Best Cold Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipes

FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of heavy plastic on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound chicken with the smooth side of a meat mallet to an even thickness. Cut each breast in half and place in a bowl. Pour pickle brine on top and let sit for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, mix flour, powdered sugar, salt, paprika, pepper, celery salt, and basil in a bowl.
• Whisk eggs and milk together in another bowl.
• Drain liquid from the chicken and rinse off briefly. Shake any excess liquid from chicken.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Dip each piece of chicken into the flour mixture, then into the egg-milk mixture, then coat again with the flour. Dip each piece again, if desired.
• Deep-fry chicken, 3 pieces at a time, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Let chicken rest on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet for 5 minutes. While chicken is resting, lightly butter each sandwich bun and toast them in a skillet.
• Add 2 pickle slices to the bottom of each bun, then a chicken piece, then top with the other bun. Repeat to make remaining sandwiches.

FRIED CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, mustard, Italian seasoning, cayenne and lemon juice. Add the chicken, parsley, celery and green onions, and toss to coat in the dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Let the chicken salad hang out for 30 minutes or so to allow the flavors to marry. Divide evenly among the croissants. Serve.

COPYCAT FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Cut each chicken breast horizontally in half; place in a large bowl. Add buttermilk and hot sauce; toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, 8 hours or overnight. , Preheat air fryer to 400°. Stir eggs into chicken mixture. In a shallow dish, whisk flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, pepper and salt. Remove chicken from buttermilk mixture. Dredge chicken in flour mixture, firmly patting to help coating adhere. Repeat, dipping chicken again in buttermilk mixture and then dredging in flour mixture., Place chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Using a pastry brush, lightly dab both sides of chicken with oil until no dry breading remains. , In batches, arrange chicken in a single layer in greased air fryer. Cook until a thermometer reads 165° and coating is golden brown and crispy, 7-8 minutes on each side. Remove chicken; keep warm. Toast buns in air fryer until golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Top bun bottoms with chicken. If desired, serve with optional toppings.

COLD FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• One day before you're frying, mix all the soaking ingredients in a big container or two. Put the thighs in to soak, and refrigerate overnight.
• The following day, mix the dredging ingredients in a big deep bowl or high-sided roasting pan. Remove the chicken from the soak, piece by piece, allowing excess buttermilk to drip off away from the dredge. Drop each piece into flour mixture, a few at a time, leaving space between each piece. Shake, and toss to coat each piece evenly and thoroughly.
• Lay the dredged chicken on a rack set over a cookie sheet to allow the coating to dry and cling, leaving space between the pieces.
• Heat oil to 325 degrees, testing with a thermometer, or by dropping a few specks of flour in, and begin to fry when the specks sizzle calmly. Fry in batches, until just shy of golden. Continue until all have been fried, lowering the heat as needed to keep the temperature constant, and straining out excess flour to keep the oil clean. Let thighs rest on a rack over a cookie sheet or dish towel. Skim all the excess flour out of the oil, or carefully strain it into a new pot and raise heat to 350. Fry the thighs again, in batches, to (in Hamilton's words) "finish to gorgeous deep golden brown."
• Drain on a rack. Leave at room temperature for a same-day picnic, or refrigerate overnight if you're eating the following day. Bring buttermilk dressing! Bring hot sauce! Bring butter lettuce! Bring rosé!

FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICHES WITH TANGY COLESLAW AND SPICY MAYO

Steps:

• For the tangy slaw: Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, celery salt and pepper in a small bowl until combined. Stir in the mayo until incorporated. Add the scallions and green and red cabbage and toss to coat. Set aside, or refrigerate for up to 4 hours in advance.
• For the spicy mayo: Whisk together the mayonnaise and hot sauce in a small bowl. Taste and add more hot sauce depending on how spicy you like it. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to a week.
• For the fried chicken: Mix the yogurt, 1 teaspoon of the paprika, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a large bowl. Add the chicken cutlets and coat evenly. Let the chicken sit in the marinade for about 15 minutes at room temperature or up to 2 hours refrigerated.
• Once the chicken has marinated, pour about 2 inches of oil in a deep 10-inch cast-iron skillet and place over medium-high until it registers 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Line a sheet pan with paper towels.
• While the oil heats, whisk together the flour, onion powder, remaining 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the black pepper in a small shallow dish. Remove the cutlets from the yogurt, allowing any excess yogurt to drip off, and dredge the cutlets in the flour mixture.
• Carefully add the dredged chicken to the hot oil and fry until the chicken is deeply golden brown on both sides and cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes, flipping the cutlet about halfway through the cooking time. Drain on the paper towels and immediately sprinkle the chicken with more salt to taste.
• Toast the burger buns until golden brown. Spread 1 tablespoon of the mayo over the top and bottom of each bun. Place a piece of fried chicken on each bottom bun, top that with slices of tomato and some slaw and cover with the top buns. Serve immediately.