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Meat, Africa and overseas

Chicken Gatsby with fries

The chicken Gatsby is a massive baguette sandwich from Cape Town, filled with paprika marinated chicken, fries, and fresh vegetables. This easy recipe takes 45 minutes and serves 4, at about €3.40 per person. The key is marinating the chicken well and tucking in the fries while they're still hot.

Tonight, the Cape Town gatsby, a massive baguette sandwich stuffed with spiced chicken, fries, and salad.

Chicken Gatsby with fries
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.40
Calories per person
620 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

A Gatsby doesn't hold back. Two halves of baguette spread with spicy mayo, chicken marinated in paprika and browned in the pan, crispy fries stuffed right inside, and fresh vegetables to balance it all out. Every bite mixes the crunch of the bread, the tender chicken, and the soft fries that have slightly warmed the crumb.

It's the kind of dinner that breaks up the routine without asking for any real technique. Kids love eating with their hands, teenagers polish off every last fry, and adults rediscover the simple pleasure of a seriously generous sandwich. Whether it's a weekday when you want something hearty and different, or a relaxed Sunday night with friends, the Gatsby always makes an impression.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken breasts 600 g

Bakery

  • Baguettes 2

Frozen foods

  • Frozen fries 600 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Lettuce 1
  • Tomatoes 2
  • Red onion 1

Pantry

  • Mayonnaiseoften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Hot sauceoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Paprikaoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Sunflower oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 2 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Gluten, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the chicken into strips and mix it with the paprika, half the hot sauce, the oil, salt, and pepper. 10 min

    Let it marinate while the fries bake.

  2. Bake the fries at 220°C on a baking sheet. 25 min

    Flip them halfway through so they brown evenly.

  3. Sauté the chicken in a very hot pan, in two batches if needed. 10 min

    Don't stir too much, let the chicken brown on one side before flipping.

  4. Mix the mayonnaise with the remaining hot sauce, split the baguettes lengthwise, and spread the sauce inside.

    Pop the baguettes in the oven for 3 minutes for an extra crispy crust.

  5. Fill with lettuce, sliced tomatoes and red onion, chicken, then fries, close up and cut into portions.

    Wrap the portions in parchment paper to eat with your hands without making a mess.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick baguettes that are a day old rather than super fresh, they hold the filling better without caving in.
  • Cut the chicken into even strips so it cooks evenly and stays tender in the pan.
  • Prep the vegetables and sauce while the fries bake, so everything is ready at once for a quick assembly.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken for merguez sausage or thinly sliced beef seasoned the same way for a different filling.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the chicken with chickpea patties or pan fried halloumi using the same spices.
  • For kids or a quicker version, skip the hot sauce and keep just the mayo, plain chicken, and fries.

What to serve it with

  • A crunchy coleslaw
  • A chilled fresh fruit juice
  • Spicy pickled vegetables

Storage

Cooked marinated chicken keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes for up to 2 months, thaw it and reheat in a pan. Assemble the sandwich right before eating, it doesn't hold up once put together.

Questions about this dish

Can I marinate the chicken ahead of time?

Yes, you can marinate the chicken the night before and keep it in the fridge in a sealed container. It'll only taste better once cooked.

Can I use fresh fries instead of frozen?

Yes, homemade fries work great, just cut potatoes into sticks and bake at 220°C. Plan for a similar cooking time, around 25 minutes.

How do I make this kid friendly?

Leave out the hot sauce from the marinade and mayo, the chicken still tastes great thanks to the paprika. You can also cut the sandwiches into smaller pieces to make them easier to hold.

What bread should I use if I don't have a baguette?

A long, slightly dense loaf like ciabatta works well, it needs to hold the filling without tearing. Avoid soft breads that would get crushed under the weight of the fries.

How long does it take to make a chicken Gatsby with fries?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a chicken Gatsby with fries?

About 620 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a chicken Gatsby with fries cost?

About €3.40 per serving, or €13.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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