Marry Me Crispy Chicken Sandwich (Printable version)

Golden crispy chicken and creamy Caesar dressing come together with fresh greens on toasted buns.

# Ingredient List:

→ For the Crispy Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
07 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
09 - Vegetable oil, for frying

→ For the Caesar Dressing

10 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
11 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
13 - 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
14 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
15 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ For Assembly

17 - 4 brioche or sandwich buns, split and toasted
18 - 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
19 - 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
20 - 1 medium tomato, sliced (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create 4 fillets. Place between plastic wrap and pound to even thickness.
02 - Whisk buttermilk, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Coat chicken and marinate 15 minutes or overnight refrigerated.
03 - Combine flour and panko in shallow dish. Remove chicken from marinade, drip off excess, then press into flour mixture to adhere coating.
04 - Heat 1 inch vegetable oil to 350°F. Fry chicken 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
05 - Whisk mayonnaise, Parmesan, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper.
06 - Spread dressing on toasted buns. Layer chicken fillet, romaine, shaved Parmesan, and tomato if using. Close with top bun.
07 - Serve immediately while chicken is hot and crispy.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The homemade Caesar dressing puts anything bottled to shame and takes literally two minutes
  • Buttermilk makes the chicken impossibly tender while the panko gives it that crunch that keeps you coming back for one more bite
02 -
  • Letting chicken rest on paper towels for a minute before assembling keeps the bottom bun from getting soggy
  • The oil temperature matters too low and the coating gets greasy too high and it burns before the chicken cooks through
03 -
  • A candy thermometer takes the guesswork out of oil temperature and costs less than ten bucks
  • Cast iron skillets hold heat better than stainless steel for perfectly even frying

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