My kids requested a Wendy’s honey chicken sandwich a few days ago. I was not keen to go to the fast food place, so I made it at home because I thought the kids would enjoy it. The kids really did, and they found it delicious and yummy. For me, I found the recipe extremely simple—not rocket science. Just follow the list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions, and the delicious hot honey chicken sandwich is ready to eat!
Table of Contents
What is a Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich? Recipe
There are several distinct flavors in the spicy chicken sandwich. Every bite of it is crispy, spicy, sweet, and savory. The sandwich consists of crispy fried chicken covered in hot honey and a fluffy bun topped with pickles, bacon, cheese, and peppers. Whether for lunch or dinner, you can eat this sandwich without any doubt.
Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich Ingredients
- Chicken: Opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts or boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Brioche Buns: My best choice for a crispy chicken sandwich is soft brioche buns. However, you can use your preferred bread, whether it's routine slices of bread or hamburger buns. Just make sure it's robust enough to handle the sauciness of this sandwich.
- Neutral Oil: I used vegetable oil, but you can also select from alternatives like canola oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, avocado oil, and more.
- Toppings: I added bread and butter pickles and shredded lettuce, but feel free to personalize your sandwich with extras like pepper jack cheese, sliced red onion, sliced tomatoes, or anything you desire!
Hot Honey Sauce Ingredients
- Seasonings: Red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and smoked paprika
Garlic Mayo Sauce Ingredients
Dredge Ingredients
- Seasonings: smoked paprika, chili powder, black pepper, kosher salt, garlic powder, and onion powder
Buttermilk Brine Ingredients
How to make a Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich?
Brine the Chicken:
- Make the buttermilk brine by blending buttermilk, egg, pickle juice, and hot sauce in a large bowl.
- Add the chicken and wrap it with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes, up to overnight. It enhances the chicken’s flavor and ensures a crispy coating when frying.
For the Hot Honey Sauce
- Mix melted butter, honey, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt in a large bowl
For the Garlic Mayo Sauce
- Mix minced garlic, mayo, mustard, rosemary, lemon juice, and salt and pepper in a separate medium bowl. Set this sauce aside.
Coat and fry the chicken
- After the chicken has finished brining, take it out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for about 20 minutes.
- In a deep skillet or a large pot, add oil and preheat it to 325 degrees F.
- Ready the dredge by mixing flour, smoked paprika, onion powder, chili powder, black pepper, and kosher salt.
- Extract the chicken from the brine and dip each piece into the flour mixture, pressing the flour firmly onto the chicken to ensure an even coating. Set the dredged chicken on a wire rack and let it rest while the oil heats.
- Fry 1-2 pieces of chicken in the oil for 12-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature gets 165 degrees F. Place the fried chicken on a paper towel or cooling rack to let the extra oil drain.
- After frying, coat the chicken in the hot honey sauce, confirming all sides are well coated. Then, extract the chicken and let any extra sauce drip off.
To Assemble The Sandwich
- Lightly toast the buns, preferably in a pan with a small amount of butter. Toast buns each side for approximately 1 minute.
- Spread a layer of garlic mayo on the bottom bun.
- Place the fried chicken on top of the mayo-covered bottom bun.
- Add a layer of sliced lettuce on top of the chicken.
- Place bread and butter pickles on the lettuce.
- Finally, add the top bun to complete your hot honey chicken sandwich.
Storing and Reheating
- Storage: For leftover fried chicken sandwiches, it’s advisable to deconstruct them before storing them. Separate the fried chicken, buns, toppings, and sauces to contain sogginess. Place the fried chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate it. Store the buns and other components separately in their respective containers. Confirm refrigeration within two hours of preparation.
- Reheating the Chicken: When ready to enjoy the leftover fried chicken, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Band a baking sheet with parchment paper and set the fried chicken pieces on it.
- Reheating the Bun: To reheat the bun, lightly toast it in a toaster, Toaster Oven (Affiliate Link), or under the broiler for a few minutes. It will restore its texture and heat.
Read More – Subway Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Notes
Be careful when reheating fried chicken to avoid overcooking or drying it out. Reheating times may vary depending on the thickness of the chicken pieces, so adjust as needed.
Tips
- Pick the Right Chicken: Opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs for your sandwich. They’re easier to handle, cook evenly, and provide a juicy and delicious result.
- Brine the Chicken: Enhance the juiciness and flavor of the chicken by getting it before frying. Dip the chicken in a buttermilk brine for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator before starting the recipe.
- Short on Time? Use Mike’s Hot Honey: If you’re in a hurry, use store-bought hot honey instead of making your hot honey sauce.
- Season Generously: Season every component of the flour, buttermilk brine, chicken, and sauces. Don’t skimp on the seasoning.
- Fry to Perfection: The oil temperature is crucial for your sandwich’s success. Heat the oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 325-350°F. Ensure the chicken is fully dipped but not overcrowded, as this can affect the frying temperature and result in uneven cooking. Use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Drain Excess Oil: After frying, place the cooked chicken on a wire rack or paper towel to remove any excess oil and keep its crispiness.
