Chick-Fil-A has been a recent addition to our lives, definitely more recent than to most people. We lived in Washington, DC for three years and moved back to Los Angeles only recently to find that Chick-Fil-A was staging a takeover attempt against In-N-Out for the longest drive thru line title. Having only been back in LA for a short time when we wanted fast food we were all too eager to have In-N-Out instead so it took us even longer to discover the delicious chicken and lemonade. OH, the delicious lemonade. I would go out of my way and stay in that line just for this lemonade.
Up here in Northern California we have settled in to a good groove. We alternate between the two, sometimes you need animal style burgers and fries and sometimes you need that lemonade and crispy chicken sandwich while watching your kids play in the play structure. It is hard to go wrong between the two! So when I came across the recipe for the copycat of the crispy chicken I got really excited but also conflicted since I need that lemonade to go with it! The last time I went to the restaurant with a friend I actually asked the manager behind the counter if he could tell me anything about the lemonade. They actually make it fresh there and he gave me this ratio. Trying it at home, I am sold. Now we sometimes have this meal at home with oven baked potato wedges as a surprise for my oldest and a treat for me!
Butterfly chicken into two thin filets. Score in diamonds. Marinate chicken in the pickle juice for an hour.
Add milk and egg into a bowl, mix together. Mix together dry ingredients in a second bowl. 
Heat the oil in a skillet to about 350. Dredge each chicken piece into the egg, then into the flour mixture. 
Fry each chicken piece for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until browned and cooked through. 
Make into a sandwich with lettuce, tomato and pickles. Serve with delicious lemonade! 
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (either two large or 4 small breasts)
- 3/4 cup dill pickle juice
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup flour
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp celery salt
- 1/2 tsp basil
- 1 cup peanut oil , for frying
- 4 Hamburger Buns
- Lettuce
- Tomato Slices
- Pickle Slices
Instructions
- Butterfly chicken into two thin filets. Score in diamonds.
- Marinate chicken in the pickle juice for an hour.
- Add milk and egg into a bowl, mix together.
- Mix together dry ingredients in a second bowl.
- Heat the oil in a skillet to about 350.
- Dredge each chicken piece into the egg, then into the flour mixture.
- Fry each chicken piece for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until browned and cooked through.
- Make into a sandwich with lettuce, tomato and pickles. Serve with delicious lemonade!
Notes
Nutrition
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Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups Sunkist lemon juice (this took me 12 lemons, but mine were a bit on the smaller side)
- 1 cup sugar
- 5 1/3 cups water
Instructions
- Add the sugar to the lemon juice, mix well.
- Add in the water and mix well again.
- Let sit in the fridge for an hour, then mix again just before serving.
- Best over ice.
Nutrition
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Almost as good as the real thing! Enjoyed by all ages. The pickle juice marinade was the winner, winner chicken dinner! Say goodbye to 2021’s resolution to eat better. Thank you, Sabrina! Great eats. Add cayenne if you want a little extra heat.
It tastes EXACTLY like Chick fila! I will make this again.
Woohoo!
Can you use a bottled lemon concentrate for the lemonade?
You can make the lemonade however you’d like. Enjoy 🙂
I am wondering if you have an idea on how to change the recipe to make their spicy chicken sandwich
I’ll add it to my research list. Thanks for the suggestion.
That looks so good I might break my vegetarian diet. That lemonade tough, i love lemonade yummy!
Thanks Florentina! That lemonade is legit addicting.
So, nobody has made a comment on whether or not it comes close to the taste. I have tried 3 copy cat recipes and all have disappointed me. Supposedly former employees say the fried version is not marinated in pickle juice. The one thing all of these recipes seem to lack is that sweet oily taste you get when you bite into that chicken. Does anyone have a batter recipe that comes close?
When I made this version I taste tested against their nuggets. I thought it was pretty spot on. The only thing is that my nuggets were about 45 minutes “old” so I couldn’t fully compare right out of the fryer.
I LOVE Chickfila! This I will have to try, my family would love it too!
You won’t regret it!
OMG! I am so making this dish this weekend. I love it! It looks amazing!
Thanks!!
I love fried chicken and this recipe looks easy and I think we’re going to fall in love with it! The first time we had Chick Fil A was in NC and we recently got one in CT but it’s still far so this is a must
You’ll love this, and I have done a side by side taste comparison. It is just right on!
That sandwich looks and sounds amazing! I’m sure my kids would totally go for something like this at mealtime.
You dont have to tell me twice to pin this!! I love Chick-Fil-A and I would like to see if I can do a copycat version of course with the lemonade!!!
Thanks so much for the pin! I hope you love it!
I need to try this asap. I love Chick Fil A but I hate spending a lot of money on fast food. I’m going to see how this comes out.
Yes! Especially since Chick-Fil-A is pretty expensive as far as fast food goes too 🙂
Yum! Even if chick-fil-a was close by I’d love to make this at home and avoid the line!
Me too! The line is always crazy!
I just pinned this. I love that I can make this on a Sunday when I can’t get the real thing. Thanks for this!
Thanks so much for the pin! I hope you love it!
I’ve never been to Chick-fil-a, because there aren’t any where I live. I will have to try this to see what all the fuss is about!
The lemonade is what brings me back all the time. It is ADDICTING. Don’t get me wrong though, the chicken is yummy too 🙂
I’m anxious to try this since we love Chick-Fil-A so much. I would like a clarification, though. Are we using dill pickle juice here or sweet? I can’t wait for your recipe for the buns! Thanks.
Dill pickle juice! I will update the recipe 🙂
I have only been a few times but i love there food. also you photos are amazing. wow. great work.
