Barefoot Contessa’s Irresistible Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipe

Southern-style fried chicken sandwiches represent the ultimate comfort food for crisp afternoons and casual gatherings.

Imagine a golden, crackling exterior that gives way to tender meat inside.

The secret lies in a perfectly seasoned breading that transforms ordinary poultry into something extraordinary.

Briny pickle slices add a tangy counterpoint to the rich, crunchy coating.

Soft brioche buns cradle this delectable creation, promising a symphony of textures and flavors.

Each bite delivers a satisfying crunch that resonates with deep-rooted culinary traditions.

You’ll fall in love with this irresistible sandwich that elevates home cooking to an art form: prepare to be amazed.

Say Goodbye to Your Go-To Sandwich After Trying This

Signature Southern-style chicken sandwiches bring gourmet comfort right to your plate.

Ina Garten’s masterful recipe elevates classic street fare with sophisticated layers of flavor.

Buttermilk marinade tenderizes chicken while spices create complex taste profiles.

Crispy golden exteriors give way to juicy meat sealed with herbed mayo and tangy pickles.

Restaurant-quality results await without complex techniques or expensive ingredients.

Culinary adventurers and home chefs: snap that perfect sandwich shot, share this mouthwatering dish across social platforms, and tag fellow food enthusiasts to spread deliciousness!

What Makes These Chicken Sandwiches an Instant Favorite

• Savor Flavor-Packed Marinade Magic: The buttermilk-based marinade infuses chicken with incredible depth, blending zesty shallots, garlic, and spicy jalapeños for a taste explosion that transforms ordinary chicken into an extraordinary culinary experience.
• Master Crispy Coating Technique: Double-dredging creates an incredibly crunchy, golden-brown exterior that shatters perfectly with each bite, delivering a satisfying crunch that elevates the entire sandwich from good to absolutely mind-blowing.
• Enjoy Restaurant-Quality Comfort at Home: This recipe brings professional-level fried chicken sandwiches directly to your kitchen, allowing you to craft gourmet-style meals without complex techniques or expensive equipment – proving that amazing food can be simple and accessible.
• Customize for Maximum Deliciousness: The flexible recipe lets you adjust spice levels, swap out herbs, or experiment with different pickles and mayo variations, making it a perfect canvas for personal culinary creativity and flavor exploration.

Stack Your Ingredients for the Best Chicken Bite Ever

Main Ingredients:

• Chicken Breasts: Juicy, tender meat that is the star of the sandwich, best when fresh and boneless.

• Buttermilk, Shallot, Garlic, Jalapeño: Tenderizing mixture that adds flavor and helps create a moist chicken.

• All-Purpose Flour, Baking Powder, Paprika, Cayenne, Celery Salt: Crispy, seasoned coating that creates a crunchy exterior with complex spice profile.

• Canola Oil: Neutral oil perfect for high-heat frying with clean taste and high smoke point.

• Hamburger Buns: Soft, sturdy bread that provides structure and complements the crispy chicken.
• Lettuce: Fresh, crisp green that adds texture and lightness to the sandwich.
• Pickles: Tangy, crunchy addition that cuts through the richness of fried chicken.

• Buttermilk Herb Mayo: Creamy, herbaceous spread that adds moisture and additional flavor complexity.
• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasoning agents that enhance overall taste profile.

How to Build the Ultimate Fried Chicken Sandwich Tower

Step 1: Craft the Flavor Bath

• Buttermilk
• Finely chopped shallot
• Minced garlic
• Diced jalapeño
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

Set aside for chicken infusion.

Step 2: Prepare Chicken Medallions

Place chicken breasts between parchment paper sheets.

Gently pound with rolling pin until evenly thin.

Slice each breast into halves.

Submerge chicken completely in marinade.

Seal with plastic wrap.

Refrigerate for 8-24 hours to enhance flavor depth.

Step 3: Create Crispy Coating

Preheat oven to 300°F.

Position wire rack on sheet pan inside oven.

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Paprika
• Cayenne pepper
• Celery salt
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

Step 4: Master the Frying Technique

Pour canola oil into Dutch oven, reaching 5 cm deep.

Heat oil to 350°F.

Remove chicken from marinade.

• Coat in flour mixture
• Dip back in marinade
• Coat again in flour mixture

Shake off excess coating.

Fry in batches for 5 minutes.

Maintain oil temperature.

Transfer to wire rack in warm oven.

Step 5: Build Delectable Sandwiches

Toast buns until golden.

Spread Buttermilk Herb Mayo on bottom bun.

• Crisp lettuce leaf
• Pickle slices
• Freshly fried chicken

Spread additional mayo on top bun interior.

Close sandwich.

Step 6: Serve Immediately

Present hot sandwiches right away.

Enjoy crispy, flavorful chicken delight!

Smart Moves to Keep Every Bite of Sandwich Crispy

• Maximize Marination Magic: Soak chicken in buttermilk overnight to infuse deep flavor and guarantee super-tender meat that practically melts in your mouth.
• Control Frying Perfection: Use a reliable thermometer to monitor oil temperature, ensuring each piece develops a gorgeous golden-brown crust without burning or becoming greasy.
• Double-Dip for Crunch: Repeat the flour coating process for an extra-crispy exterior that provides satisfying crackle with every single bite.
• Space Out While Frying: Give each chicken piece breathing room in the pan, preventing steam buildup and maintaining that coveted crispy texture.
• Preserve Warmth Wisely: Rest fried chicken on a wire rack inside a low-temperature oven to maintain crispiness and prevent soggy bottoms while keeping the meat piping hot.

