Buccaneers Game Day Recipe: Fried “Dirty Bird” Sandwich

Every Saturday, we will bring you a recipe to enjoy during the Buccaneers game!

As someone who spent time in the restaurant industry for over 15 years, I have fun coming up with recipe ideas and experimenting with food. Even though I am no longer a chef, my passion for experimentation at home is still there. That being said, it is my mission to bring you something new to try before every Buccaneers game this season. Each recipe will be themed around the game the Bucs play, whether that is a play on the mascot the opposing team sports, or something from the city the game is being played in.

This week, of course, the Buccaneers kick off the season against the Atlanta Falcons, or the “Dirty Birds.” What better way to celebrate the beating the Bucs will bestow upon them than eating a fried feathered friend?

This is a recipe I worked on in order to get my kids to try a different kind of fried chicken, showing them McDonald’s chicken nuggets are, well, crap. It’s easy, tasty, and open for all kinds of experimentation.

Ingredients

• 4 Boneless Chicken Breasts

• 4 cups flour

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup water

• 1 Tbsp Granulated Garlic

• 2 tsp Paprika (I use smoked, but regular paprika works just fine)

• 2 tsp Granulated Onion

• 2 tsp Thyme (1 tsp if ground)

• 1 tsp salt

• 1.5 tsp White Pepper

• 2 tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional – I like it spicy)

• Vegetable or Canola Oil

• 1 Family Size bag – or larger – of Lay’s Regular Potato Chips (Can be any kind of regular potato chips, I prefer Lay’s. Only requirement is they CAN NOT be ruffled or rigid.

• Sesame Seed or Kaiser Buns (8)

Instructions

1. Filet each chicken breast, giving you eight thin breasts – set aside

2. Combine flour with all seasonings and mix thoroughly – set aside

3. Crush the entire bag of potato chips until they are very fine. You don’t want any pieces larger than a nickel – they won’t stick

4. Scramble the eggs. Gradually add the cup of water until it is all well blended – set aside

5. Pour oil into a large skillet. Make sure you have a minimum of 1″ of oil in the pan. Heat on medium-high.

6. Dredge chicken in the seasoned flour one at a time until completely coated

7. Coat chicken in egg wash until it is well coated – you can’t have any spots of dry flour still showing or else the breading won’t stay on.

8. Take each piece of chicken directly from the egg wash into the crushed chips and cover it completely. You’ll want to pack chips on top and underneath and squeeze it somewhat firmly. You don’t want to squeeze so hard juices come out or anything, but you want to make sure the entire chicken is covered in chips. – set aside

9. Once all 8 chicken breasts are coated in chips, your oil will be hot enough to cook. Carefully place each breast into the pan. Be sure none of them are overlapping or they won’t cook thoroughly.

10. Cook 3-4 minutes on each side until the breading is a golden brown. (Cooking time is approximate and will be determined by the thickness of the breast. If you don’t filet the breasts, there are additional instructions below*)

11. If you have an internal thermometer, insert it into the thickest part of the chicken to ensure it has reached a minimal internal temperature of 165°F. If you don’t have one, no biggie. Simply cut a slit in the biggest part of the breast and check that it’s cooked all the way and that all juices run clear.

12. Place on bun and add your favorite toppings. I like to add buffalo sauce with bacon and cheddar cheese, but it’s great with BBQ sauce, mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickle, cheese…anything you’d want on a chicken sandwich.

13. *Additional Cooking Instructions* – If you don’t want to filet your chicken and would rather keep it as is, preheat your oven to 375°F before breading the chicken. Maintain the 3-4 minutes per side in the oil so that your breading is crisp and golden brown, then place on a foil lined cooking tray and place in the oven 8-12 minutes. You’ll still want to check the internal temperature to ensure the chicken reached 165°F.

Next: Fantasy Football Week 1: Starts, Sits, Sleepers

So there you have it! Enjoy your fired dirty bird sandwich as you watch Jameis & Co. cook up some dirty birds of their own! Enjoy!