Arby’s chicken sandwich is juicy, tender fried chicken served with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo in a toasted bun. The easy recipe shows how to make buttermilk chicken and create a super crunchy, perfectly seasoned crust.

What is Arby’s chicken sandwich?
Arby’s classic crispy chicken sandwich consists of juicy fried buttermilk chicken, topped with mayonnaise, tomato slices, and shredded lettuce served on a toasted bun. It’s nothing fancy, just really good comfort food!
If you’ve been craving Arby’s, I’ve got you covered with this delicious chicken sandwich recipe. It’s super crispy and flavorful on the outside, while the inside is tender and juicy. It’s as close as you will get to the famous Arby’s chicken sandwich!
And for more Arby goodness, try my Arby’s chicken salad recipe next!

Ingredients
Let’s talk about the ingredients you’ll need to make Arby’s chicken sandwich at home! You can find the full ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.
- Chicken breasts: You need 2 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts. Be sure to buy the best quality chicken you can find – it will make all the difference!
- Marinade: The chicken is marinated in a mixture of buttermilk and spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder).
- Breading: The breading consists of all-purpose flour plus baking powder and seasonings. To keep it simple, I used the same spices as the marinade but added some paprika.
- Topping: Sticking true to Arby’s classic chicken sandwich, we use mayo, lettuce, and tomato slices.
- Bun: I opted for kaiser rolls to replicate Arby’s star-cut buns, but regular hamburger buns are just fine. Kaiser rolls are sturdier than hamburger buns and hold up better once the sandwich is assembled.
- Oil for frying: A neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point is best (e.g., vegetable oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil).

How to make Arby’s chicken sandwich
Arby’s fried chicken sandwich is surprisingly easy to make. It comes together with just 30 minutes active prep time and can even be prepared overnight.
First, we marinate the chicken in buttermilk + spices, then batter in flour and more spices. Here’s the process step-by-step:

#1: Prep + marinate chicken
- Prep chicken. Pound the chicken cutlets between 2 sheets of plastic wrap (cling film) to an even 1/2-in / 1.3 cm thickness.
- Marinate chicken. Combine the buttermilk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in a large mixing bowl. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Cover with a plate or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

#2: Bread cutlets
- Mix breading. Whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika in a wide, shallow bowl.
- Bread chicken. Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing the excess to drip off. Dredge each cutlet into the breading, pressing the flour mixture on with your hands. Transfer to a plate.

#3: Cook chicken
- Heat oil. Fill a stockpot or Dutch oven 1-in / 2.5 cm with oil and heat to 350°F / 180°C.
- Fry chicken. Just before frying, dip the chicken pieces in the breading mix again for a thick and shaggy crust. Using tongs, place the 2 cutlets into the hot oil. Fry the first side for 3 to 4 minutes, then flip and fry for another 2 to 3 minutes. The chicken is done when the crust looks golden brown and crispy, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F / 75°C. Transfer the fried chicken onto a wire rack.

#4: Assemble
- Toast buns. While cooking the chicken, toast the buns with the cut-side up in a preheated 300°F / 150°C oven for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Assemble sandwich. Spread a generous layer of mayo on each bun. Top with a lettuce leaf, 2 to 3 tomato slices, and fried chicken. Enjoy hot!

Tips for the best chicken sandwich
I have a few tips to help you make the best copycat Arby’s crispy chicken sandwich possible!
- Give it time to marinate: Buttermilk helps to tenderize the chicken and infuse each bite with flavor. Let the cutlets marinate for a minimum of 2 hours. You can also let them marinate in the fridge overnight.
- Season the breading: Don’t skimp on the salt and other seasonings – it makes a huge difference. And be sure to press the flour onto the cutlets to adhere well.
- Double dip: For a thick, extra crunchy crust, double dip the chicken. I like to bread the chicken once and then again immediately before frying.
- Oil temperature: Heat the oil to 350°F / 180°C before adding the chicken. A clip-on candy thermometer is super handy. Once you add the chicken, keep the oil at 325-350°F / 170-180°C.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan: Only cook 2 pieces of chicken at a time. If you add more, the oil temperature will drop, and you’ll end up with greasy chicken.
- Doneness: Remove the chicken from the oil when it’s cooked through and nicely browned. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the side of the chicken. When it reaches 165°C / 75°C, the chicken is ready.
- Drain on a wire rack, not paper towels: Draining on paper towels will soften the bottom of the crust. Instead, place the cooked chicken on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet so air can circulate around.

Storage instructions
How to store Arby’s chicken sandwich
Let the leftover chicken sandwich cool completely. Then place in an airtight container or large zip-lock bag and refrigerate. It will be good for 2 to 3 days.
How to reheat Arby’s chicken sandwich
Place your chicken sandwich on a microwave-safe plate and reheat in the microwave in 1-minute bursts until the chicken is heated through.
Can I make Arby’s chicken sandwich ahead of time?
The assembled chicken sandwich is best eaten fresh, but you can prepare the different components ahead of time. Here are some tips:
- Marinade: You can marinate the chicken breasts up to 24 hours in advance. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge.
- Fried chicken: Bread and fry the chicken, then let it cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, wrap each chicken breast in a piece of parchment paper and place inside a sealed container. To reheat, bake the chicken breasts in a 350°F / 180°C / gas mark 6 oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until hot and crispy.
- Toppings: Rinse and dry the salad and slice the tomatoes. Place them into airtight containers and refrigerate.
- Ready to eat: When it’s time to eat, assemble the chicken sandwiches and enjoy!

