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This Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Sandwich uses ground chicken and a crunchy cornflake coating for a homemade McChicken copycat that’s ready in 15 minutes!
Crispy chicken sandwiches seem to be all the rage lately at just about every restaurant chain out there. This one is a little different because it uses ground chicken instead of a chicken breast or thigh.
I find that ground chicken works really well when you are making it at home, because you don’t have to worry about getting a thick piece of meat cooked all the way through, it just cooks fast and evenly. Ten minutes in the air fryer and this is done, and it ends up tasting almost like a homemade McDonald’s Crispy McChicken Sandwich, but better.
Erin’s Notes
- Fast – these cook in 10 minutes in the air fryer, so you can have dinner on the table in about 15 minutes, which can’t be beat on a busy night.
- Low Fat – ground chicken is a very lean meat, and there’s no added fat in this recipe. It’s SUPER crispy from the air fryer, but still a healthy, lower-calorie, low-fat sandwich.
- Easy – just a few basic ingredients and spices you probably already have on hand. You can pick everything up at any grocery store, or keep it stocked in your pantry for whenever the craving hits.
- Kid-Friendly – the mild seasoning and familiar crunchy coating make this an easy sell for picky eaters — it tastes like a fast food favorite without the drive-thru line.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
- Ground Chicken – the base of the patties. Ground turkey works as a swap if that’s what you have.
- Yellow Mustard – adds tang and helps the seasoning cling to the meat.
- Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Cornflakes – crushed into crumbs for the crispy coating. This is the trick that gives these sandwiches their crunch without deep frying.
- Olive Oil or Avocado Oil Spray
- Hamburger Buns
Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups cornflakes
- Olive Oil or Avocado Oil Spray
- 4 hamburger buns
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl add ground chicken, mustard, and the remaining spices. Mix until very well combined.1 pound ground chicken, 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Divide the chicken into 4 equal sized portions. Shape into 4 burger like patties.
- In a plastic bag or food processor smash cornflake into crumbs and pour into a shallow bowl.1 1/2 cups cornflakes
- Coat each chicken patty evenly in the cornflake crumbs, making sure it is completely coated.
- Spray each side with olive oil spray and place in air fryer.Olive Oil or Avocado Oil Spray
- Cook at 380º F for 5 minutes per side.
- Remove from the air fryer and serve on a bun with your desired toppings.4 hamburger buns
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How To Make Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Sandwiches
- Make patties. In a mixing bowl combine ground chicken with mustard and all of the spices. Mix until everything is really well combined. Divide into 4 equal portions, and shape into a burger like patty.
- Coat patties. In a plastic bag or using a food processor smash cornflakes to make into small crumbs. Place in a shallow bowl and press each chicken patty into the crumbs to evenly coat.
- Cook. Spray both sides of the chicken with olive oil spray and cook for 5 minutes each side.
- Serve. Remove the crispy chicken from the air fryer, place on a bun, and top as desired.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Check for doneness with a meat thermometer. Ground chicken is safe to eat at 165°F internally since patty thickness can vary a bit from batch to batch, a quick check with an instant-read thermometer takes the guesswork out of it.
- Chill the patties before coating if they feel soft. If your kitchen is warm or the ground chicken is a little loose, popping the shaped patties in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before coating helps them hold their shape in the air fryer.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Cook the patties in a single layer with a little space between them so air can circulate — this is what gives you that crispy cornflake crust all the way around.
- Adjust the seasoning to your taste. A few readers have mentioned bumping the salt and pepper up to full teaspoons (instead of the 1/2 teaspoon of pepper called for) for a bolder flavor but that is totally a matter of preference, so season to what you like.
- Make them your preferred thickness. Thinner patties give you more crispy surface area per bite, while thicker patties stay juicier in the middle, try both to see which you prefer.
Crispy Chicken Sandwich Toppings
This is where you can get creative and add whatever you like! If you are craving the McChicken from McDonald’s, I would suggest shredded lettuce and mayo. But if you want to take it up a few levels, here are a few ideas.
- Garlic Aioli
- Canes Sauce
- Buffalo Sauce
- Avocado
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Onions
What To Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich
Obviously if this is a fast food fix, you could go with Air Fryer French Fries for the complete experience. But if you wanted to try something else, here are a few options.
Dietary Notes
- Gluten-Free: Look for a certified gluten-free cornflake cereal and swap in gluten-free buns (or serve the patty over a salad, no bun needed).
- Low-Carb: Skip the bun (or use some of the newer Keto friendly buns) and cornflake coating isn’t strictly low-carb, but you can serve the patty in a lettuce wrap to cut carbs from the bun.
- Dairy-Free: This recipe is naturally dairy-free as written — just double check your bun and any sauces you top it with.
Storage & Reheating
Make-Ahead: one of the things I like most about these chicken sandwiches is how easy they are to prep in advance. Coat all 4 patties in cornflake crumbs, then cover and refrigerate any you’re not cooking right away for up to 3 days. Cook straight from the fridge as directed whenever you’re ready for a fresh sandwich.
Freezing Raw Patties: shape and coat the patties, then freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm before transferring to a freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to 3 months. Air fry from frozen, adding a few extra minutes per side and checking for the 165°F internal temperature.
Storing Cooked Chicken: if you have leftover cooked chicken, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheating: reheat in the air fryer at a lower temperature (350°F) for 5-6 minutes, so the middle gets warm without burning the outside.
To make this recipe I used a Cosori 5.8 Qt Air Fryer. It is big enough that you can fit plenty of food in, and the basket comes out so you can easily shake, stir, or flip whatever you are making.
This recipe is written and tested with ground chicken, which is what gives it that fast, even cook and McChicken-style texture. Whole chicken breast or thigh will need a longer cook time to reach 165°F, so it’s not a straight swap in this recipe. But if you test the temperature you can definitely use it and just cook longer.
You can bake them on a wire rack over a baking sheet at 400°F for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, until they reach 165°F. They won’t get quite as crispy as they do in the air fryer, but they’ll still be tasty.
This usually happens when the patties are too soft or wet going into the coating. If yours feel loose, chill them in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before pressing them into the cornflake crumbs, and press firmly so the crumbs really adhere to the surface.
Followed this to a “t” and it turned out great. Tried different patty sizes and we preferred more thin to thick. We thought for sure the corn flakes would burn in the air fryer but everything worked out perfectly! Only reason we didn’t do five stars is because we feel like there is a seasoning missing or maybe instead of half teaspoons we do full teaspoons. Will play with it next time.