The Origin of Bobby Flay's Fried Chicken Sandwich Started With a 'Beat Bobby Flay' Loss
What began as another way to win over the "Beat Bobby Flay" judges became a legendary sandwich available across America.
Christopher Lane
Bobby Flay moves his fried chicken from a baking sheet to a cast-iron skillet.
Of all the tenets Bobby Flay has shared with the world over his decades in the spotlight, one rings far truer than the rest: “There are few things that hit the spot better than a crispy-coated, juicy piece of fried chicken.”
Fried chicken has become a staple of cuisines around the world, and nothing shows this ubiquity better than Bobby’s fried chicken sandwich recipe from his 2021 cookbook, Beat Bobby Flay: Conquer the Kitchen With 100+ Battle-Tested Recipes. The buttermilk marinade is exactly what you’d find in any fried chicken joint across the American South. The ají amarillo aioli takes a classic Peruvian flavor and delivers it in a method that originates from the northwest Mediterranean region. The finishing touch, yuzu-scallion slaw, is a traditionally Japanese flavor pairing that arrives in a “cabbage salad,” as it’s known by its Dutch roots.
So, how did this sandwich (that can now be found in Bobby’s Burgers locations nationwide) come to be? For that, you have Martha Stewart to thank.
Christopher Lane
Chef Bobby Flay bows before guest judge Martha Stewart.
In a Season 24 episode of Beat Bobby Flay, “The Queen Returns,” Round 1 winner chef Sarah Wade caught Bobby off guard with her signature dish choice. Despite being known for what Martha calls “her banging brunches,” chef Sarah came ready with a challenge Bobby failed six years prior: the fried chicken sandwich.
Bobby’s facial reaction when Sarah announced her signature dish was one of cocky terror. “I think I’ve done [a] fried chicken sandwich here before,” he nonchalantly recalled.
“Did you win?” asked Queen Martha. He didn’t, and even worse, chef Michael Symon was there to witness his loss to chef Neal Fraser. Like all the greats, Bobby learned from his mistakes and took an entirely different approach on his path to redemption.
Christopher Lane
Returning co-hosts Martha Stewart and Michael Symon gave Bobby Flay a bit of déjà vu when they teamed up in "The Queen Returns."
Fried Chicken Sandwich Version 1.0
“There are so many different ways to make a fried chicken sandwich,” noted Martha. When Bobby first attempted one on the Season 2 episode “East vs. West,” he marinated chicken breast in a mixture of coconut milk, buttermilk, ginger and garlic. “It’s basically a lot of Asian flavors,” he said in reference to the kimchi slaw and gochujang mayo. The judges agreed … sort of.
Christopher Lane
Bobby Flay's Asian-inspired fried chicken sandwich from Season 2 of Beat Bobby Flay.
Chef Anita Lo summed it up well: “This has all of Asia on one bun and somehow on the palate doesn’t translate that well.”
Fried Chicken Sandwich Version 2.0
Christopher Lane
Bobby Flay dredges his chicken thighs before a cast-iron deep-fry.
Bobby wasn’t going to lose two fried chicken sandwich challenges, so he adapted, changing literally every component of the dish. He used thighs instead of breasts. Coconut milk didn’t get anywhere near the marinade, which was now a more traditional blend of buttermilk, paprika, garlic and Mexican chili powder. To switch up the mayo, he ditched gochujang and went with rocoto chilies, which have a spicy, fruity kick. The slaw was now a mixture of cabbage, cilantro, scallions and ají amarillo paste.
One key change was Bobby’s bread of choice. Chef Neal Fraser won years prior with sesame seed buns; however, the main critique he got from judges was “too much bread.” Not only did Bobby opt for sesame seed buns, but he gutted them to avoid making the same mistake as Neal.
Christopher Lane
Bobby Flay's Round 2 fried chicken sandwich.
A controversial deviation from his prior recipe and traditional fried chicken sandwiches was baking the marinated chicken thighs and letting them cool prior to frying. Michael couldn’t believe the arrogance of Bobby not simply frying it in cast iron. He declared, “Bobby is in trouble with the entire South.”
Christopher Lane
Contestant Sarah Wade congratulates Bobby Flay on his fried chicken victory.
Fried Chicken Sandwich Version 3.0
Today, you can enjoy one of Bobby’s fried chicken sandwiches at any of the dozen Bobby’s Burgers locations nationwide. The recipe you’ll find in his cookbook and restaurants isn’t a one-to-one re-creation of his winning sandwich, but a fusion of the two. The Asian influence returned in the form of yuzu-scallion slaw, which bumped ají amarillo from slaw to sauce duty.
The next time you’re enjoying one of Bobby’s fried chicken sandwiches, remember to thank Martha (and, to a lesser extent, Michael). If it weren’t for their first-round judgment, chef Sarah never would have pushed Bobby to overcome his greatest fear … other than baking.
