I Can’t Stop Making the Copycat Aldi Chick-fil-A Sandwich the Internet was Obsessed With
updated 3 days ago
There’s no denying that the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich is delicious. (If you’re not familiar, it’s a boneless breast of chicken that’s seasoned, hand-breaded, and pressure-cooked in refined peanut oil and then served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips.) Supporting the company, however, is a questionable act: Until very recently , the company regularly donated money to two charities with histories of opposing same-sex marriage, and the owner has recently donated money in attempts to derail the Equality Act. So when I heard that Aldi had all the ingredients to make a copycat version of the iconic sandwich, I was very very interested.
I first saw the idea back in November of 2019 when Aisle of Shame posted about it on Facebook . Then, the holidays happened and then the coronavirus, so I didn’t get around to making it for the first time until late June of last year. I made it last summer and it’s been on repeat in my house since then. I’ve made it for lunch, dinner, and it’s only a matter of time before I have one for breakfast!
Let’s take a look at the components — there are only three — and then keep reading for my official review.
The Chicken
Over in the freezer section, you’ll find a few bags of Kirkwood chicken fillets. You’ve gotta go with the red bag, which is breaded chicken; it’s the key to the sandwich. (The other bags are either not breaded or, say, barbecue-flavored. You want the simple breaded ones!) This bag is $5.99 for 24 ounces and usually contains five or six pieces of chicken. I’m always impressed with the size of the pieces and that they are clearly thinly sliced breasts — not some sort of reconstructed chicken patty. The breading is even and always seems just right. Aldi fans say the best bet is to cook these in an air fryer in order to get them as close to Chick-fil-A’s version as possible, so that’s what I do. (But you can totally bake them in the oven — for 20 minutes per side at 400°F — if you don’t have an air fryer!)
Related : The Frozen Aldi Ingredient That’s So Good, It Has Its Own Facebook Group
The Buns
There is no substitution for these buns. You can either get Aldi’s Specialty Selected Brioche Buns ( $2.49 for four ) or you can have no sandwich. Luckily, I see these in the store all the time, so you shouldn’t have too hard a time finding them for yourself. Look in the bread section — toward the end of the row.
I like to melt some butter, slather it on the inside of each half, and toast them ever so slightly. Just long enough so the bread is warm and a little crispy to the touch.
The Pickles
Here’s where I often have to stray a little. The recipe calls for Great Gherkins Hamburger Dill Pickle Chips, but my Aldi never seems to have these. And lately, my store has only had this one kind of Kosher Dill Spears ( $3.79 for 32 ounces ). Not ideal. Honestly, though, they still work! I slice them up and pile them on the sandwich.
My Review of the Aldi Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
I’ve done some math: The Chick-fil-A sandwich costs $3.89. That means it would cost $7.78 for two and $15.56 for four. I was able to get enough ingredients for four sandwiches (with leftover chicken and pickles) for $12.27. The savings!
Now, for the review! The chicken in the Aldi version is surprisingly juicy and moist (with no bouncy parts!); the breading crisps up nicely and has a good amount of of flavor (thanks to lots of paprika and garlic powder). I have to agree with the Aldi fans here: This does taste pretty darn similar to Chick-fil-A! The buns really help to put the sandwich over the top; they’re soft, buttery, and slightly sweet.
My pickle hack is kinda brilliant: When arranged just right, three slices of pickle spears turn into a chip (more math!). I honestly think that any pickle will work here. If you can’t find the perfect ones, it’s no big deal!
I wouldn’t call the Aldi version an exact replica, but it’s pretty darn close. It’s also cheaper (per sandwich) and doesn’t come with a side of questionable values. The sandwich is so good, my husband says it should be the only chicken sandwich we make in this house and it kind of is: We’ve been making it on repeat since last summer!
Have you made this Aldi Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich? What’d you think?
Lisa Freedman
Lifestyle Director
Lisa Freedman is the Lifestyle Director at The Kitchn. She has never met a cheese or a washi tape she didn't like. She lives in New York state with her husband and their pup, Millie.
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