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Chick Fil A grilled chicken sandwich recipe at home is the copycat the kids ask for after a long drive-thru-less day, that pickle juice brined chicken, pepper jack melt, and the iconic honey roasted bbq drizzle stacked on a toasted bun. The same backyard-grill move that powered our copycat Maid Rite sandwich rebuild on a *hot Saturday afternoon*.
Pickle juice brine, 30 minute marinate, hot grill, honey roasted bbq drizzle, dinner is served.
Chick Fil A Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe Quick Look
- 🕐 Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 🍴 Cook Time: 15 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 1 hour
- 🍽 Serving: 4 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 540kcal
- 🌶 Flavor Profile: Smoky, tangy, sweet, with that signature pickle brine
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our copycat Maid Rite sandwich
Quick Answer
Marinate boneless skinless chicken breasts in a pickle juice and milk brine with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper for 30 minutes, whisk together the honey roasted bbq sauce, grill the chicken over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes per side to 165 degrees, then build the sandwich on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, pepper jack, bacon, and a generous drizzle of the sauce.
Jump to:
- Chick Fil A Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Chick Fil A Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Chick Fil A Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe FAQs
- Other Recommended Copycat Recipes
- Copycat Chick Fil A Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe (Grilled Chicken Club)
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Pickle juice is the secret weapon. The salt-acid combo in pickle juice tenderizes the chicken from the inside while infusing that signature tangy flavor that nobody can quite put their finger on at the actual restaurant.
- Milk plus powdered sugar mellows the brine. The dairy fat coats the chicken protein and slows over-brining, while the powdered sugar dissolves into the marinade for caramelized char marks on the grill.
- 30 minute brine is the sweet spot. Less than 30 minutes and the flavor stays surface-only. More than 4 hours and the salt breaks down the chicken texture. The sweet spot is 30 to 60 minutes.
- Cut breasts in half lengthwise. Standard chicken breasts are too thick to cook evenly. Splitting them lengthwise creates two thinner cutlets that hit 165 degrees throughout without drying out the outside.
- Honey roasted bbq is the topper. The mayo-bbq-honey-mustard-ketchup combo with a touch of lemon juice and paprika replicates the exact Chick Fil A honey roasted bbq sauce taste that turns a regular grilled sandwich into the copycat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tastes like the drive-thru. Pickle juice marinade plus the honey roasted bbq nails the flavor profile down to the last detail. Your kids will ask if you went to Chick Fil A.
- Sunday closed problem solved. Make it at home any day of the week, no more Sunday Chick Fil A cravings going unanswered. The same family fast food fix we built our copycat Maid Rite around.
- Backyard grill ready. Hot grill plus marinated chicken plus 6 to 8 minutes per side and dinner is on the table. Perfect for summer cookouts.
Key Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Two large breasts cut in half lengthwise gives 4 thinner cutlets that cook evenly on the grill. Skip the pre-thin sliced chicken, the fresh-cut cutlets brine better.
- Dill pickle juice: Half a cup straight from the jar. This is the Chick Fil A signature flavor that tenderizes the chicken and adds that subtle tangy brine.
- Whole milk: A quarter cup of whole milk mellows the salt and adds dairy fat that helps the marinade coat. Skip skim, the fat matters.
- Honey roasted bbq sauce makings: Mayo, bbq sauce, honey, mustard, ketchup, a splash of lemon juice, and a pinch of smoked paprika. Whisk it all in a bowl, that is the iconic sauce.
- Pepper jack cheese: The Chick Fil A club cheese. Spicy creamy melt that finishes the sandwich, the same flavor that elevates our jalapeno popper pinwheels.
- Hickory smoked bacon and toasted buns: Crispy bacon and buttery toasted brioche buns finish the club sandwich build. Lettuce and tomato keep the freshness.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
- Make it spicy. Add a teaspoon of cayenne to the marinade and a few dashes of hot sauce to the honey roasted bbq sauce for a spicy version closer to the Chick Fil A Spicy Deluxe.
