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Skip the drive thru line and learn how to make the best crispy chicken sandwich at home! Crispy baked or fried chicken seasoned with dill and piled high with lettuce and crunchy dill pickles, topped with a creamy Greek Yogurt Ranch sauce. It’s the perfect picnic sandwich!

For other hot chicken sandwich options, try our Grilled Chicken Sandwich and Classic Baked Italian Sub Sandwiches.

a crispy chicken sandwich with letttuce on a bun on top of a wood cutting board with pickles

Serve crispy chicken sandwiches for lunch or dinner, or fry them up for your next picnic with some Air Fryer Tater Tots, Homemade Baked French Fries, Macaroni Salad, or Fruit Salad.

Years ago, Wendy’s had a Crispy Dill Chicken Sandwich. I’m a sucker for a crispy chicken sandwich and combined with the dill sauce and pickles, it sounded so good! Instead of a thick, juicy breaded chicken filet, it had a thin, pressed meat patty.

I knew make this sandwich myself, and that it would be even better than fast food! Since my kids could eat pickles by the fistfuls, and they are total ranch addicts, I knew this sandwich would be one that they would love just as much as I did.

How to Make the Best Crispy Chicken Sandwich

The flavor and texture combo of this chicken sandwich is just out of this world. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside chicken breast filets with a creamy dill pickle ranch sauce, loads of dill pickle slices and fresh lettuce all nestled in a thick sandwich bun.

The chicken for the sandwich can be fried if you’re feeling adventurous, or baked if you’d like to save a few more calories. I used a brioche bun, but you could use any kind of burger bun. Just be sure to pile on the pickles!

fried chicken sandwich with lettuce and pickles on a bin, wood cutting board, jar of pickles

How to make fried chicken breasts

Prep the chicken. Pat the chicken dry to prepare it for adding the breading. You want to pound thicker chicken breasts down a bit so they’re between 1/2-¾ inch thick so they’ll cook evenly. If they are really large (like double the size of your sandwich buns), cut them in half. Dredge the chicken in dill seasoned flour, then a milk-egg mixture and finally panko breadcrumbs. Press the crumbs onto the chicken to help them stick.

bowls with flour, eggs and breading for fried chicken

Bake or Fry. Fry breaded chicken in hot oil for several minutes per side. Or bake on a foil lined baking sheet topped with a baking rack. Whichever method you use, you’ll want to flip them about halfway through to ensure they cook evenly on both sides.

Rest. Give the chicken time to cool a bit and redistribute the juices before serving. 5- 10 minutes is plenty. I don’t recommend covering the hot chicken as this would cause moisture to build up that would soften the breading. Lay out on a wire rack set on top of a baking sheet.

Sandwich Assembly

To assemble the crispy chicken sandwiches, heat buns in the microwave for 30 seconds or under the broiler of your oven for a couple of minutes. Spread a tablespoon of the dill pickle sauce sauce on the bottom bun, then top with crispy chicken, shredded lettuce and sliced pickles. Spread more of the sauce on the top bun and place on top of the sandwich. Serve them immediately, while they’re still hot.

Dill Pickle Ranch Sauce

I made the ranch sauce with Greek yogurt and ranch seasoning mix. To go along with the dill pickle theme, I added some chopped up dill pickles and a couple spoonfuls of the brine to the mix for flavor and to thin the sauce a bit, spread on both the top and bottom buns of my chicken sandwich for maximum flavor explosion.

Sauce Ingredients

Greek yogurt – you could also use sour cream, but the yogurt is healthier and you really can’t taste the difference one the sauce is mixed up.
Ranch seasoning – The flavor is perfect for this sandwich!
Dill pickles – chopped up real fine, like for pickle relish. Adds a nice crunch and delicious tang.
Dried dill – you could also use fresh, just double the amount.
Pickle juice – might as well just carry that briney, tangy flavor throughout, right?

Mix everything together and save it in the fridge until your ready to assemble your chicken sandwiches. It also makes a delicious dip for potato chips and fries!

Tips for crispy fried chicken

Even thickness. It’s so important for the chicken breasts to be even in thickness from end to end so they will cook evenly.
Extra crispy chicken: For sandwiches, I like the chicken to be crispy, but not too crispy. If you want your fried chicken even crispier, add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the flour.
Season well. Don’t skimp on the seasoning – it adds all the flavor to your chicken so make sure to season the flour well.
Oil temperature. When frying your chicken, it’s important for the oil to remain at a steady temperature. I recommend using a cast iron skillet for the best heat conduction. Keep the oil around 325-350 degrees F.
Don’t drain on paper towels. Set a wire rack on top of a baking sheet. After frying, set each filet on the rack so the oil can drip off. You could line the baking sheet with paper towels for easier clean up.

How long do you fry chicken?

Chicken breasts should be fried for about 3-4 minutes per side. The internal temperature should register 165 degrees F on an instant read digital thermometer. Make sure to keep your own at a steady temperature for the best result.

If your crispy fried chicken starts to get too brown, transfer to a wire rack set over a baking sheet and into a 375 degree oven to finish cooking.

What goes with chicken sandwiches?

A perfectly crispy chicken sandwich needs some perfect picnic sides! You could serve with something simple, like potato chips and veggie sticks or fruit or something a little more substantial like Bacon Ranch Red Potato Salad, Grilled Balsamic Veggies, or Summer Spaghetti Salad.