Description
Crispy fried chicken tucked into soft slider buns and drizzled with a sweet, spicy hot honey, finished with tangy pickles for the ultimate bite-sized crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into slider-sized pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon fine salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups vegetable oil, for frying
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 to 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 8 soft slider buns
- 8 dill pickle slices
Instructions
- Place the chicken in a bowl and add buttermilk with a pinch of salt, then toss to coat and refrigerate for 30 minutes to tenderize.
- Pour vegetable oil into a deep skillet or fryer and heat to 350°F (175°C), then set a wire rack over a sheet pan.
- In a shallow bowl whisk together flour, garlic powder, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper until evenly combined.
- Remove chicken from buttermilk, dredge in seasoned flour, dip back into buttermilk, then dredge again to create a thick double coating, then place on the rack while the oil finishes heating.
- Fry chicken in batches for 6 to 8 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), then drain on the rack to stay crisp.
- Warm honey in a small saucepan over low heat, stir in red pepper flakes, and let it bloom for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Split and lightly toast the slider buns, then place a fried chicken piece on each bun and drizzle generously with hot honey.
- Top each slider with a dill pickle slice, cap with the bun, and serve immediately while hot and crunchy.
Notes
- Use a thermometer to keep oil near 350°F for even browning.
- Rest fried chicken on a wire rack, not paper towels, to preserve crispness.
- Adjust heat by adding more or fewer pepper flakes, or swap in a pinch of cayenne.
- For make-ahead, brine and bread the chicken, then fry just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: hot honey chicken slider, fried chicken sliders, party appetizers, sweet and spicy chicken, Nashville style, game day snacks