Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich & Taters. Close to the original! (2024)

Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich and Taters. A great homemade copycat recipe for a well loved chicken sandwich from Mary Browns Famous Chicken and Taters.

Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich & Taters. Close to the original! (1)

Copycat Big Mary and Taters

Originally published March 2015.

What’s a Big Mary, you ask? For those of you outside Newfoundland and parts of Canada who don’t know Mary Browns Famous Chicken and Taters, it is a much loved fried chicken franchise which started here in Newfoundland many years ago.

I’ve eaten fried chicken all over North America including many, many places in the southern US. So believe me, Mary Browns is still one of the very best I’ve ever tasted. It is very juicy and tender with a thick, not too heavily seasoned, super crunchy crust.

Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich & Taters. Close to the original! (2)

I like to use Russet Potatoes for this recipe for a crispy outside and a fluffy inside.

One of their most famous offerings is their much-loved Big Mary; a boneless chicken breast with mayo and lettuce on a soft burger bun. It’s hard to replicate the delicate flavour of the herb and spice flour dredge used to make Mary Browns Chicken.

Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich & Taters. Close to the original! (3)

Copycat Big Mary and Taters

No inside info here.

I don’t have any inside information on the secret formula, believe me. However, I thought I’d borrow a couple of flavour characteristics from my own Oven Fried Chicken recipe in this one.

Also, I used some elements from my extremely popular Double Crunch Chicken recipe, to try an attempt at a copycat recipe.

I think the result is as close as you are likely to come in a homemade version of one of Newfoundland’s all time take-out favourites.

Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich & Taters. Close to the original! (4)

Copycat Mary Brown’s Fried Chicken

For those of you who’ve never tried Mary Browns, give the recipe a try. And for those of you transplanted Newfoundlanders, it’ll be a little taste of home.

I think you’ll enjoy this version very much indeed. This one’s for you Teresa. 😉 Loves it, I do.

Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich & Taters. Close to the original! (5)

Deboned chicken breasts for Oven Fried Chicken Nuggets.

NOTE: I like to debone my own chicken breasts so that I can roast the bones and skins for stock later. Then, I freeze them until I have enough to cover a baking sheet then use the instructions in my post on making Chicken Stock here.

If you liked this recipe you may also want to try our Copycat KFC recipe.

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Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich & Taters. Close to the original! (7)

Copycat Big Mary and Taters

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Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich & Taters. Close to the original! (8)
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Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich & Taters. Close to the original! (9)

Yield: 4 chicken sandwiches

Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich with Taters

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich and Taters - a great homemade copycat recipe for a well loved chicken sandwich from Mary Browns Famous Chicken and Taters.

Ingredients

  • 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • canola oil for frying
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 tbsp water
  • 3 lbs potatoes washed and cut into thick wedges
  • 1/4 cup milk

For the chicken dredge

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp fine sea salt
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp dry mustard powder
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground thyme
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp ground sage
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp ground cumin

Mix together:

  • 1/2 cup plain mayo
  • 2 tsp sriracha sauce, or another favourite hot sauce
  • 1 tsp chipotle powder, or chili powder

Instructions

  1. Pound the chicken breasts out to an even thickness; about a half inch. Lightly season them with salt.
  2. Mix all of the ingredients in the flour dredge together well. I like to use a whisk in a round bottom bowl to make sure everything is evenly mixed. A food processor also will mix them up well.
  3. Make an egg wash by whisking together the eggs and water.
  4. One at a time dip the breast pieces in the flour and spice mixture, then dip quickly into the eggwash and then a final time into the flour and spice mix, pressing the mix firmly into the meat to get good contact.
  5. Heat a skillet on the stove with about a half inch of canola oil covering the bottom. You will want to carefully regulate the temperature here so that the chicken does not brown too quickly. The thinness of the breast meat practically guarantees that it will be fully cooked by the time the outside is browned. I find just below medium heat works well. I use a burner setting of about 4½ out of 10 on the dial and fry them gently for about 4 or 5 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. (You can, of course, use a deep fryer for the chicken if you prefer. Keep the heat at 350 degrees until they are golden brown. About 8 -10 minutes)
  6. Drain on a wire rack for a couple of minutes before making the sandwiches. Use plain mayo or the spicy mayo on both the un-toasted top and bottom buns, adding just fresh lettuce to the sandwich and a pickle slice on top. A club sandwich version adding bacon and tomato is also excellent!

To make the taters.

  1. Toss the potato wedges in the1/4 cup milk and drain the milk off.
  2. Toss the wedges in the remaining flour and spice mix and deep fry for about 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and fully cooked.Alternatively, you can lightly oil a cookie sheet and place the taters on it, drizzling a little extra oil over the top.
  3. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for about a half hour. Turn them half way through the cooking time.

Notes

Nutritional information includes chicken fillet, spiced mayo and wedges.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

4 chicken sandwiches

Amount Per ServingCalories 893Total Fat 33gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 25gCholesterol 204mgSodium 773mgCarbohydrates 83gFiber 9gSugar 5gProtein 65g

The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.

