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Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
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5

Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich (Air Fryer or Skillet!)

Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich: Craving the perfect balance of crunchy, spicy, and sweet? This fried chicken sandwich delivers it all in one glorious bite.
Prep Time1 hour 5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
Servings: 4
Author: Jennifer Pallian BSc, RD

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs (or breasts, pounded to even thickness)
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp hot sauce
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup cornstarch
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
  • Neutral oil spray avocado or canola

For the Hot Honey Sauce:

  • ½ cup honey
  • 2 tbsp hot sauce
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • Pinch of cayenne optional

To Serve:

  • 4 brioche buns
  • Mayo
  • Dill pickles
  • Shredded lettuce or coleslaw optional
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Marinate the Chicken:

  • In a bowl, mix buttermilk and hot sauce. Add chicken and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to overnight.

Prep the Dredge:

  • In a shallow bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper garlic and onion powder powder, and smoked paprika.

Coat the Chicken:

  • Remove chicken from marinade. Let excess drip off. Dredge well in the flour mixture, pressing to coat evenly. Let it rest for 10 minutes to help the coating stick.

Air Fryer Method:

  • Preheat air fryer to 375ºF. Spray the basket and both sides of the coated chicken with oil spray, making sure no dry flour patches remain.
  • Air fry at 375ºF for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying again. Chicken is done when golden and the internal temp reaches 165ºF.

Shallow Fry (Skillet) Method:

  • Add 1 to 1 ½ inches of oil to a deep skillet or pot. Heat to 350ºF.
  • Shake excess marinade off each piece of chicken. Dredge well in the flour mix, pressing to coat. Fry until golden and cooked through, about 4–5 min per side. Rest on a rack.

Make the Hot Honey Sauce:

  • In a small saucepan, combine honey, hot sauce, vinegar, butter, garlic powder, and cayenne (if using). Simmer 1–2 minutes, stirring, until smooth and warm.

Assemble the Sandwiches:

  • Toast buns if desired. Spread mayo on each side. Add crispy chicken, drizzle with hot honey sauce, and top with pickles and shredded lettuce or slaw.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 724kcal | Carbohydrates: 115g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 158mg | Sodium: 1255mg | Potassium: 138mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 1043IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 2mg