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Crispy fried chicken sandwich with pickles on a toasted bun

Crispy Pickle Brine Chicken Sandwich

Pickle brined chicken cutlets, breaded and fried until golden, served on buttery toasted buns with dill pickles.
Prep Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 505 kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch oven
  • Skillet

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound) Sliced in half horizontally and pounded to 1/2 inch.
  • 1 cup dill pickle juice Not sweet pickle juice.
  • ½ cup milk or buttermilk For the brine.
  • 1 large egg For the egg wash.
  • ½ cup milk For the egg wash.
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper Optional.
  • 3 cup peanut oil Or canola or vegetable oil; 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep.
  • 4 soft buns (brioche or potato)
  • 2 tbsp butter For toasting the buns.
  • 1 tbsp dill pickle slices as needed
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise or honey mustard Optional.

Instructions
 

Cooking

  • Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally and pound the cutlets to an even 1/2 inch thickness. Whisk the pickle juice and 1/2 cup milk, add the chicken, cover, and refrigerate 1 to 4 hours.
  • Whisk the egg and 1/2 cup milk in one dish. In another, whisk the flour, powdered sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, baking powder, and cayenne.
  • Lift the chicken from the brine, pat fairly dry, dip in the egg wash, and press firmly into the flour mixture. Rest on a rack 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Heat 1 to 1 1/2 inches of oil in a heavy skillet or Dutch oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Fry 2 cutlets at a time for 3 to 5 minutes per side until deep golden and 165 degrees F inside. Drain on a wire rack.
  • Butter and toast the buns cut side down until golden. Assemble with chicken, pickles, and mayonnaise or sauce.

Notes

Includes 1 hour of brining time. Do not brine longer than 4 hours. Store chicken separately from buns; refrigerate within 2 hours and use within 3 to 4 days. Nutrition is an estimate per sandwich.
Keyword Chicken Sandwich, crispy chicken, Fried Chicken, Homemade Sandwich