Copycat Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich
Heat up your weeknight routine with this Wendy’s copycat spicy chicken sandwich. It’s easy to make and loaded with finger-licking flavor.
Ingredients
Fried Chicken
- 1 lb. chicken tenderloins , about 8 pieces boneless, skinless
- 1 cup AP flour , all purpose flour, for breading the chicken
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 large eggs, whisked
- 1 cup vegetable oil , for frying, you can also use an air fryer if you prefer
Spicy Buffalo Sauce
- ¼ cup butter, salted, 4 tablespoons
- ¾ cup hot sauce, I used Frank's red hot
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
Bun / Toppings
- 4 sandwich buns, King’s Hawaiian or St. Pierre Burger Buns
- ¼ cup butter, used to butter the buns, about 1 tablespoon per bun
- 4 pieces iceberg lettuce, washed and dried
- 1 large heirloom tomato, sliced thick
- ½ cup pickles, bread and butter chips or spicy chips work best
- ¼ cup mayonnaise, about 1 tablespoon per sandwich
Equipment
- 9-inch saute pan for frying chicken
- 3 plates for breading chicken
- mixing bowl to toss chicken with sauce
- saucepan for spicy sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Grab a baking tray and set it aside.
Prepare the chicken:
- Let the chicken sit at room temp for 15-20 minutes before breading.
- Grab three plates.
- On the first plate, combine the AP flour, salt, pepper, garlic salt, paprika and dried mustard powder. Mix well.
- On the second plate, add two whisked eggs.
- Begin by dredging the chicken tenderloins through the flour, followed by the egg, then back through the flour. Repeat until all chicken is breaded.
- Place the breaded pieces on the third plate.
- Heat the vegetable oil over medium / high heat in an 9-inch sauté pan.
- Once the oil is hot, or reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit, you can begin to carefully lower 2 pieces of chicken into the oil.
- Flip the chicken after a few minutes. Once it is golden brown on both sides, place it on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. Repeat until all of the chicken is crispy.
- Next, we will place the chicken on the baking tray and bake it in the oven for 10 more minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
- Remove the chicken from the oven. And set it aside.
Prepare the spicy buffalo sauce:
- In a saucepan, over medium heat combine butter, hot sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir until well combined.
- Pour the sauce in a mixing bowl and toss it with the crispy chicken. Set it aside.
Prepare the buns:
- Butter the inside of the buns.
- Next, add them to a skillet over medium / high heat. They will begin to get slightly crispy and golden-brown. Remove them from the heat and set them aside.
Assemble the sandwich:
- Take the toasted buns and add the lettuce, tomatoes, spicy chicken and pickles. Add any desired dressing or mayonnaise.
Nutrition
Serving: 1sandwich, Calories: 672kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 34g, Fat: 43g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g, Monounsaturated Fat: 12g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 232mg, Sodium: 2656mg, Potassium: 843mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 1694IU, Vitamin C: 45mg, Calcium: 119mg, Iron: 4mg