Ultimate Fried Chicken Sandwich

Juicy lightly fried chicken thighs, creamy roasted jalapeño bbq sauce, and a slice or ripe tomato on a bun! It's the ultimate Morgan- approved fried chicken sandwich!

*Side note: several fried chicken sandwiches were eaten and most definitely to the very last crumb in the making of this recipe. Please be advised*

This sandwich is so me, and has all the flavors that I personally enjoy and if theres something you prefer feel free to switch it up and tailor it to your needs! For example Marc likes to add hot sauce on his but I think it's overpowering but do you boo!

INGRIEDENTS:

1 pack of small boneless chicken thighs ( average small pack from Publix has 5 thighs)

1 1/2 cup of flour

1 cup of panko bread crumbs

2 eggs

1 large jalepeno

1/3 cup of mayonaise

1/3 cup of Stubbs Barbecue sauce

1/3 cup of chopped onion

1 large tomato

6 Kaiser rolls or buns ( I buy the fresh ones from Publix because they are literally the fluffiest and most delicious)

1- 2 tsp of garlic

Olive oil

Water

1 tsp onion powder

Salt

Seasoning Salt

Pepper

Paprika

pinch of cumin

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CHICKEN:

- With freshly washed hands, rinse your chicken thighs and set aside in a small bowl. Add enough water to cover the tops of the chicken thighs. Sprinkle atleast 2 TBSP of seasoning salt over the thighs. Cover and leave in fridge over night. This is called brining. This makes your chicken tender and juicy and full of flavor. Your water will start to look orangey red and if you feel like you haven't used enough seasoning salt for the size of your thighs, add more. You honestly can be as loose as you want with this step.

- The next day, take your 2 eggs, 1 tsp of salt and pepper, and your onion powder, and a small splash of water to keep it from getting too thick or clumpy. Whisk up with a fork in a small bowl. In a larger bowl take your dry ingredients, your flour and breadcrumbs, and 1 TBSP of seasoning salt and a 1tsp of pepper and mix together . You want to set up your cooking so its your egg mixture furthest from the stove, then your dry ingredients, and then your pan on the stove so you you minimize mess and do it all in order.

- In an iron skillet or pan or whatever you have since this isn't traditional fried chicken and we aren't using canola oil and really getting up in there like I would for regular fried chicken, I used a deep skillet. Remember this is lightly fried so we are using olive oil. Coat the bottom of your pan generously with olive oil and let it get hot. While thats happening, take your chicken thigh, dip in egg mixture, and then in dry ingredient mixture, make sure your chicken is properly coated with the flour mixture and doesn't have patches, and then lastly into the hot pan. I suggest cooking two thighs at a time so you can watch them and not burn it! Cook evenly on both sides, it should be about 5 minutes on each side, then set aside on a plate. Remember the longer your pan is on the hotter it can get so it is ok to add a little more olive oil and be mindful that if your pan is getting hotter your chicken may cook faster as you get to those last pieces. Repeat until all pieces are cooked and set aside.

SAUCE:

-On an oven tray or even a piece of foil if you are in a pinch, take your rinsed and dried down jalapeño and broil it in your oven ( basically on 500 degree heat) for 15-18 minutes. Set aside and let it cool down a bit, then cut the stem out and remove all the seeds (unless you really enjoy spice then leave it), and slice.

-In a small pan, take some olive oil, and heat up the pan, add your onions and saute until soft. Add garlic, a pinch of salt, pepper, paprika, and that pinch of cumin!

-In your food processor or blender, toss in your jalepeno, onion mixture, and 1/4 cup of barbecue sauce and blend. Then add your mayonnaise as you go. The mayonnaise will add some tang but you want to add it slowly, tasting as you go. This is where if you want to experiment and add cilantro, avocado or a little lime in, or greek yogurt instead then go ahead! I love mayo and barbecue so I stuck to my guns with it. Mix until smooth!

-Now assemble sandwich with your chicken, tomato, and slather the sauce onto bun and take a bite and tell me you aren't in heaven. I dare you!

I hope you enjoyed this! I feel like this is a simple sauce and you get to cheat and add already made barbecue sauce and can add even make your sauce be more southwestern if you so choose! Let me know how it turns out!