Lime Chicken Sandwich with Cilantro Lime Sauce and Cucumber Salad Recipe
This Lime Chicken Sandwich recipe features crispy air-fried chicken breasts coated in a zesty, spicy lime-cilantro sauce, complemented with a refreshing cucumber, jalapeno, and cabbage salad. The sandwich is layered with a creamy, tangy blended sauce that perfectly balances heat and citrus flavors, making it a vibrant and flavorful meal option.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Coating
- 2 chicken breasts (cut into halves lengthwise and slightly pounded out)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (can use gluten-free flour)
- 1 cup cornflakes (lightly crushed)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 eggs (beaten)
Sandwich Sauce
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 avocado (cut in half, remove seed, and scoop out flesh)
- ½ cup cilantro
- 1 Tbsp adobo sauce
- 3 Tbsp lime juice
- 1 Tbsp honey
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Salt (to taste)
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 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Chicken Coating Sauce
- 4 Tbsp avocado oil
- 6 Tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 cup lime juice
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp chipotle powder
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 garlic cloves (grated)
Additional
- 4 bread rolls of your choice (toasted if desired)
Instructions
- Make the sandwich sauce: Combine the olive oil, avocado, cilantro, adobo sauce, lime juice, honey, sour cream, and black pepper in a blender. Blend until smooth, then add salt to taste. Transfer the sauce to a jar and refrigerate until ready to assemble the sandwiches.
- Prepare the cucumber salad: In a medium bowl, mix the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Add the thinly sliced cucumber, jalapeno, and chopped cabbage, tossing them well to coat evenly. Set aside.
- Set up the dredging stations: In three shallow bowls, place the mixed flour with salt, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder in one; the beaten eggs in another; and the crushed cornflakes in the third. This will prepare the chicken for coating.
- Coat the chicken: Dredge each pounded chicken breast first in the flour mixture, then dip into the beaten eggs, and finally coat thoroughly with the crushed cornflakes for a crispy texture.
- Cook the chicken: Air fry the coated chicken breasts at 360ºF for 14-16 minutes until golden and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165ºF). Alternatively, bake on a foil-lined baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray at 425ºF for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Prepare the chicken coating sauce: While the chicken cooks, heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cilantro, lime juice, honey, salt, pepper, chipotle powder, red pepper flakes, and grated garlic. Simmer and reduce for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens to a syrup-like consistency.
- Coat the cooked chicken: Once the chicken is done, transfer it to the skillet with the coating sauce. Turn the chicken to coat both sides thoroughly with the syrupy sauce.
- Assemble the sandwiches: Place the coated chicken breasts onto the toasted bread rolls. Top with the prepared cucumber salad and drizzle generously with the refrigerated sandwich sauce. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For gluten-free options, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour.
- Air frying yields a crispy texture without excess oil, but baking is a good alternative.
- Adjust the amount of jalapeno and red pepper flakes to control the spice level.
- Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF for safe consumption.
- To keep the sandwich fresh, assemble just before serving.
Keywords: Lime chicken sandwich, air fried chicken sandwich, spicy chicken sandwich, Mexican-inspired sandwich, cilantro lime chicken, cucumber salad sandwich, crispy chicken sandwich