- Enjoy While Warm: Fried chicken sandwiches are best when fresh and warm. Serve them immediately after assembling them to relish the crispy exterior and juicy interior.
Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Calories: 984 kcal
Serving: 4
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
This crispy hot honey chicken sandwich recipe is a lovely combination of sweetness, savoriness, and spiciness, making it the top treat for chicken lovers!
Required Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Tongs
- Deep Skillet or Pot
- Candy Thermometer optional
- Meat Thermometer optional
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup bread and butter pickles
- 4 brioche buns
Buttermilk Brine
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons pickle juice
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
Hot Honey Sauce
- 6 tablespoons salted butter (melted)
- 3/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Garlic Mayo
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, diced
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Flour Dredge
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
Brine the Chicken
- Prepare the buttermilk brine by combining buttermilk, egg, pickle juice, and hot sauce in a large bowl.
- Add the chicken to the mixture and cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
- Place the bowl in the refrigerator and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or you can marinate it overnight.
- It is not only for flavor and tenderness to the chicken but also helps make a crispy coating when deep-frying.
Make The Sauces
- Hot Honey Sauce: While the chicken is bringing, prepare the sauces. Mix melted butter, honey, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and salt in a bowl.
- Garlic Mayo: In a separate medium bowl, make the garlic mayo by combining mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, fresh rosemary, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
To coat and fry the chicken
- After the chicken has finished bringing, take it out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for approximately 20 minutes.
- In a deep skillet or large pot, add oil and heat it to 325 degrees F.
- Prepare the dredge by mixing all-purpose flour, smoked paprika, onion powder, chili powder, black pepper, and kosher salt.
- Take the chicken out of the brine, dip it into the flour mixture, and press the flour firmly onto the chicken to ensure it’s fully coated.
- Place the dredged chicken on a wire rack and let it rest while the oil comes to a temperature.
- Carefully place 1-2 pieces of chicken in the hot oil and cook for 12-15 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Transfer the fried chicken to a paper towel or cooling rack to drain excess oil.
- Dip the fried chicken into the hot honey sauce, ensuring all sides are coated. Remove and allow any excess sauce to drip off.
Assemble The Chicken
- Lightly toast the brioche buns, ideally in a pan with a touch of butter 1 minute on each side.
- Spread a layer of garlic mayo on the bottom bun.
- Next, place the fried chicken on the mayo-covered bun.
- Add a layer of shredded iceberg lettuce.
- Follow with the bread and butter pickles.
- Finally, top it off with the other half of the toasted brioche bun. (If you enjoy your chicken sandwich extra saucy and spicy, add a touch more garlic mayo to the top bun!)
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 984kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 100g |
| Protein | 47g |
| Fat | 46g |
| Saturated Fat | 19g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 10g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g |
| Trans Fat | 1g |
| Cholesterol | 266mg |
| Sodium | 1539mg |
| Potassium | 864mg |
| Fiber | 4g |
| Sugar | 38g |
| Vitamin A | 3404IU |
| Vitamin C | 12mg |
| Calcium | 131mg |
| Iron | 5mg |
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FAQs for Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
What is a Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich?
A Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich is a delightful combination of crispy fried chicken, a soft bun, and a mouthwatering hot honey glaze that offers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors.
What are the main components of a Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich?
The essential components include a crispy chicken breast, brioche buns, hot honey sauce, garlic mayo, and optional toppings like lettuce, pickles, or other personal preferences.
How is the chicken prepared for a Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich?
The chicken is typically brined in a mixture of buttermilk, egg, pickle juice, and hot sauce, allowing it to marinate for at least 30 minutes. This brining enhances the chicken’s flavor and ensures a crispy coating when frying.
What is the hot honey sauce, and how is it made?
Hot honey sauce is a tantalizing blend of sweet honey with a hint of spiciness. It is prepared by mixing melted butter, honey, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt.
Can I customize a Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich to my taste?
Absolutely! You can personalize your sandwich by adding or omitting ingredients. Some common additions include pepper jack cheese, sliced red onion, or tomatoes.
What type of bread is best for a Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich?
Brioche buns are often preferred for their soft texture. However, you can use other bread or bun options as long as they can hold the sauciness of the sandwich.
How should I store and reheat leftover Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches?
It’s best to deconstruct the sandwich and store components separately to prevent sogginess. When reheating, bake the chicken in the oven at 350°F and toast the buns before assembling for the best results.
Are there any shortcuts for making the hot honey sauce?
If you’re short on time, you can use store-bought hot honey instead of making your hot honey sauce from scratch.
What's the recommended method for ensuring a crispy exterior when frying the chicken?
Heating the oil to the right temperature (325-350°F), proper breading, and allowing the fried chicken to drain on a wire rack are essential for reaching a crispy exterior while keeping the interior juicy.
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