Get ready to meet your new obsession: the French Toast Fried Chicken Sandwich. This isn’t just a sandwich; it’s a culinary event. We’re talking about perfectly crispy, juicy fried chicken, sandwiched between two thick slices of rich, cinnamon-swirled French toast, all brought together with a sweet and spicy finish. It’s the ultimate combination of sweet, savory, and satisfying, destined to become the star of your next brunch or indulgent dinner. If you’ve ever been torn between a sweet breakfast and a hearty lunch, this recipe is your delicious answer.
Why This French Toast Fried Chicken Sandwich is a Game-Changer
You might have seen variations of chicken and waffles, but this recipe takes that beloved concept to a whole new level. The brioche French toast provides a soft, eggy, and slightly sweet bun that perfectly complements the crunchy, seasoned crust of the fried chicken. It’s a texture and flavor combination that simply works. This recipe is surprisingly straightforward, and we’ll walk you through every step to ensure a flawless result, from getting the perfect chicken dredge to achieving that golden-brown French toast crust.
Putting together the sandwich masterpiece.
The Key Components of a Perfect Sandwich
A truly great sandwich is a sum of its parts. For our French Toast Fried Chicken Sandwich, we’re focusing on three core elements to create a perfect harmony of flavor and texture. Getting these right is the secret to a restaurant-quality meal at home.
The Chicken: Achieving Maximum Crunch
The star of the savory side is the fried chicken. We use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for their flavor and juiciness. The secret to an ultra-crispy crust lies in a double dredge—a seasoned flour mixture that creates layers of crunch. We also add a bit of cornstarch to the flour, which helps absorb moisture and results in a lighter, crispier coating that stays crunchy even after being drizzled with syrup.
The French Toast: Rich, Eggy, and Delicious
Instead of plain bread, we’re building this sandwich on thick slices of brioche, the undisputed champion of French toast. Its high butter and egg content creates a custard-like interior and a beautifully golden exterior when pan-fried. A simple custard of eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla is all you need to transform this bread into the perfect sweet and savory bun.
The Finish: A Sweet & Spicy Drizzle
To tie everything together, a final drizzle is essential. You can opt for a classic maple syrup for a purely sweet-savory experience, or you can elevate it with a spicy honey or a maple-sriracha glaze. This final touch cuts through the richness and adds a delightful kick that makes the whole sandwich sing.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients. For the best results, use high-quality bread and chicken. You’ll be amazed at the flavor you can achieve with these pantry staples.
Look at that perfect golden-brown crust!
How to Make the French Toast Fried Chicken Sandwich (Step-by-Step)
We’ll break this down into three simple stages: preparing the chicken, making the French toast, and finally, building your epic sandwich. Follow these steps for a foolproof result.
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
First, season your chicken thighs generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. In a shallow dish, mix together flour, cornstarch, and the same seasonings. In another dish, whisk your eggs. Dip each chicken thigh into the egg, then into the flour mixture, making sure it’s fully coated. For extra crunch, dip it back into the egg and then the flour again. Heat about an inch of neutral oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering (around 350°F), carefully place the chicken in the skillet. Fry for 5-7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack to drain.
Step 2: Make the French Toast
While the chicken rests, prepare the French toast. In a shallow dish, whisk together eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Dip each slice of brioche bread into the mixture, letting it soak for about 20-30 seconds per side without becoming overly saturated. Melt butter in a separate, clean skillet or griddle over medium heat. Place the soaked bread slices on the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until beautifully golden brown and firm to the touch.
Step 3: Assemble Your Masterpiece
Now for the fun part! Place a piece of crispy fried chicken on one slice of French toast. If you’re using cheese, add a slice on top of the hot chicken to let it melt slightly. Drizzle generously with warm maple syrup or spicy honey. Top with the second slice of French toast, and serve immediately. This sandwich waits for no one!
Pro Tips for Sandwich Success
Don’t Crowd the Pan: When frying the chicken, cook in batches if necessary. Overcrowding the pan will lower the oil temperature and result in greasy, not crispy, chicken.
Use Thick-Cut Bread: Thick slices of brioche or challah are best for French toast as they can soak up the custard without falling apart.
Keep it Warm: If you’re making multiple sandwiches, you can keep the cooked chicken and French toast warm in a 200°F (95°C) oven on a wire rack until you’re ready to assemble.
