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Crispy Honey Butter Fried Chicken Tailgate Sliders

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Crispy, sweet, and savory fried chicken sliders with a honey butter glaze, perfect for tailgating or game day parties. This accidental recipe turned into a crowd-pleasing favorite with a caramelized, crunchy coating.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 6–8 thighs)
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot) (optional)
  • A pinch of salt
  • 8–10 slider buns (brioche recommended)
  • 1/2 cup dill pickle slices
  • Optional: shredded lettuce, sliced red onion, or coleslaw for topping
  • Vegetable oil or peanut oil (enough for 2 inches depth in pot)

Instructions

  1. Marinate the chicken: Trim excess fat from chicken thighs. Place in a bowl with buttermilk, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Toss to coat. Let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes (or refrigerate up to 4 hours).
  2. Make the honey butter flour coating: In a shallow bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, paprika, cayenne (if using), salt, and black pepper. In a small bowl, mix melted butter and honey until smooth. Drizzle into flour mixture and use a fork to mix until small clumps form.
  3. Heat oil: Pour about 2 inches of oil into a heavy-bottomed pot. Heat over medium-high heat to 350°F (175°C). Set a wire rack over a baking sheet nearby.
  4. Dredge the chicken: Remove chicken from buttermilk, letting excess drip off. Press each piece into the honey butter flour mixture, coating evenly. Shake off excess and place on a clean plate.
  5. Fry the chicken: Carefully lower 3-4 pieces into hot oil. Fry for 5-6 minutes per side, until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and coating is deep golden brown. Transfer to wire rack and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Repeat with remaining chicken.
  6. Make the honey butter glaze: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter, honey, hot sauce (if using), and a pinch of salt. Stir until smooth. Keep warm.
  7. Glaze the chicken: Brush each fried piece generously with warm honey butter glaze. Let rest on wire rack for 1 minute.
  8. Assemble sliders: Split and lightly toast slider buns. Place glazed chicken on bottom bun, top with pickle slices and any other toppings. Close bun and serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t skip the cornstarch for extra crispiness. When mixing honey and butter into flour, create small clumps for crispy bits. Monitor oil temperature carefully; honey in flour can cause faster darkening. Let glazed chicken rest 1 minute before assembling to prevent soggy buns. For parties, keep glazed chicken on wire rack in warm oven (200°F) for up to 30 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: fried chicken sliders, honey butter chicken, tailgate food, game day recipe, crispy chicken, slider recipe, comfort food

Find it online: https://sweetstirring.com/crispy-honey-butter-fried-chicken-tailgate-sliders/