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Copycat Big Mary Chicken Sandwich & Taters. Close to the original! (2024)

FAQs

Are Mary Brown's taters deep fried? ›

Mary Brown's Tater poutine is made from real potatoes that are cut and deep fried in house, smothered in their smooth gravy and topped with cheese curds.

What is on a Big Mary? ›

Big Mary® Original

A whole Canada Grade A chicken breast, breaded in our Signature recipe, cooked golden brown, and served on a sesame seed bun with mayo and lettuce. Plus small Taters and can of Pop.

How do Mary Brown's cook their chicken? ›

Our Secret. Mary Brown's has developed its very own proprietary cookers. Rather than pressure fried, which is the industry standard, our cookers use heat to seal in juiciness and flavour and give our chicken its delicious natural golden colour. Mary Brown's is real, wholesome, comfort food, made fresh daily.

What is Mary Brown's sidekick sauce made of? ›

Ingredients 300g tomato puree or tomato sauce 1 cup apple cider vinegar 3 tbsp water 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 tsp onion granules 2 tsp garlic granules 1 tsp cayenne powder 1 tsp salt Method 1.

Why do restaurants soak potatoes before frying? ›

The reason is to prevent the potatoes exposure to air, which causes dehydration, oxidation, and discoloration.

Should I soak my potatoes before I deep fry them? ›

A: The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.

Is Big Mary Monday still a thing? ›

Mary Brown's Chicken | Just a friendly reminder that it's Big Mary Monday 🎉 $4.99 EVERY Monday!

What was the first chicken sandwich? ›

The first chicken sandwich is thought to have been created in 1946 by an Atlanta restaurant entrepreneur named Truett Cathy as a substitute for the famous hamburger. His recipe was simple. He grilled a piece of chicken fillet and served it in a bun. He called this new invention of his the Chick-fil-A.

Who made the first ever chicken sandwich? ›

Truett Cathy, is credited for providing the first fried chicken sandwich in the 1960s, completely disregarding and disrespecting the same fried chicken sandwich our parents and grandparents grew up enjoying many decades before and subsequently passed down in soulful appreciation.

Why put chicken in milk before cooking? ›

The pairing may sound odd, but this simple, mostly hands-off method produces the most tender, flavorful chicken imaginable. The calcium in the milk is thought to jump-start a natural enzyme in the chicken, which acts as the tenderizer. Cooking the chicken in the liquid further infuses it with moisture and flavor.

Why do you sear chicken before baking? ›

Pan searing briefly exposes foods to high heat to brown their surface, creating a tasty crust on the outside. Searing works best with a heavy-bottomed skillet, such as cast iron, that retains heat well and can go from stove to oven if necessary.

Did Chick-fil-A make the first chicken sandwich? ›

Of course not. That's just an advertising tag line, just pithy enough to be memorable. Chick-fil-A was the first fast food chain based on the idea of a fried chicken breast served as a sandwich, though -- the first Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in 1964.

What is the liquid in brown sauce? ›

Brown sauce, also known as sauce Espagnole, uses a brown stock from veal, beef or sometimes chicken and a brown roux as the base. Tomato puree, mirepoix- chopped carrots, celery and onions- and a sachet of seasoning with bay leaf, thyme and parsley add flavor to the sauce.

What sauce is made from brown stock? ›

Brown stocks are used for preparing demi-glace, glace-de-viande, and remouillage. The deep concentrated flavored result is the base for making a myriad of derivatives sauces, such as Bordelaise and sauce Robert.

What is brown sauce made? ›

Brown sauce is a condiment commonly served with food in the United Kingdom and Ireland, normally dark brown in colour. The taste is either tart or sweet with a peppery taste similar to that of Worcestershire sauce. Commercial sauces are a blend of tomatoes, malt vinegar, molasses, dates, spices and tamarind.

Are tater tots deep-fried? ›

Tater tots are grated potatoes formed into small cylinders and deep-fried, often served as a side dish. The name "tater tot" is a registered trademark of the American frozen food company Ore-Ida, but is often used as a generic term. "Tater" is short for potato.

Are all tater tots fried? ›

Tater tots are typically made from grated or finely chopped potatoes mixed with flour and seasonings, then deep-fried until golden and crunchy. While they are undeniably tasty, they're not the healthiest choice if consumed in excess.

Are frozen tater tots fried? ›

The formed tater tots are then pre-fried in vegetable oil to partially cook them and give them a crisp exterior. After pre-frying, the tater tots are quickly cooled using industrial coolers or freezers to maintain food safety standards and preserve the quality of the product.

Are potato crisps deep-fried? ›

A potato chip (NAmE and AuE; often just chip) or crisp (BrE and IrE) is a thin slice of potato (or a thin deposit of potato paste) that has been deep fried, baked, or air fried until crunchy. They are commonly served as a snack, side dish, or appetizer.

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