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Homemade Crispy Zinger Style Chicken Burger Recipe

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If you love a good fried chicken sandwich, you have to try this homemade version of a zinger burger.


It is crispy on the outside while being tender on the inside and bursting with spicy flavors.

The chicken breasts are soaked in a hot and spicy buttermilk marinade, breaded, and fried. Then assembled with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a tangy sauce creating tasty chicken burgers!

There is an oval piece of wood with a chicken sandwich on it. The chicken sandwich is a round bun with a piece of fried chicken, a slice of cheddar cheese, a slice of tomato, a piece of lettuce and light orange sauce on it. There are french fries on the piece of wood. The piece of wood is on a light gray surface.

The Zinger is your classic chicken sandwich, with a spicy twist. It’s not overly hot, and the heat is balanced by the creamy sauce.

Ingredients

There is a white bowl with white buttermilk in it. There is a clear glass bowl with brown powdered cayenne pepper in it. There are 4 small clear glass ramekins. One has dark brown Worcestershire sauce in it, one has powdered red chili pepper in it, one has powdered white pepper in it and the last one has powdered paprika in it. There is a small wooden vessel with 3 round holes in it. There is white salt in one, light yellow onion powder in another and light yellow garlic powder in it. All the items are on a light gray surface.
  • Boneless skinless chicken breast

For The Buttermilk Marinade

  • Buttermilk 
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Paprika
  • Red chili powder
  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder
  • White pepper
  •  Kosher salt
  • Worcestershire sauce
There are six clear glass bowls of different sizes. The largest has white flour in it, the medium size bowl has white cornstarch in it. The other four are small ramekins. One has garlic powder in it, one has onion powder in it, one has sugar in it and the forth one has red chili powder in it. All the bowls are on a light gray surface.

For The Flour Coating

  • All purpose flour (see FAQ’s)
  • Cornstarch 
  • Red chili pepper
  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder
  • Sugar

You Will Also Need

  • Cold water for dipping the pieces of chicken
  • Vegetable oil for frying 

For The Burger Sauce

  • Mayonnaise
  • Ketchup
  • Vinegar
  • Dijon mustard

For Building The Zinger Chicken Burger

  • Hamburger buns
  • Crisp lettuce
  • Tomato
  • Cheese slices

Helpful Tools

  • Cast iron skillet or Dutch oven
  • Whisk
  • Small bowl
  • Large bowl
  • Shallow bowl
  • Heat resistant tongs
  • Candy/Deep Frying thermometer
  • Mesh strainer
  • Sealable container
  • Large kitchen knife
  • Cutting board

How To Make The Homemade Zinger Burger

There is a light blue square glass dish with raw chicken breasts covered with an orange colors liquid. Dish is on a light gray surface.
  • Rinse the chicken breasts and pat dry with paper towels.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the ingredients for the buttermilk marinade.
  • Pour the buttermilk marinade over the chicken.
  • Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight if time allows.
There is a white bowl with a light orange sauce in it. There is a silver spoon in the sauce. The bowl is on a light grey surface.
  • Make the zinger sauce. 
  • Cover and chill in the refrigerator until you’re ready to build the crispy chicken sandwich.
There is a white bowl with a flour mixture in it. There is a raw chicken breast in the middle of the flour mixture. There is a clear glass bowl next to the white bowl. There is water in the clear bowl. Bowls are on a light gray surface.
  •  Add several inches of oil to a large cast iron skillet or a Dutch oven and heat it over medium heat.
  • While the oil is heating up, combine all the flour coating ingredients in a shallow bowl.  
  • Pour water into another shallow bowl and set it next to the flour mixture.
  • Place the chicken in the bowl of flour mixture then dip the coated chicken piece into the water, then back into the flour mixture.
  • Immediately and carefully place the chicken into the hot oil using a slotted spoon or tongs.
There are 2 fried pieces of chicken breast in a round mesh strainer that is sitting in a round stainless bowl. The bowl is on a light grey surface.
  • When the chicken has completed cooking, remove chicken with tongs and place it in a mesh strainer. (see Top Tip)
  • While the chicken is resting, assemble your sandwiches.
  • Toast the bun, spread a little zinger sauce on the bottom bun, place a chicken fillet to the bun, add a slice of cheese, a slice of tomato, and a piece of lettuce.
  • Spread some more zinger sauce to the top bun and place it on the sandwich.

See The Recipe Card Below For Full Details

There is a chicken sandwich on a blue round plate. The chicken sandwich is a round bun with a piece of fried chicken, a slice of cheddar cheese, a slice of tomato, a piece of lettuce and light orange sauce on it. The plate is on a wood surface.

Substitutions And Variations

Chicken – You can use boneless chicken thighs which are actually juicier and more flavorful.

Cayenne pepper – Srirach or chili sauce.

Mayonnaise – I love Dukes mayonnaise probably a southern thing! But any good mayo can be used.

Dijon Mustard – My favorite Dijon is Mallie’s but you can use yellow mustard.

Cheese – Munster or American.

