Looking for the best ever Spicy Chicken Sandwich recipe? These sandwiches are tender and juicy on the inside, perfectly crispy on the outside, and covered in the most amazing hot honey sauce. Serve with a side of fries and creamy coleslaw for a crave-worthy meal that will get rave reviews!
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PSA: These Spicy chicken sandwiches are next-level delicious! The sweet and spicy version of fried chicken sandwiches and easily better than any fast food chain. This recipe wins all chicken sandwich wars!
Of our many go-to dinner recipes, these spicy crispy chicken sandwiches have become a popular request. They were originally inspired by this Baked Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich recipe, but we made the sauce extra flavorful and fried the chicken... because fried is just better.
🏅 Why this recipe is great
- Addictive flavor - The hot honey sauce is sweet, spicy, and smoky. It’s killer good!
- Tender and juicy - We marinate the chicken in buttermilk to keep it tender and moist.
- Crispy crust - The outside gets deliciously golden brown, crispy, and doesn't fall off.
- Everyone likes it - The chef’s favorite recipes are the ones everyone is excited to eat. This is one of those recipes.
🌶 Ingredients
- Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- Buttermilk: To tenderize, moisten, and add flavor.
- Flour: Just all-purpose flour.
- Panko breadcrumbs: Adds extra crispy, crunchy textures.
- Baking powder: Helps the coating get extra crispy.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
- Oil: I prefer canola or vegetable oil for frying chicken. Olive oil is not a good choice.
- Hot honey sauce: Just honey, butter, and seasonings. This adds more dynamic flavor than just hot sauce.
- Hamburger buns: I recommend splurging on a good brioche bun. If you don't have brioche buns, a good potato bun is also good.
- Toppings (optional): Shredded lettuce and ranch dressing are great, or toss some coleslaw in this creamy dressing. So good!
🔪 How to make Spicy Chicken Sandwiches with Hot Honey
- Marinate the chicken in buttermilk: Lightly sprinkle the chicken with kosher salt, then place in a wide bowl and cover with buttermilk. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes.
- Coat the chicken: Combine flour, panko, and seasonings in a shallow dish. Shake the excess buttermilk off a piece of chicken, then press into the flour mixture until thoroughly covered. Set aside on a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes - this helps the coating stick without falling off in the oil. Repeat with remaining chicken.
- Make the hot honey sauce: In a medium bowl, make the hot honey sauce.
- Fry the chicken: In a deep skillet - we use a cast iron skillet (affiliate) - heat ½ - ¾ inch of oil over medium-high heat. Drop a crumb of breading in to test it - if the crumb sinks, then rises to the top and sizzles, it's ready. Fry 4 pieces of chicken in the hot oil for 4-6 minutes on each side, then set on a wire rack with a paper towel underneath. Repeat with remaining chicken.
- Add hot honey sauce: Brush 1 tablespoon of sauce over each chicken breast.
- Serve: I highly recommend serving on a toasted bun. Add your chicken, toppings, and enjoy!
👨👩👧👦 For a crowd
Spicy chicken sandwiches are not the easiest to serve to a crowd, but not impossible. I suggest making the hot honey sauce ahead and refrigerating it for up to two weeks. Gently reheat it when ready to use.
This is also a great time to recruit a helper! While you’re frying the first batch, your helper can be coating the next round.
🙋 Questions and Answers
Our hot honey sauce has a sweet, spicy, and smokey flavor. It’s delicious! You can even adjust how spicy it is by adding or removing some cayenne pepper. Besides making hot honey chicken sandwiches, here’s another 15 ways to use hot honey.
The key to keep the breading from falling off is to let the coated pieces of chicken sit for at least five minutes before frying it. This allows the dry coating to soak in the buttermilk and adhere to the chicken.
I recommend using actual buttermilk for best results.
Allow your excess oil to cool, then pour it into a plastic container or glass jar that can be thrown away. You can also soak up the oil with paper towels and throw them away in the trash.
Serve these sandwiches with chips, french fries, macaroni salad, potato salad, or fresh fruit salad.
👨🏼🍳 Tips & Tricks
- For a spicier version, add more cayenne to the hot honey sauce.
- Allow the coated chicken to sit for 5 minutes before frying to prevent the breading from falling off.
- Oil temperature is key. The oil is hot enough when a crumb dropped in sinks, quickly rises to the top, and sizzles. See my notes in the recipe card for more tips.
- Fry the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Serve with ranch or creamy coleslaw for a cooling sauce to complement the spicy chicken.
📖 More delicious recipes
- Honey Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
- BLT Sandwiches with Egg
- Smothered Wet Burritos with Slow Cooker Beef
- Cast Iron Pan Pizza
👋🏻 Connect with us!
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating to let us know how it is! We’d also love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Tag @borrowedbites or hashtag #borrowedbites to show us your food!
📋 Recipe
ADDICTIVE Spicy Chicken Sandwiches (w/ Hot Honey)
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts trimmed and cut in half horizontally, about ½ inch thick
- 1½ cups buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 recipe of Hot Honey Sauce
- canola oil for frying
- 8 hamburger buns Toasting is optional, but do it.
Optional Toppings
- Shredded lettuce
- Creamy coleslaw
- Ranch dressing
Instructions
- Sprinkle chicken lightly with kosher salt on each side. Place in a large bowl, then cover with buttermilk, making sure chicken is fully submerged. Allow to sit for 30 minutes.4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1½ cups buttermilk
- In a shallow dish, combine the dry ingredients and seasonings. Set aside.1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Make the hot honey sauce and set aside.1 recipe of Hot Honey Sauce
- Once chicken has marinated, use tongs to remove from the buttermilk. Shake off the excess, then coat both sides in the dry mixture, pressing gently to ensure it is thoroughly covered. Set on a cooling rack and repeat with remaining chicken. Allow coated chicken to sit for 5 minutes.
- In a deep skillet (we use a cast iron skillet) add ½-¾ inch of oil. Heat over medium-high heat until hot. To test the heat, drop a crumb of breading in the oil. It should sink to the bottom, rise right to the top, and sizzle. If it rises slowly the oil is not hot enough. If it burns quickly the oil is too hot.canola oil
- Add 4 pieces of chicken to the oil, starting with the pieces breaded first. Cook on each side for 4-6 minutes, or until deeply golden and crispy. Remove and set on a cooling rack set over a cookie sheet to collect drips. Repeat with remaining chicken.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of hot honey sauce over each piece of chicken.
- Toast your buns with a bit of butter in a skillet or under the broiler (this is optional, but do it). Assemble the sandwiches with desired toppings and serve.8 hamburger buns, Shredded lettuce, Creamy coleslaw, Ranch dressing
- We love comments! Please come back and leave us one after you’ve tried this recipe.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add more cayenne to the hot honey sauce.
- Allow the coated chicken to sit for 5 minutes before frying to prevent the breading from falling off.
- Oil temperature is key. The oil is hot enough when a crumb dropped in sinks, quickly rises to the top, and sizzles. See my notes in the recipe card for more tips.
- Fry the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Serve with ranch or creamy coleslaw for a cooling sauce to complement the spicy chicken.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Aspen says
Whoa, these things are delish, better than any spicy chicken sandwich I've ever eaten out! I'm not a fan of things being more than mildly spicy, so removing cayenne is a helpful tip. Great recipe! This would be so perfect for the Superbowl...
Danielle says
Thanks for your feedback! I love the idea of serving them at a game day party!