- Pan-sear instead of grill. Hot cast iron skillet over medium high with a teaspoon of oil, 4 to 5 minutes per side. The grilled crosshatch marks are missing, but the flavor is identical.
- Use chicken thighs. Boneless skinless chicken thighs work beautifully if you prefer dark meat. Cook 6 to 7 minutes per side to 165 degrees.
- Build it as a wrap. Skip the bun, slice the grilled chicken and roll into a tortilla with the same fixings for a Chick Fil A grilled chicken wrap. Closer to the tortilla pinwheel energy.
- Air fry it. Marinated chicken cooks at 380 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes flipping halfway. The same air fryer trick that nails our hot pocket air fryer crisp.
How to Make Chick Fil A Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe
- Cut the boneless skinless chicken breasts in half lengthwise to make 4 thinner cutlets that cook evenly. Set aside on a plate.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the dill pickle juice, whole milk, powdered sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and kosher salt until smooth.
- Add the chicken cutlets to the marinade and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to 4 hours for deeper flavor.
- While the chicken marinates, whisk together the mayonnaise, bbq sauce, honey, yellow mustard, ketchup, fresh lemon juice, and smoked paprika in a medium bowl. This is the honey roasted bbq sauce.
- Preheat the grill over medium heat. Cook the marinated chicken cutlets 6 to 8 minutes per side, flipping occasionally, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees on an instant read thermometer. Look for crosshatch char marks for the copycat look.
- Toast the buns lightly. Build each sandwich on the bottom bun with lettuce, a tomato slice, a grilled chicken cutlet, a slice of pepper jack cheese, and 2 strips of crispy bacon.
- Spread the honey roasted bbq sauce generously on the bottom side of the top bun and crown the sandwich. Serve with waffle fries and enjoy hot.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Save your pickle jar juice. The leftover dill pickle juice from a regular Vlasic or Mt. Olive jar is exactly what you need. No need to buy a special bottle.
- Marinate at least 30 minutes. Less time and the pickle juice flavor stays surface only. The sweet spot is 30 to 60 minutes for full penetration.
- Bring the chicken to room temp before grilling. Pull the marinated chicken out 15 minutes before grilling. Cold chicken on a hot grill cooks unevenly and dries out the outside.
- Get the grill hot first. Preheat the grill 10 minutes before adding the chicken. A hot grill gives the crosshatch marks and seals in the juices.
- Toast the buns on the grill. Brush the cut sides with butter and grill cut side down for 1 minute. The toasted bun holds up to the sauce without going soggy, like our cheeseburger sliders trick.
- Make the sauce ahead. The honey roasted bbq sauce gets better as it sits. Whisk it up the day before and refrigerate so the flavors meld.
- Use a meat thermometer. 165 degrees in the thickest part is the safety number. Pull the chicken at 162 and let it rest, carryover cooking finishes the job without drying.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
The Chick Fil A grilled chicken sandwich at home needs the full drive-thru combo treatment. Serve with crispy waffle fries, our classic potato salad on the side, and a frosty white wine spritzer if you are doing the grown up version.
For a Sunday cookout spread, plate the grilled chicken club alongside our slow cooker St. Louis ribs and a tray of lunch lady peanut butter cookies for dessert. The cookout that fills the freezer for the week.
If lunch box energy is the goal, slice the grilled chicken and stuff into pita bread with the lettuce, tomato, and honey roasted bbq drizzle as a portable spin. Pair with our air fryer hot pocket trick for the kid combo plate that disappears in 4 minutes flat.
Chick Fil A Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe FAQs
The Chick Fil A grilled chicken marinade is a mix of dill pickle juice, whole milk, powdered sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. The pickle juice is the key signature ingredient that gives the chicken its tangy salt-brined flavor.
Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes for the flavor to penetrate, or up to 4 hours for the deepest pickle juice tang. Skip longer than 4 hours, the salt starts to break down the chicken texture into mushy.
