Pair these Cajun chicken sandwiches with a side of Lemon Herb Potato Salad, a Homemade Pink Drink, and Chewy Chocolate Espresso Cookies for dessert!
★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★
Craving a spicy chicken sandwich without leaving the comfort of your home? Then these Cajun chicken sandwiches are going to be love at first bite. This simple recipe is on regular rotation at our house — I know you'll love it too!
Pub flavor, made at home!
This chicken sandwich recipe proves you can make an amazing chicken sandwich right at home. With deliciously spicy chicken, Cajun aioli, red onion and sweet tomato, this delicious sandwich is, honestly, even better than your favorite local bar.
Choose your cooking method.
Coated with spicy Cajun seasoning, the chicken is cooked to juicy perfection in your air fryer, on the grill, or on your stove top.
Add sliced tomato, leafy lettuce, and red onion on a fluffy kaiser roll, and you have a tasty sandwich that is quick and simple but full of big flavor.
The secret is in the sauce.
Don't forget the secret aioli sauce! It's just mayo and fresh squeezed lemon juice mixed with Cajun spices, and couldn't be easier and it takes this sandwich from good to WOW.
Non-breaded Chicken
A healthy alternative to crispy chicken. This is a great lightened up version of a classic spicy chicken sandwich. With all the flavor this sandwich packs, you won't miss the breading or frying.
This is an enjoyable comfort food recipe for those focusing on healthy eating. The chicken is even delicious without the bun if you are looking to cut carbs.
★ Ingredients You'll Need ★
For this Cajun chicken sandwich recipe, you need the following simple ingredients (exact measurements are in the recipe card below):
- Cajun seasoning. We are using a store-bought Cajun seasoning blend in this recipe to save time! My favorite is McCormick Gourmet Cajun seasoning but choose your favorite brand.
- Chicken cutlets. You'll want boneless skinless chicken breasts that are sliced in half lengthwise into cutlets. You can buy cutlets or slice your own chicken breasts in half, lengthwise.
- Green leaf lettuce. This has a really mild flavor and a nice fluffy texture.
- Tomato. A large beefsteak slicing tomato works best.
- Red onion. Slice these as you prefer them — thin or thick.
- Hamburger buns. Feel free to use whatever type of roll you prefer. Brioche buns are my favorite but potato rolls or bakery-fresh kaiser rolls are also a great choice.
- Mayo. Real mayo tates best. You can use avocado mayo for a healthier option.
- Lemon juice. This is a must! And freshly squeezed is best. It blends with the mayo and Cajun seasoning to create a deliciously easy aioli sauce. This brightens the whole sandwich and adds that restaurant-quality touch.
Optional Marinade
- Olive oil. Or substitute with grape seed or avocado oil.
- Cajun seasoning.
- Lemon juice.
Feel free to add a slice of cheddar or pepper jack cheese if you'd like, and enjoy!
★ How to Make this Recipe ★
This recipe comes together in just a few steps!
These photos show the process for cooking in your air fryer but the chicken can also be grilled or cooked on the stove top.
Marinating the chicken is optional. Feel free to skip this step if you are short on time and just season you chicken with dry Cajun spices.
For Air Fryer and grill: mix oil and Cajun seasoning then coat chicken.
For stove top: Use oil to grease the skillet and rub chicken with dry seasoning.
- Optional: Marinate chicken for 2-4 hours.
- Before cooking, rub chicken with additional Cajun seasoning.
- Cook chicken using desired method.
- Allow chicken to rest.
- Mix together aioli sauce ingredients and spread onto bun.
- Layer with chicken, onion, lettuce, tomato and top with bun and serve!
So easy. Super yummy!
★ Tips & FAQs ★
Tip: Start with Chicken Cutlets
Starting with thinner chicken cutlets allows your chicken to cook faster and more evenly than starting with a thick full chicken breast.
You can make your own cutlets or buy them pre-cut.
Serve these sandwiches with some sweet potato or French fries, or a simple green salad for a lighter option.
Leftovers would be perfect on top of a Caesar salad or mac and cheese! If, like me, you can't get enough of Cajun flavors, try this delicious Cajun chicken over red beans and rice or along with baked beans and cornbread.
Yes! While the chicken is best fresh, it's still good made ahead and reheated.
The chicken by itself is actually perfect for meal prep. It's quick and easy to season and cook, and is great on salads, over pasta or, of course, in sandwiches. Cook up to 3 days ahead and enjoy throughout the week. Microwave just the chicken until warmed through then add to bun with toppings and aioli sauce.
I like to use store-bought Cajun seasoning to save time, but you can mix your own if that's easier or if you would like to customize the flavor.
Here's a quick recipe to make your own Cajun seasoning blend:
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon onion powder
¾ teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (substitute chili powder for more mild flavor)
★ More Chicken Sandwich Recipes ★
Want more chicken meal ideas?
Browse all my easy chicken recipes and Pin your favorites for later!
This Cajun chicken sandwich recipe was featured on South Your Mouth!
Cajun Chicken Sandwich
Equipment
- air fryer or
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1.5 lb chicken cutlets (4 boneless skinless cutlets)
- 2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
Optional Marinade
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Cajun Aioli Sauce
- 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 lemon juiced (about 2 tbsp)
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning more or less to taste
Serve with
- 4 kaiser roll or brioche buns
- 1 beefsteak tomato sliced
- ½ red onion sliced
- 4 leaves green leaf lettuce
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Instructions
- Prepare chicken. Cover the chicken breasts with plastic wrap and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound each breast to an even thickness.
- Optional: Marinate chicken. Combine oil, Cajun seasoning and lemon juice in a bowl. Add chicken to bowl and refrigerate for 2-4 hours.
- Season chicken. Sprinkle each chicken breast cutlet with Cajun seasoning, making sure to evenly coat each piece of chicken on both sides. You can skip this step if you are marinating or go ahead and layer on a little extra dry Cajun seasoning if you want robust Cajun flavor.
- Cook chicken. Heat a cast iron skillet or grill over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Once skillet or grill and oil is hot, add seasoned chicken cutlets. Cook for about 4-6 minutes on each side or just until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF. Transfer chicken to a plate and cover with foil. Allow to rest for about 3 minutes before assembling sandwiches.
- Make Cajun aioli sauce. While chicken is cooking, mix together mayonnaise, lemon juice, and Cajun seasoning in a small bowl until smooth.
- Assemble sandwiches. Once chicken is done resting, layer chicken along with tomato, onion, lettuce and Cajun aioli sauce onto a bun and serve.
Notes
- Air Fryer Instructions. You can cook this chicken in the air fryer. Here's how: Preheat to 375ºF. Rub chicken with oil and Cajun seasoning then add chicken to the air fryer basket in an even layer, being careful to not overlap. Cook chicken in the air fryer for 12 minutes, flipping halfway. The chicken may take longer depending on thickness.
- Grill Instructions. You can cook this chicken on the grill. Here's how: Preheat grill to 400ºF. Rub chicken with oil and Cajun seasoning then add chicken to the grill. Cover and grill for about 6 minutes on each side.
- Be sure to check for an internal temperature of 165ºF using a meat thermometer.
- Allow cooked chicken to rest for about 3 minutes before adding to sandwich. It's best to cover chicken with a sheet of foil while resting to keep it warm.
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