Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich

Deep Frying in a Pot

When you don't have a deep fryer at home, you can deep fry food in a large dutch oven or pot. But there are some things to be aware of because it can be very dangerous and it's easy to start a fire.

1. Deep pot. Always use the deepest pot you have, When you place chicken or anything into the oil it will froth and can boil over.
2. Gas stove. If you're using a gas stove, be extra careful. If the oil spills over onto an open flame it will ignite.
3. Go slow. Add one piece of food at a time to make sure the oil won't overflow.
4. Overcrowd. Fry in batches. As you add more cold or room-temperature foods to the pot, the temperature of the oil will lower. Try to keep the temperature of the oil between 325-365 degrees F.
5. Thick Pot. I use my dutch oven to fry because it is so thick and won't lose as much heat as a cheaper pot.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Batter. Buttermilk, hot sauce, and pickle juice make up the batter. You can substitute low-fat buttermilk. I have and it works just fine.
• Panko breadcrumbs. Use panko because the nice thick breadcrumbs will have the best crunch and texture in the final product.
• Vegetable Oil. Look deep frying is not exactly "healthy". So you can complain about the oil but this is typically what we use when we very occasionally deep fry chicken. You could also use canola or peanut oil. Or just substitute the oil for an air fryer and make Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
• Coleslaw. You can buy already-made coleslaw to cut out a step. I like my coleslaw to be cold, so I make this ahead of time and store it in the fridge.
• Buttermilk Ranch. I like to get the most out of the ingredients I buy. I don't often buy buttermilk, so when I do, I try to make some homemade ranch. When making this ranch, it's important to keep in mind that the garlic will become more pungent the longer it has been in there.

*Please see more information about ingredients below in the recipe card.

How to Make a Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich

This recipe is best when you marinate the chicken for at least 12 hours before cooking. So the first three steps should be done the day before or in the morning.

Step 4: Combine the garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Place the breadcrumb mixture on one plate and the flour on another plate and mix each with half of your seasoning mix. Remove the chicken from the buttermilk batter and dredge in the flour. Dip the chicken back in the batter and then dredge in the breadcrumbs. Set aside.

Step 5: Bring your deep fryer oil to 375 degrees F. Place the chicken in the deep fryer or Dutch oven in batches. The temperature of the oil will drop more depending on how many pieces you put in. Cook the chicken for about 10 minutes or until it reaches 165 degrees F.

Step 6: Combine, honey, hot sauce, and butter over low heat.

Step 7: Once the chicken has cooled for about 3 minutes, toss the chicken in the sauce or drizzle on top.

Step 8: On a brioche bun, add the coleslaw and the chicken. Top with ranch and serve!

Want to switch it up? Another option is to top this hot honey chicken sandwich with our Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing or Avocado Lime Crema

What to serve on the side

When I serve a hot honey chicken sandwich of this magnitude, I like to go pretty light on the side.

• Vegetables. Serve some Italian Green Bean Salad or Lacinato Kale (Tuscan).
• Keep it Southern. If you're already making a fried chicken sandwich, you might as well keep it southern with some Fried Green Tomatoes or Zucchini Fritters.
• Salad. Another easy option is to serve a simple salad with a dressing like Traditional Caesar Dressing, Cilantro Mango Vinaigrette, or Lemon Basil Vinaigrette.
• Pasta. What is a fried chicken sandwich without Italian Mac and Cheese or Italian Pasta Salad.

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