The news is pretty big! Chick-fil-a came out with a new sandwich after years of their tried and true menu. Many Chick-fil-a fans waited in line to get a taste of this sandwich to see for themselves if it was worth the hype. So as someone who is not a fan of the chain, I wanted to see if this sandwich would change my life…..did it?
After one bite, I can confidently say, NO IT DID NOT. I was quite disappointed with the sandwich. The seasoning of the chicken was tasty, but that was about it! The blend of flavors felt off, and the pimento cheese filling was a disaster. So what does a chef do in situations like these? Remake it of course.
To start, we needed to make the pimento cheese dip something that was tasty and had a little kick. The cream cheese, cheddar, jalapeño, and pimentos blend perfectly while the much needed salt was missing from the original recipe.
Next, for the chicken, I double fry mine for the ultimate crunch. You can season how you want to. I season the flour for extra flavor.
Lastly, I liked making my own pickled jalapeños. But this step can be skipped and I do not think it affects the quality of your sandwich. Get the brioche bun and spicy honey to add sweetness to the sandwich. I feel Chick-fil-a had a good idea, but their recipe was just off. This one felt much better and once I made it, I knew this would be an instant hit!
Copycat Chick-fil-A Pimento Cheese Chicken Sandwich
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Whisk
- Frying Pan or Deep Fryer
- Tongs
- Glass Jar for pickling, if making homemade
Ingredients
For the Fried Chicken:
- 2 chicken breasts can be butterflied for thinner pieces
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Frying oil vegetable or canola
For the Pimento Cheese Spread:
- ½ block 4 oz room temperature cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup pimentos drained
- 1 jalapeño diced
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
For the Pickled Jalapeños (Optional):
- Store-bought or homemade:
- 2 jalapeños sliced
- 1 cup white vinegar
- ½ cup water
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp pickling seasoning mix
For Assembling the Sandwich:
- 2 brioche buns
- Honey for drizzling
Instructions
Pickle the Jalapeños (Optional, Do Ahead)
- If making homemade, combine vinegar, water, garlic, and pickling seasoning in a pot and bring to a simmer.
- Pour over sliced jalapeños in a glass jar and let sit for 24-48 hours for the best flavor.
Make the Pimento Cheese Spread
- In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese, pimentos, jalapeño, mayonnaise, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
- Mix well until smooth. Set aside.
Prepare the Chicken
- If chicken breasts are thick, slice them in half width-wise for more even cooking.
- Beat 2 eggs in one dish.
- In another dish, mix flour, salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Double-Bread and Fry the Chicken
- Heat oil in a frying pan to 350°F (175°C).
- Dip each chicken piece into the egg wash, then the flour mixture, repeating twice for extra crispy breading.
- Fry until golden brown and crispy, ensuring the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
- Drain on a paper towel.
Assemble the Sandwich
- Toast brioche buns in a dry pan or toaster until lightly golden.
- Add pickled jalapeños to the bottom bun.
- Place the fried chicken on top and drizzle with honey.
- Spread pimento cheese generously over the chicken.
- Top with the bun and serve immediately!
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