{"id":705651,"date":"2018-06-14T18:25:59","date_gmt":"2018-06-14T18:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=705651"},"modified":"2024-09-30T11:55:58","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T16:55:58","slug":"chick-fil-a-chicken-sandwiches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/chick-fil-a-chicken-sandwiches\/","title":{"rendered":"Here’s Why Chick-fil-A’s Chicken Sandwiches Are So Dang Good"},"content":{"rendered":"
When you tear into a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich (or something from the secret menu<\/a>), it's always a perfectly seasoned and juicy chicken breast. Chick-fil-A makes the sandwich sound so<\/em> simple\u2014a hand-cut chicken filet dipped in an egg and milk wash, hand breaded and cooked in a pressure cooker. But somehow, this Chicken Sandwich seems to be more delicious than the others. What makes it so dang good?<\/p>\r\n \r\n The Chicken Sandwich is pretty straightforward\u2014it's served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips. This legend is so simple that it should<\/em> be easy to replicate. Right? Nope. The seasoning ingredients were developed by Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy. He perfected the sandwich in the 1960s, and more than 50 years later, the recipe remains unchanged!<\/p>\r\n To keep the secret Chicken Sandwich recipe under wraps, it's hidden in a safe in Atlanta, Georgia.<\/p>\r\n Psst...<\/em>We cracked the code on some other Chick-fil-A menu items. Grab our copycat recipes here.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t Every Chicken Sandwich is made with two dill pickle chips\u2014an essential ingredient! To make the chips, cucumber slices are marinated for three days before ripening into crisp and delicious pickles. Obsessed with pickles? You've gotta try these recipes. <\/a><\/p>\r\n That tidbit about soaking pickles has led to speculation about how Chick-fil-A chicken gets so juicy. Many bloggers and Chick-fil-A regulars believe that the chicken breast is brined in pickle juice before it's breaded and fried. This theory makes sense, because pickle juice contains salt. This key ingredient helps carry moisture and flavor deep into the chicken in the same way it would help flavor a cucumber.<\/p>\r\n A soak in a salty liquid would also cause some proteins in chicken breast to break down, so you're left less stringy chicken and more juicy breast meat. The bright salty flavor and extra tender meat that result from brining are consistent with what we expect from this chicken-focused fast food chain!\u00a0Did you know you can buy pickle-flavored ice cream, too?<\/a><\/p>\r\n \t\t\tThere's a Secret Recipe<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
<\/a><\/div>Grilled Pepper Jack Chicken Sandwiches<\/a>Basic, yet packed with flavor, this sandwich gets a kick from zesty cheese and savory bacon. It's a great meal for summer days. \u2014Linda Foreman, Locust Grove, Oklahoma
<\/a><\/div>Inspired By: Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad<\/a>This skinny version of Cobb salad has all the taste and creaminess with half the fat and calories. You can skip the coleslaw mix and use all lettuce, but I like the crunch you get with cabbage. \u2014Taylor Kiser, Brandon, Florida
<\/a><\/div>Inspired By: Chicken Nuggets<\/a>I developed this recipe specifically to copycat Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets. The first time I made them I knew I had a winner because the whole family fought over who got the last one! For a dipping sauce, combine equal parts barbecue sauce and Dijon mustard, then stir in honey to taste. \u2014Jeni Pittard, Statham, Georgia
<\/a><\/div>Inspired By: Chick-Fil-A Sauce<\/a>This fast, easy mustard with rice vinegar and honey has more flavor than any other honey mustard dressing I've ever tried. \u2014Sharon Rehm, New Blaine, Arkansas
<\/a><\/div>Inspired By: Fresh Brewed Sweet Tea<\/a>A pinch of baking soda eliminates bitterness in this smooth and easy-to-sip tea and it has just the right amount of sugar so it's not overly sweet. \u2014kelseylouise, Taste Recipes Community Member
<\/a><\/div>Inspired By: Chick-Fil-A Butter Biscuit<\/a>You can make biscuits any day of the week with this simple 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits recipe.
<\/a><\/div>Inspired By: Chicken Noodle Soup Side<\/a>When I was sick, my mom would make me this heartwarming chicken noodle soup. It was soothing when I had a cold, but this soup is a bowlful of comfort on any chilly day. \u2014Anthony Graham, Ottawa, lllinois
<\/a><\/div>Grilled Chicken Wrap<\/a>Proteins marinated in a zesty citrus dressing shine when stuffed into these grilled chicken wraps. Garnish them with flavorful toppings to make them stand out even more.
<\/a><\/div>Microwave Egg Sandwich<\/a>If you're looking for a grab-and-go breakfast for busy days, this high-protein sandwich is low in fat and keeps me full all morning. Plus, it's only about 200 calories! \u2014Brenda Otto, Reedsburg, Wisconsin
<\/a><\/div>Inspired By: Garlic and Herb Ranch Sauce<\/a>Ranch dressing got its start on a real dude ranch in California. Punch up the western original with green salsa, green chiles, jalapenos and cilantro for more color and spice. Serve the dip along with your favorite wings to feed a crowd. \u2014Lindsay Duke, Goodrich, Texas
<\/a><\/div>Chicken Strips<\/a>Here's how to deep-fry or bake crispy, golden chicken strips, plus tons of ideas for how to serve them.
