Description
This Crispy Cilantro Lime Chicken Sandwich features perfectly seasoned air-fried or oven-baked chicken breasts coated in a crunchy cornflake crust, layered with a tangy cucumber and jalapeno slaw, and generously topped with a creamy cilantro lime sauce. The combination of fresh lime, aromatic cilantro, and a touch of smoky chipotle makes this sandwich a flavorful twist on a classic favorite, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Chicken and Coating
- 2 chicken breasts, cut into halves lengthwise and slightly pounded out
- Salt and pepper, to taste (preferably sea salt)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- 1 cup cornflakes, lightly crushed
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 eggs, beaten
- Cooking oil spray
- 4 bread rolls of your choice, toasted if desired
Sandwich Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 avocado, halved, seed removed and flesh scooped out
- ½ cup cilantro
- 1 tbsp adobo sauce
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp mayo
- 1 tbsp honey
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Cucumber Salad
- ½ large English cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1 jalapeno, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cabbage, thinly sliced and chopped
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
Chicken Coating Sauce
- 3 tbsp avocado oil
- 4 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp chipotle powder
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
Instructions
- Make the sandwich sauce: Combine olive oil, avocado, cilantro, adobo sauce, lime juice, honey, mayo, sour cream, sea salt, and black pepper into a blender. Blend until smooth. Transfer the sauce to a bottle or jar and refrigerate until ready to assemble the sandwiches.
- Prepare the cucumber salad: In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, sea salt, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Add the thinly sliced cucumbers, jalapeno, and chopped cabbage. Toss well to coat the vegetables evenly. Set aside to let flavors meld.
- Prepare the chicken coating stations: Set up three shallow bowls: one with a mixture of flour, sea salt, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder; the second with the beaten eggs; and the third with the crushed cornflakes. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- Coat the chicken: Dredge each chicken piece first in the flour mixture, then dip into beaten eggs, and finally coat thoroughly with crushed cornflakes. Spray both sides of each coated chicken piece with cooking oil spray to aid crisping.
- Cook the chicken: For air frying, preheat to 360ºF and cook the chicken for 14-16 minutes until golden and cooked through. Alternatively, preheat the oven to 425ºF, line a baking sheet with foil, spray with cooking spray, and bake the chicken for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Confirm the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
- Make the chicken coating sauce: While the chicken cooks, add avocado oil, chopped cilantro, lime juice, honey, sea salt, black pepper, chipotle powder, red pepper flakes, and grated garlic to a large skillet. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces and thickens into a syrupy consistency, about 5 minutes.
- Coat the chicken in sauce: Add the cooked chicken pieces to the skillet and turn them to coat evenly with the thickened chicken sauce.
- Assemble the sandwiches: Place each coated chicken piece on a toasted bread roll. Top with a generous layer of cucumber salad and finish with a dollop of the creamy cilantro lime sandwich sauce. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- For a gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour and ensure cornflakes are gluten-free.
- You can bake or air fry the chicken depending on your preference and equipment; air frying will yield a crispier crust with less oil.
- Adjust the level of spiciness by reducing or omitting jalapeno and red pepper flakes.
- Prepare the sauces in advance to save time during assembly.
- Ensure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165ºF for safety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