Arby's Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Arby's chicken sandwich is juicy, tender fried chicken served with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo in a toasted bun. The easy recipe shows how to make buttermilk chicken and create a super crunchy, perfectly seasoned crust.
Ingredients
Chicken Marinade
- 2 medium chicken breasts, skinless, boneless, and cut into 4 cutlets
- 1 cup / 240 ml / 8 fl oz buttermilk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Breading
- 1 cup / 120 g / 4.2 oz flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- Oil for frying (e.g., vegetable oil or canola oil)
Sandwich
- 4 buns (I used kaiser rolls)
- 4 green lettuce leaves
- 1 large tomato slices
- mayonnaise
Instructions
- Prep chicken. Pound the chicken cutlets between 2 sheets of plastic wrap (cling film) to an even 1/2-in / 1.3 cm thickness.
- Marinate chicken. Combine the buttermilk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in a large mixing bowl. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Cover with a plate or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Mix breading. Whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika in a wide, shallow bowl.
- Bread chicken. Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing the excess to drip off. Dredge each cutlet into the breading, pressing the flour mixture on with your hands. Transfer to a plate.
- Heat oil. Fill a stockpot or Dutch oven 1-in / 2.5 cm with oil and heat to 350°F / 180°C.
- Fry chicken. Just before frying, dip the chicken pieces in the breading mix again for a thick and shaggy crust. Using tongs, place the 2 cutlets into the hot oil. Fry the first side for 3 to 4 minutes, then flip and fry for another 2 to 3 minutes. The chicken is done when the crust looks golden brown and crispy, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F / 75°C. Transfer the fried chicken onto a wire rack.
- Toast buns. While cooking the chicken, toast the buns with the cut-side up in a preheated 300°F / 150°C oven for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Assemble sandwich. Spread a generous layer of mayo on each bun. Top with a lettuce leaf, 2 to 3 tomato slices, and fried chicken. Enjoy hot!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 534Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 201mgSodium: 1156mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 3gSugar: 8gProtein: 56g
Variations
Arby’s offers a few scrumptious variations that expand on their classic buttermilk chicken sandwich. You can easily recreate them at home with a few extra ingredients.
I included all the discontinued menu items I could think of. If your favorite is not on the list, feel free to request it in the comment section, and I will happily add it for you!
Buffalo Crispy Chicken Sandwich
To prepare the buffalo chicken sandwich, whisk together 1 cup of mayo with a heaping tablespoon ranch seasoning, 4 teaspoons grated parmesan cheese, and 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper.
Then grab a bottle of your favorite spicy buffalo sauce and brush it liberally all over your fried chicken until fully coated.
Layer the toasted buns with mayo ranch dressing and top with the lettuce and the chicken fillet.
Chicken Bacon Swiss Sandwich
Fried chicken or crispy bacon? With Arby’s chicken bacon Swiss sandwich, you can have both!
Combine 2/3 cup mayo with 1/4 cup yellow mustard and 2 tablespoons clear honey. Feel free to adjust these ratios to your taste and use less/more honey or mustard.
To assemble, spread the honey mustard mixture onto your bun halves. Next, add lettuce, tomato slices, fried chicken, a slice of Swiss cheese, and finally a few strips crispy bacon.
Downshiftology has this helpful tutorial on how to cook bacon in the oven.

Chicken Cheddar Ranch Sandwich
I loved Arby’s chicken cheddar ranch sandwich, but sadly it’s no longer part of their regular lineup. Luckily, you can make it yourself!
First, mix 1 cup of mayo with a heaping tablespoon ranch seasoning, 4 teaspoons grated parmesan cheese, and 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper.
Slather this DIY parmesan peppercorn ranch sauce onto your buns and top with lettuce, tomatoes, a piece of fried chicken, and a slice of sharp cheddar cheese.
If the chicken is still hot, the cheese will melt on its own. But if not, pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute and get that cheddar hot and melty.
Chicken Cordon Blue Sandwich
Arby’s chicken cordon blue sandwich is only available in Canada, but you can easily whip up your own.
Toast your bun and load it up with mayo. Then pop a piece of fried chicken on top, a few pieces thinly sliced ham, and a thick slice of Swiss cheese.
Again, to melt the cheese, microwave your chicken sandwich for a few seconds. I also like to add a crack of black pepper for a touch of heat. Scrumptious!

Chicken Pepperoni Parm Sandwich
I haven’t seen the chicken pepperoni parm sandwich on Arby’s menu in ages, so thank goodness for a homemade version.
To make it, you need some garlic marinara sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella. I suggest a low-sodium pepperoni as the sandwich might end up a bit salty otherwise.
Spoon the marinara sauce onto your bun and add a piece of fried chicken, pepperoni slices, and a few mozzarella slices.
Warm the sandwich in a preheated oven or microwave until the cheese starts to melt and the marinara sauce is hot.
Diabolo Dare Sandwich
The diabolo dare sandwich was available in the US for a limited time in January and February 2022. If you missed the chance to get one, whip up your own. Be warned though, the diablo dare isn’t for the faint of heart.
To start, add 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the flour mixture.
After frying the chicken, baste it with your favorite hot sauce while the chicken is still hot. This is your chance to make it as mild or spicy as you want.
Arby’s served this sandwich in a red chipotle bun. I looked far and low but couldn’t find that one. So I’d say simply go with your favorite burger bun.
Time to assemble! Slather your bun with mayo, then add a layer of lettuce and pickle chips. Top with the chicken fillet, a thick slice ghost pepper jack cheese, fire-roasted jalapenos, and diabolo BBQ sauce. Oh, and follow Arby’s recommendations and have a milkshake nearby to cool things off.