Boycotting Chick-Fil-A But Love Their Sandwiches? Copycat Recipes Abound

Chick-Fil-A has been a huge national debate over the past week, with everyone from the Muppets to Antoine Dodson throwing their support one way or the other behind or against the fast-food chain as a battle in the so-called “culture war” erupts on one of their buttery buns.

(For the record, the Muppets have cut ties with Chick-Fil-A, but openly proud, gay man Dodson has supported the chain in their endeavors, saying that the local workers are dedicated, need their jobs and besides, the waffle fries are “bangin’.”)

However, Chick-Fil-A has come out in support of what they call “traditional marriage,” a nice concept — but one that many American families find themselves increasingly outside of, through no “fault” of their own. And whether you are as gay as Christmas or just a supporter of gay rights, dining at a chain where profits go to Exodus International (an organization that tries to forcibly convert gay kids) might leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Which is totally understandable. There is a big moral difference between boycotting Chick-Fil-A because you don’t like Dan Cathy’s thoughts, and boycotting Chick-Fil-A because profits generated from your purchases will be funneled toward actual psychological damage in discredited therapies meted out on living, breathing children.

So, you’ve decided to boycott Chick-Fil-A. But you still love their delicious, crispy, buttery chicken sandwiches! Luckily, the internet has a work-around.

Copycat recipes abound for Chick-Fil-A sandwiches, but Yahoo ran one that is supposed to be a good replica. While chances of creating an identical version at home are slim, you can enjoy your Chick-Fil-A copy at home knowing that not a single cent you spent on the ingredients goes to an organization that strips gay people of basic rights — still no remedy for the loss of bangin’ waffle fries, though.

The recipe:

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 cup pickle juice (sour dill is my favorite)
Optional: 1 teaspoon Tabasco
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Optional: up to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper for a spicy sandwich
Oil for frying (about a cup)
2 toasted hamburger buns
4 dill pickle slices

“Place the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound gently with the flat side of a meat tenderizer until it’s about 1/2-inch thick all around. Cut the chicken into two even pieces, and place in a bowl.

“Pour pickle juice over chicken and marinate for 30 minutes to an hour. Add a teaspoon of Tabasco for a spicy sandwich.

“Beat the egg with the milk in a bowl. Combine the flour, sugar, and spices in another bowl.

“Dip the chicken pieces into egg, coating both sides, then coat in flour.

“Heat the oil in a skillet until it’s 345 to 350 degrees. Fry the chicken for about two minutes on each side, or until golden and cooked through. Blot with paper towels and serve on toasted buns with pickle slices.”