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Nashville Hot Honey Chicken Slider Sandwiches

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Crisp and spicy with tender meat inside, this Nashville Hot Honey Chicken Slider Sandwich recipe serves up delicious fried chicken coated with a hot honey sauce and topped with coleslaw and pickle slices on slider rolls.
Servings: 8 sandwiches
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
nashville hot chicken slider sandwiches topped with coleslaw

Nashville hot chicken is a fried chicken filet covered in a hot, tangy sauce… and there sure seems to be some sort of a spicy chicken sandwich on a bunch of restaurant menus we’ve been to. The original hot chicken sandwich was made by Thorton Prince, the founder of Prince’s Hot Chicken, and after 100 years it is still considered one of the best places to get authentic Nashville hot chicken. Our recipe is an homage to those classics you can find in East Nashville.

nashville hot chicken slider sandwiches topped with coleslaw

Key Ingredients and Substitutions


Some pantry staples, buttermilk, chicken thighs, and slider buns are all that you need to make your own Nashville Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches.

The complete ingredient list and measurements are listed in the printable recipe below.

  • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are our preference since they are juicer and more flavorful than chicken breast. If you substitute boneless skinless chicken breast be sure to cut them in half and pound them down slightly.
  • Buttermilk is a classic marinade for fried chicken since it will tenderize without making it tough. You can use a combo of regular milk and lemon juice as a substitute if you don’t have buttermilk. Use 1 cup of milk for everyone and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
  • Hot sauce gives the buttermilk marinade a little heat, adding another level of spice to the chicken sliders.
  • Smoked paprika, white pepper, and cayenne pepper are the main source of heat and flavor in the flour dredge as well as the hot honey sauce. You can also add some red pepper flakes if you want some additional heat in your dredge.
  • Honey and brown sugar are both used for some sweetness to balance the spicy fried chicken.
  • Slider Rolls are what make this a sandwich. We used King Hawaiian Slider Buns for both their texture and hint of sweetness but you can substitute your favorite slider bun.
ingredients for nashville hot sliders

How to Make Nashville Hot Honey Chicken Sliders


Here are the quick step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions with the exact ingredients in the recipe card below.
This post may contain paid affiliate sales links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my full disclaimer policy for details.

Pro-tip: Allow the dredged chicken thighs to rest for a few minutes to prevent the coating from falling off during frying.

1. Brining the Chicken: Pat dry the chicken thighs and then cut them in half so that they are approximately equal in size and weight. In a large bowl combine the buttermilk, smoked paprika, hot sauce, salt, and pepper then add the chicken. Refrigerate the chicken for at least two hours but preferably overnight.

chicken thighs in buttermilk brine

2. Dredge the Chicken: Make the hot seasoned flour by combining flour, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and white pepper in a large bowl. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and allow excess buttermilk brine to drip off the chicken then thoroughly coat each piece in the hot seasoned flour mixture. Transfer the breaded chicken to a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and repeat until all chicken thighs have been coated. Allow the dredged chicken to rest while the oil is heating up.

4. Fry the Chicken: Heat a large cast iron skillet or heavy bottom pan filled with about 1 ½ inches of oil. Heat over medium-high until the oil reaches about 350°F. Once the oil has come to temperature carefully add 4-6 thighs to the pan. Fry the chicken thighs turning them every 2 to 3 minutes until a golden brown color with an internal temperature of 160 F. Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean wire rack and repeat with the remaining chicken.

3. Hot Honey Sauce: Combine cayenne, honey, brown sugar, smoked paprika, and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Once all the chicken has been fried, carefully add a couple of spoonfuls of the hot cooking oil to the hot honey sauce and mix thoroughly.

4. Assemble the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches: Brush both sides of the cooked chicken thighs with the hot honey sauce then place one chicken thigh on the bottom slider bun. Add a spoonful of creamy southern coleslaw, a couple of pickle slices, and the top chicken slider with the top bun.

nashville hot chicken slider sandwiches topped with coleslaw

Recipe Tips and Notes


  • Fry in hot oil. The oil needs to be heated to 350°F before adding the chicken thighs. The oil temperature will drop to about 325°F when you add the chicken which is the perfect temperature for frying. Frying in oil not hot enough will leave the food greasy.
  • Use a neutral oil. Do not deep fry in olive oil or extra virgin olive oil. Besides having a lower smoke point, it will also add flavor to the chicken you might not want. We love olive oil but not for frying chicken. Instead use a neutral oil such as canola, grapeseed, peanut, corn, or vegetable oil.
  • Drain the fried chicken. To keep the chicken crispy, and to get rid of unwanted grease, place the chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet for easier clean-up.
  • Dip don’t brush for spicier chicken. If you want a spicier fried chicken sandwich, dunk the fried chicken thighs in the hot honey sauce instead of just brushing on the sauce.
  • Make it cheesy. Instead of a spoonful of coleslaw on your hot chicken sliders, spread some jalapeño pimento cheese on the buns or top them with a slice of pepper jack cheese.

Frequently Asked Questions


How do I store leftover hot chicken?

Any leftover fried hot chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days for an easy lunch or weekend snack.

Can I freeze leftover hot chicken?

Yes! Once the chicken has completely cooled place them in a single layer in a freezer-safe container or bag. You can also freeze them on a sheet tray and then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag.

How do I reheat leftovers?

