Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
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You'll love this Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich recipe that's the perfect mix of sweet and spicy! Crispy fried chicken fingers are smothered in a sticky hot honey glaze with just the right amount of heat. Cool things down with creamy coleslaw, ranch dressing and tangy pickles!
The Best Snack Food!
Comfort Food with a Twist: A fried chicken sandwich always hits the spot, but the hot honey glaze adds bold flavor that is lip-smacking good.
Fast and Easy: By using frozen chicken strips and deli coleslaw, these fried chicken sliders come together in a flash.
Game Day Ready: This Nashville hot chicken sandwich is perfect for tailgating! The spicy and sweet flavor makes these chicken sliders a crowd favorite.
Need a shortcut? You can fry your own chicken breasts, or skip that step and make this Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich recipe with frozen chicken strips.
Love party snacks? Whip up some hot chicken sliders for your next party or tailgate event! For more Game Day recipes, try my Loaded Nachos or Loaded French Fries that go great with any type of sandwich.
Ingredient Notes
See recipe card at the end of this page for quantities and notes.
What You'll Need to Make Hot Honey Sauce
- butter - use salted butter for the best flavor
- cayenne pepper - puts the 'hot' in the sauce! You can substitute chipotle or chili powder for a milder smoky taste.
- honey - use any type to add sweetness to the sauce
- brown sugar - a little more sweetness never hurts
- smoked paprika - gives this recipe its smoky notes, be sure to leave it in!
- garlic powder - can substitute minced garlic instead
- white vinegar - makes the recipe tangy and loosens it up
- onion powder - another great spice for tenders
- chili powder - milder spice that can be substituted for cayenne if desired
- salt - a pinch will make a difference
Fried Chicken & Condiments
- frozen crispy chicken strips - you can use Tyson or Aldi brand, or make your own chicken tenders
- slider rolls - purchase the type that look like mini hamburger buns. Brioche buns are especially good to use in this recipe.
- creamy coleslaw - purchase the deli brand, or make your own creamy coleslaw
- dill pickle slices - add dill or bread and butter pickles to the top of the sandwiches, and place them inside if desired
- ranch dressing - any type works great, or use blue cheese instead
Instructions
Bake Tenders: Bake the frozen chicken strips according to package directions. Place them on a baking sheet on a piece of foil sprayed with cooking spray.
Make the Sauce: Add the butter to a small saucepan and melt on medium low heat. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients and whisk on low heat. Cook until the sugar is dissolved and all of the ingredients are combined (about 5 minutes). Sauce will be thick and not completely smooth.
Brush on the Glaze: Once the chicken is done, brush the hot honey glaze on both sides and bake for 2 more minutes on a sheet pan. If you want it extra spicy, add more cayenne pepper and dunk the tenders in the sauce using kitchen tongs.
Toast the Buns: After tenders are covered in sauce, spread butter on both sides of the buns and toast them for a few minutes in a 400ºF oven. Watch carefully to make sure they don't burn.
Add Ranch and Tenders to Buns: Take the toasted buns out of the oven and let them cool. Then, drizzle a little ranch dressing on the bottom bun and place a tender on top of the ranch.
Add Coleslaw: Dollop some coleslaw on top followed by a pickle.
Close Up Sliders: Close the sandwiches with the top bun and add a toothpick to hold them together. A pickle makes a nice garnish!
Customize It!
Sub the Ingredients: Use boneless chicken thighs, hot sauce instead of hot honey, and pepper jack cheese instead of ranch.
Buffalo Spice: Add buffalo sauce for a tangy sandwich. Blue cheese dip or ranch drizzle adds a creamy, cool touch.
Chicken and Waffle Sandwich: Swap the bun for fluffy waffles and drizzle extra glaze on top for a sweet and savory finish.
Add Bacon: Throw on some million-dollar bacon for a smoky layer that pairs perfectly with the hot honey glaze.
Serving Suggestions
Wondering what to serve with your Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich? Try these great ideas...
- Pickles: Crisp dill pickles or fire and ice pickles provide just the right 'zing'.
- Mac and Cheese: The richness of homestyle mac and cheese pairs well with the spiciness.
- Fried Okra: Nothing is better than southern fried okra that's both crispy and tender at the same time.
