Sweet & Spicy Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches

Crispy fried chicken, a drizzle of spicy-sweet hot honey sauce, and a cool, crunchy slaw topped with pickles, these Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches are your new favorite! Whether you’re making a casual weeknight dinner or treating guests to something special, this sandwich is guaranteed to be a hit with everyone!

I love a delicious sandwich and this one is pretty close to perfect. The combination of crispy chicken, sweet and spicy sauce, and cool coleslaw makes for the perfect bite! I know at first glance this recipe has a lot of ingredients and components and might be seem a little intimidating. But don’t worry, it comes together quickly, most of the ingredients are pantry staples that your probably have on hand. Each component only takes a few minutes to throw together and the effort is well worth it!

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Ingredients for These Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches

Thin Sliced Chicken Breasts– You can buy thin sliced chicken breasts or slice a thick chicken breast in half to create two thin breasts. Or you can use a mallet to pound a chicken breast flat Thinner breasts cook faster and more evenly and make for a better sandwich.

Sandwich Rolls – You can use your favorite sandwich rolls or buns for this recipe. We used sesame brioche buns, but any sandwich bun works well.

Pickle Slices – We love a dill pickle slice on these sandwiches. It adds a delicious taste and texture. You can use your favorite brand, or leave them off if you aren’t a pickle fan.

Oil for Frying – You’ll need a neutral cooking oil for frying the chicken. I like to use avocado oil, but you can use vegetable oil or lard, whatever you prefer for cooking.

Buttermilk -This is used to marinate the chicken and helps it to have an amazing texture and flavor. Don’t have any buttermilk? Here’s how to make it!

Salt & Pepper – These basic spices are used to season the chicken breading. They are super important to having great tasting chicken!

Hot Sauce – You can use your favorite brand of hot sauce. It is used in the marinade and the hot honey sauce. If you prefer a lot of spice you can use more hot sauce, like it more mild? Use less. You can tweak it to your preferred level of spicy!

Flour – All purpose flour makes the perfect coating for this chicken.

Garlic Powder – This helps season the chicken breading, if you like more garlic flavor you can use a little more. To substitute with garlic salt just omit the additional salt.

Onion Powder – This adds a great onion flavor to the breading. If you aren’t a fan you can omit it.

Smoked Paprika– Smoked paprika adds a great sweet smoky flavor. If you prefer plain paprika you can use it instead.

Cayenne Pepper – This is another ingredient you can use to customize the heat level. A little bit of cayenne goes a long way, but if you prefer a lot of heat go ahead and add some extra!

Honey– The honey sauce adds an amazing sweetness to this sandwich, you can use any type of honey. I like to use a nice rich local honey for the best flavor.

Apple Cider Vinegar– This adds a little tang to the spicy honey sauce. It contrasts nicely to the sweet honey. You can also use lime or lemon juice instead.

Mayonnaise– Mayo makes a nice creamy dressing for the coleslaw topping. If you prefer a “salad dressing” like miracle whip instead of mayo you can swap it out.

Lime Juice – This is for the coleslaw dressing to add a great tang. You can also use white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.

Coleslaw Mix – Pre-made coleslaw mix makes for a quick and easy sandwich topping. You can also chop your own cabbage or use a broccoli slaw for a crunchier option.

Here’s How to Make Hot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwiches

Marinade the Chicken

Place the buttermilk in a large mixing bowl. Add in the salt, pepper and hot sauce. Use less hot sauce for more mild spice or more for spicier chicken. Whisk together until everything is well incorporated.

Place the chicken in a large zip top bag or other airtight container. Pour the buttermilk mixture over top. Place in the fridge and marinade 8 hours or overnight. 

Make the Coleslaw

Place the mayo, lime juice, and honey in a small bowl and stir well.

Place the slaw mix in a medium size bowl, pour the dressing over and stir to coat the slaw mix evenly.  Cover the bowl and refrigerate until ready to use. For best results make the slaw before frying the chicken but not more than a couple of hours in advance or it will soften.

Make the Hot Honey Sauce

Place ¼ cup honey in a small bowl. Add in ½ tsp apple cider vinegar. Add in 1-3 tablespoons of hot sauce depending on how hot you’d like your honey sauce. I like to start with one and add a little at a time until the desired flavor is reached. Cover and set aside until ready to use.

Bread and Fry the Chicken

Place the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper in a shallow dish. Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper depending on how spicy you’d like your chicken to be. 

In a heavy skillet heat 1-2 inches of oil over medium high heat. It is ready when you put the handle of a wooden spoon in the oil and a lot of bubbles form around it. 

Remove the chicken from the buttermilk marinade. Dredge it in the flour mixture, flipping it over so that the chicken is coated on both sides evenly

Tip– Place the floured chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet until they are all coated and ready to fry  

Place the coated chicken in the hot oil cook for 3-4 minutes, flip and continue cooking another 3-4 minutes until the chicken is a nice golden brown and cooked to an internal temperature of 165. Depending on the size of your pan you may have to work in batches, don’t overcrowd the pan.

Remove the cooked chicken from the oil and place on a paper towel lined plate, or a cooling rack with a baking sheet or paper towels underneath it. 

How to Assemble the Sandwiches

   Place a chicken filet on a bun, drizzle with the hot honey sauce. Place pickles and a spoonful of slaw on top and top with the other half of the bun. Enjoy! 

FAQ, Tips & Variations

Toast the buns-

For a little extra texture toast the buns before assembling the sandwiches. Place them in a toaster or put them in a warm skillet with a little butter or oil to toast.

Can I use chicken thighs?

Absolutely! Boneless skinless chicken thighs are a great option for these sandwiches. Make sure to trim them well to remove any excess fat or tendons.

How to store & reheat`

You can keep the cooked chicken patties refrigerated in an airtight container for 2-3 days after cooking. These are best reheated in the oven or air fryer. You can put them in the oven at 350 for about 10 minutes. Or place them in the air fryer at 400 for about 5 minutes.

Shortcuts for quicker prep-

For this recipe I like to use premade coleslaw mix to make it quick and easy. You can also use premade coleslaw dressing if you’d like. Another shortcut is premade hot honey. There are a lot of hot honey sauces you can buy at the store so you can have on hand for a quick sandwich.

What to serve with these chicken sandwiches-

These are great served with easy sides like french fries, potato wedges, onion rings or even sweet potato fries. Another great option is a simple veggie like my air fryer broccoli, or a quick and easy side salad, potato salad or pasta salad.

Can I use a deep fryer?

Absolutely! If you have a deep fryer and prefer to use it instead of pan frying the chicken you can. Just follow the manufacturer’s directions for best results.

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