Pack Away Sandwich Leftovers Like a Pro Chef Would

• Freeze: Disassemble the sandwich before storing. Wrap chicken separately in airtight foil or freezer-safe bags, keeping it fresh for up to 2 months. Detach buns and condiments to prevent sogginess and maintain optimal texture when reheating.
• Refrigerate: Carefully seal sandwiches in tight plastic wrap or sealed containers. Keep chilled for maximum 3 days to preserve crispiness and flavor. Place in the coldest part of the refrigerator to slow bacterial growth.
• Reheating: Restore crunchiness by warming in preheated oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Arrange chicken on baking sheet, allowing hot air circulation. Avoid microwave method which destroys the delicate crispy coating, making chicken rubbery and unappetizing.

Give These Chicken Sandwiches a Flavor Makeover Tonight

• Spicy Southern Style: Add extra cayenne pepper and hot sauce to the marinade for a fiery kick. Swap regular mayonnaise with sriracha mayo for additional heat.
• Herb Garden Crunch: Mix fresh chopped herbs like rosemary, thyme, and parsley into the flour mixture. Top the sandwich with crispy fried sage leaves for an aromatic herbal profile.
• Buttermilk Ranch Fusion: Replace some buttermilk with ranch dressing in the marinade. Sprinkle ranch seasoning mix into the flour coating for an enhanced tangy flavor. Serve with additional ranch dressing on the side.
• Crispy Cornmeal Coating: Replace half the flour with cornmeal for extra crunch. Add ground cornflakes to the breading for additional texture. Incorporate smoked paprika for a subtle smoky undertone.

Barefoot Contessa Fried Chicken Sandwiches Recipe

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4.8 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa Fried Chicken Sandwiches deliver Southern comfort with crispy, golden perfection. Juicy chicken nestled between buttery brioche buns promises a satisfying meal that brings classic deli flavors right to your kitchen table.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken and Main Ingredients:

• 3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (170 grams / 6 ounces each)
• 480 millilitres / 16 fluid ounces buttermilk, shaken

Dry Ingredients for Coating:

• 450 grams / 3½ cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 2½ teaspoons smoked Spanish paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1½ teaspoons black pepper

Supplemental Ingredients:

• 2 (1.36 litres / 2 × 1½ quarts) canola oil
• 1 shallot, peeled, halved lengthwise, and thinly sliced crosswise
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 jalapeño pepper (with seeds), halved lengthwise
• 6 potato hamburger buns, toasted
• Buttermilk Herb Mayo (recipe linked below)
• 6 Bibb lettuce leaves
• Kosher dill pickles (such as Claussen), thinly sliced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Craft a zesty marinade by combining buttermilk, finely minced shallot, crushed garlic, diced jalapeño, kosher salt (10 grams), and black pepper (2 grams) in a spacious mixing bowl.
2. Gently pound chicken breasts between parchment paper layers until uniformly thin (0.5 inches/1.25 centimeters). Slice each breast horizontally to create two equal portions. Thoroughly immerse chicken pieces in the prepared marinade, ensuring complete coverage. Seal with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8-24 hours to maximize flavor infusion.
3. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Position a wire cooling rack on a baking sheet inside the oven to maintain chicken temperature after frying. Prepare a seasoned coating by whisking flour, baking powder, paprika, cayenne, celery salt, kosher salt (15 grams), and 1½ teaspoons black pepper (3 grams) in a large mixing bowl.
4. Heat canola oil to 350°F (175°C) in a deep Dutch oven, approximately 2 inches (5 centimeters) deep. Remove chicken from marinade, thoroughly coat in seasoned flour mixture, then dip back into marinade and re-coat with flour. Carefully lower 3 chicken pieces into hot oil, maintaining consistent temperature. Fry for 5 minutes, rotating once to achieve uniform golden-brown coloration. Transfer cooked pieces to oven-warmed wire rack. Repeat process with remaining chicken.
5. Assemble sandwiches by spreading Buttermilk Herb Mayo on bottom bun. Layer with crisp lettuce, 4 pickle slices, and freshly fried chicken. Apply additional mayo to top bun’s interior before placing it atop the chicken.
6. Serve sandwiches immediately while chicken remains hot and crispy, ensuring maximum flavor and textural enjoyment.

Notes

• Crisp up your chicken by keeping it warm in the oven after frying, preventing soggy texture and maintaining that delightful crunch.
• Space out your frying batches to just 3 pieces at a time, guaranteeing each piece gets perfectly golden and evenly cooked.
• Double-dredge your chicken by coating it first in flour, then buttermilk, and finishing with another flour layer for an incredibly crunchy exterior.
• Monitor your oil temperature religiously at 350°F to prevent burning or sogginess, which can sabotage your fried chicken’s success.
• Let your chicken marinate overnight to infuse deep, incredible flavor and ensure maximum tenderness throughout the meat.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 561 kcal
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 1,000mg
• Fat: 15g
• Saturated Fat: 1g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 54g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 22g
• Cholesterol: 56mg