- Baked Beans: Sweet and smoky baked beans make a great combo!
Tips for Success
Crispy Coating: To make things simple, use frozen crispy chicken strips for this recipe. Or make homemade chicken tenders with a buttermilk marinade.
Hot Honey Sauce: The sauce is key! Adjust the levels of sweetness and heat based on your preference.
Toast the Buns: Lightly butter and toast the buns to add a crispy texture and prevent them from getting soggy. For best results, try to cut the tenders to match the size of the buns.
Recipe FAQs
If you add 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper and dunk the chicken it is really spicy. For a milder spice level, I recommend substituting chili powder for the cayenne pepper instead.
Absolutely. Air fry the tenders according to package directions. Air fry them again for 1-3 minutes after coating the tenders with glaze.
Storing Leftovers
To store leftovers, follow these suggestions...
- Cool Down: Let the sandwiches cool to room temperature before storing.
- Wrap Properly: Wrap tightly in aluminum foil.
- Refrigerate: Place in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Reheat: To reheat, unwrap the sandwich and heat it in an oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes to ensure the chicken stays crispy.
- Separate Ingredients: Store the chicken, honey sauce, and any other toppings (like pickles or slaw) separately from the bread.
- Freezing is not recommended for this recipe. However, you can freeze the hot honey sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
More Great Snacks
There's always a reason to tailgate on game days, or a fun movie to watch on TV! Why not do it in style with these tasty recipes?
Recipe Card
Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Equipment
Ingredients
Hot Honey Sauce
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ Tablespoon smoked paprika
- ½ Tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (add this spice last and start out slowly until you find the spice level you prefer.)
Fried Chicken & Condiments
- 1 pound frozen crispy chicken strips / tenders (I use Tyson brand)
- 8 slider rolls (hamburger style)
- 1 cup creamy coleslaw (deli style)
- ½ cup pickle slices
- ½ cup ranch dressing (for spreading and dipping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Bake Tenders: Bake the frozen chicken strips on a sheet pan according to package directions (usually 20 minutes at 400ºF, depending on the brand). Make sure to bake them on a piece of foil sprayed with cooking spray.
- Make the Sauce: Add the butter to a saucepan and melt on medium low heat. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients and whisk. Heat on low for about 5 minutes until the sugar is dissolved and all of the ingredients are combined. Sauce will be slightly thick and not totally smooth which helps it adhere to the chicken.
- Brush on the Glaze: Once the chicken is done, brush the hot honey glaze on both sides of the tenders and bake for 2 more minutes. If you want it extra spicy, add more cayenne pepper and dunk the tenders in the sauce using kitchen tongs.
- Toast the Buns: After tenders are covered in sauce, spread butter on both sides of the buns and toast them for only a few minutes in a 400ºF oven. Watch carefully to make sure they don't burn.
- Add Ranch and Tenders to Buns: Take the toasted buns out of the oven and let them cool. Then, drizzle a little ranch dressing on the bottom buns and place a tender on top of the ranch.
- Add Coleslaw and Pickles: Dollop some coleslaw on top followed by a pickle.
- Assemble Sliders: Close the sandwiches with the top half of the buns and add a toothpick to hold them together. A pickle makes a nice garnish!
- Serve Immediately with more pickles, or add a side like mac & cheese, fried okra, or loaded french fries.
Notes
- For best results, try to cut the chicken strips to match the size of the buns.
- The Hot Honey Sauce is delicious, but pretty spicy with just 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper added. For a milder spice level, leave out the cayenne pepper totally and substitute chili pepper in its place.
- When making the sauce, start with the lowest amount of cayenne and add more if you like it really spicy. I recommend starting slowly and working up to the heat!
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- Cool Down: Let the sandwiches cool to room temperature before storing.
- Wrap Properly: Wrap tightly in aluminum foil.
- Refrigerate: Place in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Reheat: To reheat, unwrap the sandwich and heat it in an oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes to ensure the chicken stays crispy.
- Separate Ingredients: Store the chicken, honey sauce, and any other toppings (like pickles or slaw) separately from the bread.
- Freezing is not recommended for this recipe. However, you can freeze the hot honey sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
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This sandwich is calling my name! I love hot stuff so I can't wait to sink my teeth into this one.