<\/a><\/div>Inspired By: Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade<\/a>A friend suggested I add a sprig of rosemary to lemonade. The herb makes the drink taste fresh and light, and it's a pretty garnish. \u2014Dixie Graham, Rancho Cucamonga, California
<\/a><\/div>Loaded Waffle Fries<\/a>Make any dinner fun with my Loaded Waffle Fries, topped with a savory blend of cheese, scallions and bacon. I copied this family-favorite recipe from a local restaurant, and it's great with hot dogs, burgers or by itself. \u2014Jeffrey Viccone, Decatur, Illinois
<\/a><\/div>Star-Spangled Parfaits<\/a>The best time for this dessert is midsummer, when the blueberries are thick in our northern woods. Red raspberries can be added to the mixed berries, too, to brighten the patriotic colors. \u2014Anne Theriault, Wellesley, Massachusetts
<\/a><\/div>Strawberry Milkshake<\/a>Grab your spoon: this strawberry milkshake is thick, bright with strawberry flavor and infinitely customizable.
<\/a><\/div>Asian Chicken Salad<\/a>Our Asian chicken salad transforms the classic American chicken salad into a vibrant, Asian-inspired dish in just 25 minutes, combining familiar flavors with exciting textures and tastes.
<\/a><\/div>Inspired By: 4 Chick-n-Minis<\/a>My 11-year-old son invented these sliders at dinner one night when he set his chicken on a biscuit. The rest of us tried it his way, and now we enjoy these sandwiches all the time. \u2014Jodie Kolsan, Palm Coast, Florida
<\/a><\/div>Spiced Pumpkin Coffee Shakes<\/a>The winter holidays are my favorite time of year, and this spiced pumpkin drink is one reason I love the season so much. If you don't have a coffee maker, it's OK to use instant coffee\u2014just make it stronger. \u2014Kathie Perez, East Peoria, Illinois
<\/a><\/div>Inspired By: Barbeque Sauce<\/a>I've never cared that much for store bought barbecue sauce. I just like to make things myself from scratch including this spicy, deep red-brown sauce. You'll find it clings well when you slather it on grilled meat. \u2014Helena Georgette Mann, Sacramento, California
<\/a><\/div>Sausage Breakfast Burrito<\/a>Breakfast routine in a rut? Shake things up with these speedy, savory wraps. \u2014Brenda Spann, Granger, Indiana
<\/a><\/div>Inspired By: Chick-fil-A Grilled Market Salad<\/a>Sweet, tangy and bursting with the fresh flavors of summer, this easy strawberry poppy seed salad is a gorgeous, versatile side dish to serve the second warm weather arrives.
<\/a><\/div>Inspired By: Hash Browns<\/a>Making stuffed hash browns is just as easy as making regular ones, but you get the added textures and flavors from the onion, pepper, cheese and bacon.
Pickles Play a Big Part<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
<\/a><\/div>Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole<\/a>This casserole has it all: ground beef, bacon, onions and cheese, all baked up in your trusty 9x13 pan. \u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
<\/a><\/div>Dill Pickle Dip<\/a>My love for pickles led me to create this dill pickle dip. It's so easy to whip together. But be warned...it's addicting! \u2014April Anderson, Forest Lake, Minnesota
<\/a><\/div>Dill Pickle Soup<\/a>This dill pickle soup is made from a century-old Swiss recipe. Traditionally, it is a winter soup, but we serve it year-round because of the demand. \u2014Nancy Ross, Salem, Oregon
<\/a><\/div>Cuban Sliders<\/a>These wonderful little rolls are baked until lightly toasted and the cheese melts. The leftover King's Hawaiian ham sliders keep really well in the fridge, and they make a lovely cold snack. Followers of my blog, houseofyumm.com, go nuts for these! \u2014Serene Herrera, Dallas, Texas
<\/a><\/div>Cheeseburger Pizza<\/a>My husband's favorite foods are pizza and cheeseburgers, so I combined the two in a pie with mayo and dill pickle juice. People who try this cheeseburger pizza always laugh in surprise because it's so good. \u2014Angie Zimmerman, Eureka, Illinois
<\/a><\/div>Dill Pickle Potato Salad<\/a>This creamy dill pickle potato salad makes a flavorful and attractive addition to a Fourth of July picnic or church supper.\u2014Nancy Holland, Morgan Hill, California
<\/a><\/div>Fried Dill Pickles<\/a>You may be surprised when you see how easy it is to make a batch of Fried Dill Pickels. Don't be surprised if they get snatched up in a flash! \u2014Eloise Maynor, Scottsboro, AL
<\/a><\/div>Pastrami Roll-Ups<\/a>For a book club event, I created pastrami roll-ups with cream cheese and a pickle. Those tasty bites quickly pulled a disappearing act. \u2014Merritt Heinrich, Oswego, Illinois
<\/a><\/div>Dill Bloody Marys<\/a>With a nice level of pepper, and just enough dill from the pickle, these Bloody Marys are sure to please. To make Contrary Marys simply leave out the vodka. \u2014Jay Ferkovich, Green Bay, Wisconsin
<\/a><\/div>Cheeseburger Pie<\/a>This cheeseburger pie tastes so much like its namesake\u2014right down to the pickles in it! We home-school our children so I like easy recipes like this that get them involved in cooking. \u2014Rhonda Cannady, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
<\/a><\/div>Dilly Mini Cheese Balls<\/a>??These mini cheese balls are perfect for any gathering, no matter what time of year it is! Kids love the cheesy, salty flavor, and adults appreciate how easy they are to make. \u2014Carole Lanthier, Courtice, Ontario
<\/a><\/div>Cheeseburger Nachos<\/a>Cheeseburger nachos are the perfect game-day graze. Load them up with all the toppings or let everyone claim part of the platter that they can top with their faves. \u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
<\/a><\/div>Ham & Pickle Wraps<\/a>I decided to try this recipe on my card club, and it was a big success. They loved it. This ham pickle roll up recipe can be swapped around and changed in so many different ways and always turns out as an awesome appetizer or great-looking centerpiece over a hand of cards.