For another great comfort food dish, check out our amazing Crack Chicken Gnocchi recipe. Or, if you’re looking for something on the lighter side, our Shrimp and Avocado Bowls are a fantastic choice.
What to Serve with Your Sandwich
While this French Toast Fried Chicken Sandwich is a meal in itself, it pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides. Consider a fresh arugula salad with a lemon vinaigrette to cut through the richness, or a side of crispy home fries. For a true brunch feast, serve it alongside some cheesy scrambled eggs. For a fantastic side that’s always a crowd-pleaser, try these Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes.
Thick-cut brioche is the best choice due to its rich, buttery flavor and sturdy texture that holds up well to the egg custard and the weight of the chicken. Challah or a thick-cut Texas toast are also excellent alternatives.
To add heat, mix 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper into your flour dredge. You can also add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce to the egg mixture for the chicken. Finally, use a spicy honey or a sriracha-maple glaze for the final drizzle.
Yes. You can bread the chicken and refrigerate it for up to 4 hours before frying. While both the chicken and French toast are best served fresh, you can reheat them in an oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes until warm and crisp.
This sandwich is very rich, so it pairs well with simple, contrasting sides. A light arugula salad with a sharp vinaigrette, a side of crispy home fries, or a simple fruit salad would all be excellent accompaniments.
The secret to crispy chicken is twofold. First, using cornstarch in the dredge helps create a lighter, crispier crust. Second, after frying, let the chicken rest on a wire rack instead of paper towels. This allows air to circulate, preventing the bottom from getting soggy.
The Ultimate Brunch Awaits
There you have it—a sandwich that defies expectations and delivers on every level of flavor. The French Toast Fried Chicken Sandwich is the perfect recipe for a lazy weekend brunch, a fun dinner, or any time you’re craving something truly special. It’s a showstopper that’s guaranteed to impress.
If you make this recipe, we’d love to see it! Share your creations and tag us on Pinterest. Happy cooking!
The only brunch recipe you'll ever need.
French Toast Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipe
FL Recipes
French Toast Fried Chicken Sandwich: The Ultimate Sweet & Savory Guide
This French Toast Fried Chicken Sandwich is the ultimate sweet and savory meal! Crispy, juicy fried chicken is sandwiched between two slices of fluffy brioche French toast for a truly unforgettable brunch or dinner experience.
2boneless, skinless chicken thighsabout 4-6 oz each
1cupall-purpose flour
2tbspcornstarch
1tspgarlic powder
1tsppaprika
1/2tspblack pepper
1tspsalt
2large eggsfor dredging
1cupneutral oilfor frying (vegetable or canola)
For the French Toast
4slicesthick-cut brioche bread
2large eggs
1/4cupmilkor heavy cream
1/2tspground cinnamon
1/2tspvanilla extract
2tbspbutterfor cooking
For Assembly
1/4cupmaple syrupwarmed
2slicescheddar or Swiss cheeseoptional
Equipment
2 Large Skillet
3 Shallow Dishes
1 Wire Rack
Method
Prepare the Chicken
Pat the chicken thighs dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper.
In a second shallow dish, beat the 2 eggs for the dredge. Dip each chicken thigh into the egg mixture, then press firmly into the flour mixture to coat completely. For an extra-crispy crust, dip the chicken back into the egg and then into the flour a second time.
Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C). Carefully place the chicken in the hot oil, ensuring not to crowd the pan. Fry for 5-7 minutes per side, until the crust is deep golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Transfer the cooked chicken to a wire rack to drain excess oil.
Make the French Toast
In a shallow dish, whisk together the 2 eggs for the French toast, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
Dip each slice of brioche into the egg mixture, allowing it to soak for about 20-30 seconds per side. In a separate large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
Place the soaked bread in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the skillet.
Assemble the Sandwich
Place one piece of crispy fried chicken on a slice of French toast. Top with a slice of cheese, if using. Drizzle generously with warm maple syrup or spicy honey. Place the second slice of French toast on top to complete the sandwich. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 850kcalProtein: 48gFat: 45gFiber: 4g
Notes
Tip 1: For a spicy kick, add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the chicken's flour mixture and a dash of hot sauce to the maple syrup. Tip 2: Ensure your oil is at the correct temperature before frying. If it's too low, the chicken will be greasy; if it's too high, the crust will burn before the inside is cooked. Tip 3: Brioche is highly recommended, but thick-sliced challah or Texas toast are great alternatives.
Keyword brunch recipe,fried chicken sandwich,sweet and savory
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