To reheat hot chicken allow it to come to room temperature (about 20-30 minutes before reheating). For maximum crispiness use a wire rack on a sheet pan and bake for approximately 15-20 minutes at 400°F. For frozen hot chicken allow it to defrost in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

nashville hot chicken slider sandwiches topped with coleslaw

More Burgers & Sliders to Try


Looking for burger or slider recipes? Try these other favorites:

  • Philly Cheesesteak Sliders – These sliders ae the ultimate party food. Pack with all the flavor of the classic Philly cheesesteak into soft, buttery rolls. Thinly sliced steak sizzles with sautéed onions, then gets smothered in melty Provolone cheese.
  • Bacon Blue Cheese Burger – Experience the ultimate burger crafted from premium ground beef, these gourmet patties are grilled and topped with crispy bacon and melty blue cheese
  • Caramelized Onion Mushroom Swiss Turkey Burger – These delicious burger is loaded with sweet caramelized onions and sautéed mushrooms and are the perfect burger for any BBQ or gathering. Bonus: all the ingredients can be prepped ahead of time.
  • Vegetarian Meatball Subs – These submarine sandwiches are made with an easy homemade sauce packed with herbs and spices and plant-based ground meat that has a flavorful meaty texture.

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nashville hot chicken slider sandwiches topped with coleslaw

Nashville Hot Honey Chicken Slider Sandwiches

Posted by Melissa
Crisp and spicy with tender meat inside, this Nashville Hot Honey Chicken Slider Sandwich recipe serves up delicious fried chicken coated with a hot honey sauce and topped with coleslaw and pickle slices on slider rolls.
5 from 7 votes

This recipe may contain paid affiliate sales links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my full disclaimer policy for details.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Brining Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Course Sandwiches
Cuisine American
Servings 8 sandwiches
Calories 531 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients  

Brine

  • 4 chicken thighs, skinless and boneless
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 3 tablespoons hot sauce
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Hot Seasoned Flour

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ tablespoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 ½ tablespoons garlic powder
  • ½ tablespoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon white pepper
  • canola oil for frying, other other neutral oil

Hot Honey Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
  • 4 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
  • ½ tablespoon garlic powder
  • ½ cup hot oil, from frying the chicken

Slider Sandwiches

  • slider rolls
  • creamy southern coleslaw
  • pickle slices

Instructions 

Brining Chicken

  • Cut the chicken thighs in half so that they are approximately equal in size and weight.
  • In a large bowl combine the brine ingredients. Add the chicken and put it in the refrigerator for at least two hours but preferably overnight.

Frying Chicken

  • In a large bowl combine the ingredients for the hot seasoned flour and set aside.
  • Remove chicken from the refrigerator and allow excess buttermilk brine to drip off the chicken before thoroughly coating each piece in the hot seasoned flour mixture. Transfer to a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and repeat until all chicken thighs have been coated. Allow dredged chicken to rest while the oil is heating.
  • Heat a large cast iron or heavy bottom pan filled with about 1 ½ inches of oil. Heat over medium-high until the oil reaches about 350°F.
  • Once the oil has reached 350°F carefully add 4-6 thighs to the pan. Fry chicken thighs turning every 2 to 3 minutes until the chicken is a golden brown color and has reached an internal temperature of 160 F. Transfer cooked chicken to a clean wire rack and repeat with remaining chicken.

Hot Honey Sauce

  • In a medium bowl combine the cayenne, honey, brown sugar, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Add the hot oil that was used to fry the chicken and mix thoroughly.

Assembly

  • Brush both sides of the chicken thighs with hot honey sauce.
  • Place one chicken thigh on the bottom of a slider bun then add a spoonful of creamy southern coleslaw and a couple of pickle slices. Place the remaining bun on top and serve immediately.

Notes

1. Do not deep fry in olive oil or extra virgin olive oil. Besides having a lower smoke point, it will also add flavor to the chicken you might not want. We love olive oil but not for frying chicken. Instead use a neutral oil such as canola, grapeseed, peanut, corn, or vegetable oil.
2. The oil needs to be heated to 350°F before adding the chicken thighs. The oil temperature will drop to about 325°F when you add the chicken which is the perfect temperature for frying. Frying in oil not hot enough will leave the food greasy.
3.  If you want a spicier chicken sandwich, dunk the fried chicken thighs in the hot honey sauce instead of just brushing on the sauce.
4. To keep the chicken crispy, and to get rid of unwanted grease, place the chicken on a wire rack with a paper towel-lined baking sheet for easier clean-up.
5. Any leftover fried hot chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.  It can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container/bag for up to 3 months.  Allow chicken to cool before freezing.
6.  To reheat leftover hot chicken allow it to come to room temperature (about 20-30 minutes before reheating). For maximum crispiness use a wire rack on a sheet pan and bake for approximately 15-20 minutes at 400°F. For frozen hot chicken allow it to defrost in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
7. Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. The nutritional value is only for the Nashville hot chicken sandwiches and does not include the nutritional value for the coleslaw, pickles, or any other toppings.  It does not include the nutrition for any substitutions.
8. Be sure to check out the Key Ingredients along with the Recipe Tips and Notes sections found in the post, for more tips, options, substitutions, and variations for this recipe! You will also find step-by-step photos there.
Serving: 1slider | Calories: 531kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 398mg | Potassium: 111mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
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