Homemade McChicken Sandwich

by Barry Lewis

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

For the chicken patties
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (butterflied or flattened)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon white pepper
½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
Salt to taste
½ cup plain flour
½ cup cornflour (or use 1 cup plain flour total)
1 egg
Splash of water
1 cup plain breadcrumbs (not panko)
Vegetable or sunflower oil for frying

For the sauce
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon sugar
Pinch of white pepper
Small splash of lemon juice or vinegar

To assemble
2 to 3 soft seeded white burger buns (I used brioche for golden colour)
Finely shredded iceberg lettuce

Unit conversion table Print recipe

I Tried Making a Homemade McChicken Sandwich (Having Never Had One Before)

Somehow, I’ve made it this far in life without ever trying a McChicken Sandwich. Not on purpose — it’s just one of those McDonald’s menu items I’ve always skipped. But with how popular it is, especially in the US, I thought it was about time I gave it a proper go… and tried making one at home from scratch to see if it could actually beat the real deal.

So I popped out to McDonald’s to pick one up, only to realise it was too early — the breakfast menu was still on. Rather than wait around, I headed home and decided to start making my own version. While the chicken was frying, I ordered a McChicken Sandwich for delivery so I could do a proper comparison. It did eventually turn up, and once it had, I was able to test them side by side.

What Goes Into a McChicken Sandwich?

It’s fairly simple — a breaded chicken patty, shredded lettuce, a mayo-style sauce, all in a soft seeded bun. But while it sounds basic, McDonald’s does have a very specific texture and flavour. So the goal here was to keep it simple, but try to match that fast-food feel as closely as possible.

How to Make a McChicken Sandwich at Home

  1. Flatten or butterfly the chicken breasts to about 1cm thick and season both sides generously.

  2. Set up a breading station with flour, beaten egg, and plain breadcrumbs. Coat each piece in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. Press the crumbs on firmly.

  3. Heat oil to around 170–180°C and fry the chicken patties for about 4–5 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through. Rest on a wire rack or kitchen paper.

  4. Mix up the sauce — it’s essentially a slightly sweet, peppery mayo with a bit of garlic and onion powder in there.

  5. Toast the burger buns lightly first, then wrap them in damp kitchen paper and give them a quick steam in the microwave. It softens them up and gives you that squishy McDonald’s bun texture, plus they are warm!

  6. Assemble: bottom bun, finely shredded iceberg lettuce, crispy chicken patty, sauce on the top bun, and serve.

The Verdict

The homemade McChicken Sandwich actually had more crunch and flavour than I expected. The real one is softer and a bit more muted, which makes sense for fast food. But the homemade version really holds its own — especially with the sauce and texture. Once you’ve made it yourself, it’s hard to unsee how easy it is.

If you fancy giving it a go, check out the full video for the taste test and recipe in action. Or just dive straight in and see if you can beat the original yourself. Oh and if you liked this you may like a day working at McDonald’s or this homemade Chick-fil-A burger.

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