Spicy Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich (Print Version)

Crispy baked chicken tenders smothered in hot honey butter, stacked with pickles and cheese inside soft slider buns for an easy crowd-pleasing bake.

# Components:

→ Chicken Tenders

01 - 12 chicken tenders, approximately 1.5 pounds
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce
04 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
05 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
12 - Cooking spray or oil for baking

→ Hot Honey Butter

13 - 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
14 - 1/4 cup honey
15 - 1 to 2 tablespoons hot sauce, to taste
16 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

→ Assembly

17 - 12 slider buns
18 - 1 cup sliced dill pickles
19 - 6 slices sharp cheddar cheese, halved
20 - 2 tablespoons melted butter for brushing buns
21 - 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, optional

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and lightly grease.
02 - In a bowl, combine buttermilk and 1 teaspoon hot sauce. Add chicken tenders, toss to coat, and marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to overnight for optimal flavor development.
03 - In a shallow dish, mix flour, panko, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper until evenly combined.
04 - Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off. Dredge each tender in the flour-panko mixture, pressing gently to ensure proper adhesion.
05 - Arrange breaded tenders on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly spray with cooking oil. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking, until golden brown and cooked through.
06 - In a small saucepan, combine melted butter, honey, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes if using. Warm over low heat, stirring occasionally, until fully combined.
07 - Once chicken is baked, brush generously with hot honey butter on both sides, ensuring complete coverage.
08 - Lower oven temperature to 350°F.
09 - Slice slider buns horizontally, keeping bottoms and tops connected if possible. Place bottom halves in a greased 9 by 13 inch baking dish.
10 - Layer bottom bun halves with half the cheese, followed by pickles, then the hot honey butter coated chicken tenders. Drizzle with additional hot honey butter. Top with remaining cheese and place bun tops over the filling.
11 - Brush bun tops with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
12 - Bake uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and buns are lightly toasted.
13 - Cool slightly, then pull apart and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everyone at the table will be reaching for seconds without you having to plate individual sandwiches like some kind of short-order cook.
  • The hot honey butter soaks into those soft buns while the cheese melts into pockets of warmth that hit different than a regular sandwich.
  • Crispy chicken, melted cheese, and pickles all work together without falling apart in your hands, which honestly should be a basic requirement for food.
02 -
  • Don't skip the flipping step when baking the chicken—the bottom side needs direct heat to crisp up, not just radiant warmth from above.
  • The hot honey butter needs to go on the chicken while it's still warm; if it cools down, it won't adhere and will just slide off onto the plate.
03 -
  • Use a pastry brush to apply the hot honey butter so it coats evenly and doesn't pool in one spot, which ensures every bite tastes the way you intended.
  • If your slider buns are on the delicate side, don't overbake them in the final step—8 minutes is usually enough, and you can always tell they're done when the cheese is melted and the edges look golden.
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