Lettuce – Romaine or Iceberg lettuce.

Soft buns – soft sesame seed buns or broiche buns.

Dutch oven / cast iron skillet – You can  use an air fryer or deep fry the chicken if you have those appliances. Here are some great Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipes to try!

Top Tip

  • Using a mesh strainer to rest the chicken after frying keeps it crispy. Placing the hot chicken on paper towels straight out of the hot oil can make the breading soggy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do You Fry Chicken Breast Pieces?

How long to cook the chicken depends on its thickness. Whole pieces(not halved lengthwise), will take 10-14 minutes to fully cook.

Chicken breasts that are cut in half lengthwise, will only need 4-5 minutes in the oil when the pieces are fully submerged.

If the chicken pieces are not fully submerged, carefully flip them after 2-3 minutes using heat resistant tongs. 

What Can Be Used Instead Of Buttermilk?

Don’t have any buttermilk on hand? You can easily make it with milk and vinegar or lemon juice.

This recipe calls for 3/4 cup of buttermilk so all you have to do is add 2 1/4 teaspoons of vinegar/lemon juice to 3/4 cup regular milk and stir.

What Does Cornstarch Do To Fried Chicken?

Adding cornstarch to the flour coating helps make chicken crispier and golden brown.

Check out other recipes from Join Me In The Kitchen that will tantalize your taste buds!

Yield: 4

Homemade Crispy Zinger Style Chicken Burger Recipe

There is an oval piece of wood with a chicken sandwich on it. The chicken sandwich is a round bun with a piece of fried chicken, a slice of cheddar cheese, a slice of tomato, a piece of lettuce and light orange sauce on it. There are french fries on the piece of wood. The piece of wood is on a light gray surface.

Chicken breasts soaked in a hot and spicy buttermilk marinade, breaded, and fried. Then assembled with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a tangy sauce creating tasty chicken burgers!

Prep Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless and skinless chicken fillets
  • For The Buttermilk Marinade
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • For The Flour Coating
  • 1 cup plain flour (see FAQ's)
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon red chili pepper
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • For The Burger Sauce
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • For Building The Zinger Chicken
  • 4 burger buns
  • 4 pieces of crisp lettuce
  • 4 slices of fresh tomato
  • 4 cheddar cheese slices
  • You Will Also Need
  • A bowl of chilled water for dipping the pieces of chicken.
  • Vegetable oil for frying (2 to 6 cups depending on the type of pan or pot you are using.

Instructions

  1. Rinse the chicken breasts and pat dry with paper towels.
  2. If the chicken breasts are super thick, cut them in half lengthwise.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ingredients for the buttermilk marinade: buttermilk, cayenne pepper, paprika, red chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and white pepper. Mix throughly.
  4. Place the chicken in either a sealable container or a gallon-size zipper bag. Pour the buttermilk marinade over the chicken. If you are using a container, turn the chicken over to coat it completely. If using a zipper bag, make sure the bag is sealed and move the chicken around to completely coat it. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight if time allows.
  5. Make the zinger sauce by adding the mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar, and Dijon mustard to a small mixing bowl. Whisk until completely blended. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until you're ready to build the crispy chicken sandwich.
  6. Add several inches of oil to a large cast iron skillet or a Dutch oven and heat it over medium heat until it reaches 350ºF. If you have a candy/deep frying thermometer, use it to keep a close eye on the temperature. 
  7. While the oil is heating up, add the flour, onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, red chili pepper and sugar to a shallow bowl.  
  8. Pour water into another shallow bowl and set it next to the flour mixture.
  9. When the oil is almost ready, remove chicken pieces one at a time from the marinade and allow some of the marinade to drip off. 
  10. Place the chicken in the bowl of flour mixture and press down hard with your fingers, then dip the coated chicken piece into the water, then back into the flour mixture making sure the chicken pieces are throughly covered with the flour.
  11. Immediately and carefully place the chicken into the hot oil using a slotted spoon or tongs. Depending on the size of the pan, you may have to cook 2 pieces at a time.
  12. Once the chicken is placed in the oil, the temperature will fluctuate so you may have to adjust the heat. In my cast iron skillet, the perfect temperature for cooking fried chicken is around 325 F. The internal temperature is at least 165F. (see FAQ's)
  13. When the chicken has completed cooking, remove chicken with tongs and place it in a mesh strainer that is over a bowl and let the excess oil drip off.
  14. While the chicken is resting, assemble your sandwiches.
  15. Toast the bun, spread a little zinger sauce on the bottom bun, place a chicken fillet to the bun, add a slice of cheese, a slice of tomato, and a piece of lettuce. Spread some more zinger sauce to the top bun and place it on the sandwich.

Notes

Helpful Tools

Cast iron skillet or Dutch oven

Whisk

Small bowl

Large bowl

Shallow bowl

Heat resistant tongs

Candy/Deep Frying thermometer

Mesh strainer

Sealable container

Large kitchen knife

Cutting board

Did you make this recipe?

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© Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen
Cuisine: American / Category: Chicken

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