I should make my own lemonade. It would less expensive than buying to premade.
Especially the premade jugs they sell at Chick-Fil-A!
My boys have a very healthy obsession with Chick – fil – a . I would love to surprise them with a home cooked copy cat recipe!
I could definitely say the same about myself. Their chicken is wonderful!
I love Chick-Fil-A! I always like trying out inspired recipes such as this.
Me too! I love restaurant inspired dishes!
I would have never thought to marinate chicken in pickle juice! Your version looks pretty accurate.
Thanks! Yeah the pickle juice was a new one for me!
Yum! That is the perfect summer meal. Lemonade is my favorite during This time of year.
Me too!
I think it was this time last year I first experienced Chick-fil-A and it was love at first bite. That chicken is amazing! I still haven’t tried the Lemonade, but now I can!
Oh gosh the lemonade is so good! You have to try it!
I remember when the first Chik Fil A opened in my area of town about 25 years ago. It was all the rage. It’s been interesting to watch them grown, and almost fall apart, only to come back. I find it odd that their are still places without one!
See I have a vague recollection of them being in our mall years ago, but after we moved to DC and back again 3 years later it had completely exploded in popularity!
Yum. This looks AMAZING. We don’t have Chick-Fil-A in Canada so this would be a great way for me to try it out! Looks so good.
You’ll love it, the chicken has amazing flavor!
The fried chicken looks so yummy. During the summer, we convert the main meal to lunchtime. This sandwich and lemonade will do the trick.
Ooh I love that idea!
This sounds amazing!! I love grabbing chick fil when we travel it is always delicious!
Thanks!
Oh man, when is lunch time? I am heading over! That chicken looks like it was done by a CHef. 5 star recipe for sure.
Aww thanks, I wish more clients asked me to make this for them!
I LOVE the ChickFilA sandwich and marinating in pickle juice – WOW! I’m totally making this myself! Thank you!
Enjoy!
I think my kids would love to make their own Chick-Fil-A sandwiches. Will have to try this out!
I wish mine were old enough to help! I think they would get a kick out of the pickle juice marinade, haha.
This looks so delicious. I will have to try this recipe this weekend. I am sure it will be a big hit.
Wonderful! Hope you love it!
Yummy! I am a fan of Chick-Fil-A, but I must admit yours looks much tastier, especially the bun. I will definitely have to try this.
I actually made that bun! It is in an upcoming post for Hawaiian Bread! It was AMAZING.
This is a great meal. I need it.
Thank you!
Am I a freak of nature that I’ve never once eaten Chik-fil-a? I know so many people who rave about it.
I had it for the first time a few years ago, so I was late to the game too! Have you had In N Out?
I love chick-fil-a but we don’t have one close to us. This sounds like a Godsend! I’ll be trying it soon!
So glad to provide a recipe to you!
That sandwich looks JUST like chick-fil-a! Wihich happens to be one of my favorite palces to eat! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
Oh my goodness! You have just made my daughter’s life complete! She loves Chick-Fil-A. Now that we can make it at home, she will never have to leave the house again!
Haha. Glad I could help!
Oh this sounds delicious…. will be adding this to our monthly meal calendar for sure!
Wonderful!
my current chick-fil-a love is their frosted lemonade. They are so good. I bet it would be easy enough to add ice cream to this recipe lol
Ooh, I have not tried that! Another reason to go to Chick-Fil-A!
Chick fil A is my weakness, but the only time I eat out is on Sunday, when they are closed. I love this recipe. Now I can have my cravings satisfied by making the sandwiches myself!
I’ve made that mistake myself a couple of times!
Oh my goodness does this look amazing! I’d love to make this for my kids!
I hope they love it as much as my oldest did!
I love Chick Fil A sandwiches. If these are even close to the flavor I get there, I am so excited! Yum!
Yes! They totally are!
This all looks delicious and fairly simple to make. Thank you for sharing this with us.
My pleasure!
Wow you are an expert! Chick-Fil-A’s lemonade is the only one I will drink!
Haha, me too! I normally have a policy against drinking calories when they aren’t alcoholic, but this lemonade is worth it!
Would you believe I have never had Chick-Fil-A? We do not have one in our city and every time I find myself in an area with one, it’s a Sunday!
I only had it for the first time a few years ago and I had them locally before that too!
I love Chickfila. I need try making this at home!
Hope you love it!
Oh you are so speaking this pregnant mama’s language right now! I adore Chick-fil-a! And their lemonade! I have to give this recipe a try!
I hope you love it!
Oh my goodness, this is my brothers favorite sandwich… So cool. Thanks so much for the recipe, I can’t wait to try it.
Hope you love it!
I am a HUGE Chick-fil-A lover. I can’t wait to try this recipe for the crispy chicken sandwich and lemonade!
Me too!
This looks like a winner to me! I love trying copy cat recipes, and I love Chick-Fil-A. Yay!
Thanks!
Mmm we LOVE Chik-fil-A! I’m definitely going to have to give this a try!
Hope you love it!
Thanks for the recipe I can’t wait to make this. I love the Chic-Fi-A sandwich.
I hope you love it!
That sandwich looks pretty genuine. And if I can gather enough oil, I can do this at home, too.
I think you could get away with about half the oil if you use a smaller pan and do one piece at a time 🙂
That looks delicious! We go to Chic-Fil-A all the time, so I can’t wait to give this a try.
Oh yum! We don’t have Chick-fil-a’s around here, so I have no choice but to make my own!
No, but you have Wahlburgers which I would do anything to try!