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Spicy chicken sandwich with hot honey on white plate with blue towel in front.
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5 from 5 votes

Crazy Good Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich (Crispy And Juicy!)

Looking for the most delicious Chicken Sandwich recipe? These Hot Honey Chicken 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! 
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 sandwiches
Calories: 367kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts trimmed and cut in half horizontally, about ½ inch thick
  • 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
  • Coleslaw
  • Ranch dressing or homemade coleslaw dressing *see notes for tips

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). If using, combine your coleslaw with ranch dressing or a homemade dressing. Assemble the sandwiches with desired toppings and serve.
    8 hamburger buns, Shredded lettuce, Coleslaw, Ranch dressing or homemade coleslaw dressing
  • We love comments! Please come back and leave us one after you’ve tried this recipe.

Notes

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.
Creamy Coleslaw
If we're in a hurry, we just grab a bag of shredded coleslaw from the store and toss it with ranch dressing until it's evenly coated and creamy. If we have a bit of extra time, we make this homemade coleslaw dressing and toss the cabbage with a generous amount. We use about ½ cup of dressing for every 4 cups of shredded coleslaw.
Storage: 
Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-4 days. Reheat in the microwave. 
How to dispose of frying oil: 
Allow your 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. 

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 728mg | Potassium: 386mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 215IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 178mg | Iron: 3mg