Skip the takeout tonight and try this easy, homemade chicken sandwich made with tender, juicy, shallow-fried chicken breast, sliced red onion, green leaf lettuce, and a sweet-and-spicy spread made with mayonnaise, sriracha, honey, and fresh cilantro.
Served on a soft burger bun with a side of fries or chips, it makes a satisfyingly flavorful dinner that’s sure to become a family favorite.
How to Make Breaded Chicken Breasts
The secret to a good homemade chicken sandwich is to make sure the chicken is moist and tender. Here are a few tips that will get you pan-frying chicken to tender perfection.
- Prepare the chicken: If your chicken breasts still have the tenderloins attached, remove and reserve them for another use. One at a time, place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound them to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Depending on their size, once pounded, cut them in half crosswise to approximate the size of your rolls.
- Prepare the egg dip: Whisk egg and milk together in a pie plate or other shallow dish. The ratio is 1 tablespoon of milk to 1 large egg.
- Prepare the crumb coating: Combine the breadcrumbs with garlic powder, onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Spread the mixture on a dinner plate or sheet of wax paper.
- Coat the chicken in crumbs: Working with one piece of chicken at a time, dip in the egg mixture and turn once or twice to coat. Allow the excess egg to drip off, then lay the chicken on the bed of crumbs and use your fingers to press gently into the mixture to be sure the crumbs adhere. Repeat on the other side.
- Fry the chicken: Coat the bottom of a large frying pan with about 1/8-inch of vegetable oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add a pinch of bread crumbs to the pan, and as soon as they begin to sizzle, the pan is preheated. Add the chicken in a single layer and fry until the crumb coating is golden brown and the interior of the chicken is no longer pink, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Watch the temperature: Every stove is different, and you don’t want your crumb coating to burn while the chicken cooks all the way through. Check the bottom of each piece after 1 minute in the pan, and if the crumbs already browning, the heat is too high. Carefully turn the chicken over and reduce the heat.
- Handle the chicken gently: Use a thin spatula to turn the chicken, and be careful so as not to damage the crumb coating.
- Check for doneness with a thermometer: Use an instant-read thermometer to check the chicken for doneness (165°F). This way, you won’t need to cut it and let the juices run out.
- Let the chicken stand before serving: Place cooked chicken on a paper towel-lined plate and gently blot to absorb the oil from frying. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.
Sweet and Spicy Breaded Chicken Sandwich
Tender, breaded chicken breast, lettuce, onion, and sweet-spicy sriracha mayo spread combine to make this delicious, homemade chicken sandwich.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1 to 1-1/4 pounds
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 3/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Vegetable oil
- Green leaf lettuce
- Thinly-sliced red onion
- 4 soft rolls, sliced
For the Sriracha Mayo:
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 to 3 teaspoons sriracha, or more to taste
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare the Sriracha-Cilantro Mayo by combining the mayonnaise, honey, 2 teaspoons of the sriracha and cilantro in a small bowl. Taste and add more sriracha if desired. Set aside.
- If your chicken breasts still have the tenderloins attached, remove and reserve them for another use.
- One at a time, place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound them to a thickness of about 1/2-inch. Depending on their size once pounded, cut them in half crosswise to approximate the size of your rolls.
- Whisk the egg and milk together in a pie plate or other shallow dish.
- Combine the breadcrumbs with the garlic powder, onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Spread the mixture on a dinner plate or sheet of wax paper.
- Working with one piece of chicken at a time, dip in the egg mixture and turn once or twice to coat. Allow the excess egg to drip off, then lay the chicken on the bed of crumbs and use your fingers to press it gently into the mixture to be sure the crumbs adhere. Repeat on the other side.
- Coat the bottom of a large frying pan with about 1/8-inch of vegetable oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add a pinch of bread crumbs to the pan and as soon as they begin to sizzle, the pan is pre-heated.
- Add the chicken in a single layer and fry until the crumb coating is golden brown and the interior of the chicken is no longer pink, 2 to 3 minutes per side (see notes).
- Transfer the chicken to a paper towel-lined plate and gently blot to absorb the oil from frying. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Divide the sriracha mayo between the four rolls and add a layer of lettuce and red onion to each. Top with chicken and serve.
Recipe Notes
- Watch the temperature: Every stove is different and you don’t want your crumb coating to burn while the chicken cooks all the way through. Check the bottom of each piece after 1 minute in the pan, and if the crumbs already browning, the heat is too high. Carefully turn the chicken over and reduce the heat.
- Handle the chicken gently: Use a thin spatula to turn the chicken and be careful so as not to damage the crumb coating.
- Check for doneness with a thermometer: Use an instant-read thermometer to check the chicken for doneness (165°F). This way you won’t need to cut it and let the juices run out.
- Let the chicken stand before serving: Place cooked chicken on a paper towel-lined plate and gently blot to absorb the oil from frying. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Sweet and Spicy Breaded Chicken Sandwich
Amount per Serving
Calories
533
% Daily Value*
Fat
34
g
52
%
Saturated Fat
6
g
38
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
18
g
Monounsaturated Fat
8
g
Cholesterol
129
mg
43
%
Sodium
654
mg
28
%
Carbohydrates
25
g
8
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
7
g
8
%
Protein
30
g
60
%
Trans Fat
1
g
Iron
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Have you tried this recipe?Did you add your own special touch? We’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment and a rating to share your thoughts with others.
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