken parmesan sandwiches by topping them with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, or make crack chicken sandwiches by adding ranch dressing , cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon!

They also go so well with all kinds of side dishes. Pair them with fast-food classics, like traditional French fries or hearty potato wedges . Or, opt for something different, like tangy pickle chips or crispy zucchini fries .

more fried chicken recipes to try

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe

Air Fryer Fried Chicken

overhead view of a piece of kentucky fried chicken on a white plate with corn and mashed potatoes. - 16

overhead view of a piece of kentucky fried chicken on a white plate with corn and mashed potatoes. - 17

Kentucky Fried Chicken (Copycat Recipe)

Fritos Popcorn Chicken

Crispy Chicken Sandwich Recipe