Name: BA's Best Fried Chicken Sandwich
Yield: Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal or 1¾ teaspoons Morton kosher salt; 1 teaspoon light brown sugar; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 4 skin-on or skinless, boneless chicken thighs; 1 garlic clove, finely grated; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; ½ cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives; ½ teaspoon celery seeds; ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; Kosher salt; 1½ cups all-purpose flour; ⅓ cup cornstarch; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon onion powder; 1 tablespoon paprika; 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper; 2 tablespoons Diamond Crystal or 3½ teaspoons Morton kosher salt, plus more; 1 large egg, beaten to blend; 1 cup buttermilk; 2 tablespoons bourbon (optional); 3 tablespoons hot sauce (such as Frank’s); plus more for serving (optional); Peanut or vegetable oil (for frying; about 8 cups); 4 seeded soft hamburger buns; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted; Bread-and-Butter Pickles (for serving), plus 1 tablespoon brine; 4 cups thinly sliced iceberg lettuce; Freshly ground black pepper; A deep-fry thermometer

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Alex Lau

This sandwich is engineered for maximum impact. Each element is awesome, but it’s the way they come together that puts it over the top. Mmmmm, yeah. This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.

Recipe notes