Chick Fil A grilled chicken clubs come with the iconic honey roasted bbq sauce, a mix of mayonnaise, bbq sauce, honey, mustard, ketchup, lemon juice, and a pinch of smoked paprika. It is sweet, smoky, and tangy all at once.
Yes, the Chick Fil A grilled chicken cooks beautifully in a hot cast iron pan when grilling is not an option. Use medium high heat with a teaspoon of oil and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Pepper jack is the classic Chick Fil A grilled chicken club cheese, melting over the hot chicken for a slightly spicy creamy finish. Colby Jack or Monterey Jack are good non-spicy swaps.
Store leftover Chick Fil A grilled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350 degree oven for 8 minutes or a hot skillet for 3 minutes per side to keep the grilled crust intact.
Other Recommended Copycat Recipes
If this Chick Fil A grilled chicken sandwich recipe solved your Sunday closed problem, drop a star rating and tell us how the family rated the copycat. Pictures of your sandwich stack on Pinterest make our day.
For the drive-thru-at-home fix that nails the cheese sauce and tangy red sauce, our copycat Arbys beef and cheddar sandwich recipe uses shaved deli roast beef warmed in beef broth, a real cheddar cheese sauce, and a homemade Arbys red sauce on a toasted onion bun for the full copycat experience.
Pair your copycat meal with our KFC potato wedges recipe, the best double fried copycat with a crispy seasoned crust and fluffy centers, ready in about 30 minutes.
Round out your copycat fast food night with our copycat Wendys Frosty dessert, the thick and creamy chocolate frozen treat made with 5 ingredients and a blender, just like the drive thru.
Craving a smokier grilled chicken? Try our chipotle chicken marinade next time.
Copycat Chick Fil A Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe (Grilled Chicken Club)
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup dill pickle juice
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Cut the breasts in half lengthwise, set aside.2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- In a large bowl whisk together the pickle juice, milk, powdered sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, salt, and paprika.½ cup dill pickle juice, ¼ cup whole milk, 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Add the chicken to the marinade and coat the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, up to 4 hours.
- While the chicken is marinating, make the sauce. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, bbq sauce, honey, dijon, lemon juice, and paprika. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge until ready to use.
- Preheat the grill over medium heat. Cook the chicken, flipping occasionally until an internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the breast, up to 15 minutes total. Take off the heat and top each piece of chicken with a slice of cheese to melt slightly.
- To assemble, remove the tops off the buns, add lettuce and a tomato slice on top. Add a piece of chicken followed by a slice of bacon broken in half so it fits.
- Spread the honey roasted bbq sauce on the bottom side of the top bun. Add to the sandwiches and enjoy.
Notes
- We like to use a sweet BBQ sauce for the sauce.
- You can use thin-cut chicken breasts if you can find them.
- Easily double this recipe to serve more people.
- Thick-cut bacon works best, but use what you have on hand.
- Other cheeses can be used, see above on ideas.
- This can be frozen, see above on how to do that.
- We like to use multi-grain buns, but use your favorite buns.
- Top with your favorite toppings.
- The chicken needs to marinate for at least 30 minutes to 4 hours.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
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Really great I Tried
Thank you so much for your feedback we are truly grateful!!!
I don’t usually do reviews. The only way is if it’s extremely pleased or greatly disappointed. Some people eat to live. I live to eat! This hit the nail on the head. My family loves Chick Fil A and as I’ve been watching what I eat, I order grilled chicken. It’s really good grilled chicken with a unique flavor profile. This recipe duplicates that flavor profile that I could never break down the itemized ingredients. Thank you very much and highly recommend! 5 stars!
Made this tonight. My boyfriend actually liked it more than chick fil an and I think I agree because you can customize the type of bread and toppings more. We used regular hamburger buns because it’s what we had on hand and it was sooo good. Definitely a keeper.