Crispy Pickle-Brined Chicken (Printer-Friendly)
Tender, pickle-brined chicken cooked crisp in air fryer or oven, perfect for a flavorful sandwich experience.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Brine
01 -
1 1/4 cups pickle juice (strained)
→ Chicken
02 -
4 boneless skinless chicken cutlets (4-6 oz each)
→ Breading
03 -
1 cup all-purpose flour
04 -
1 teaspoon paprika
05 -
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 -
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
07 -
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
08 -
1/4 teaspoon salt
09 -
1 large egg
10 -
1/2 cup buttermilk
11 -
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
12 -
Cooking spray
→ Assembly
13 -
4 sandwich rolls (e.g. potato rolls)
14 -
Lettuce leaves
15 -
Tomato slices
16 -
Light mayonnaise
17 -
Pickle slices
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
Place chicken cutlets in a shallow dish and pour the strained pickle juice over them. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours.
02 -
In one bowl, combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. In a second bowl, whisk together egg and buttermilk. Place panko breadcrumbs in a third bowl.
03 -
Remove chicken from brine. Dredge each cutlet in the seasoned flour mixture, then dip into the egg mixture, and finally coat with panko breadcrumbs, pressing to adhere.
04 -
For air fryer: Preheat to 360°F if desired. Arrange cutlets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray with cooking spray and cook for 10-12 minutes until golden and cooked through, flipping halfway. For oven: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place cutlets on a greased baking sheet, spray tops with cooking spray, and bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, until crisp and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
05 -
Spread light mayonnaise on sandwich rolls. Layer lettuce, tomato slices, cooked chicken cutlet, and pickle slices. Close sandwiches and serve immediately.
# Helpful Hints:
01 -
Use Claussen kosher dill pickles for the authentic flavor, but any dill pickle brand is acceptable.
02 -
For reheating, place leftover chicken cutlets in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes until crisp and warm.
03 -
Cut large chicken breasts into cutlets using kitchen shears for ease and uniform thickness.