Southern American · main · intermediate
Sweet & Spicy Hot Honey Fried Chicken Sliders
Craggy buttermilk-fried thighs, toasted brioche, and a hot honey drizzle that runs out first every single time.
Game-day royalty. Chicken thighs brine in seasoned buttermilk, get a cornstarch-crisped dredge, then fry to a deep golden crunch. Stacked on butter-toasted brioche with cool slaw and pickles, finished with sweet-heat hot honey. Make extra honey — it is a problem.
Ingredients
2 sliders per person (12 sliders total)
Chicken & Buttermilk Brine
Crispy Dredge
Hot Honey
Sliders & Assembly
Frying
Instructions
- 1
prep
Whisk the buttermilk, hot sauce, salt, and smoked paprika in a bowl. Add the chicken thighs, cover, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes (up to overnight).
Doneness cue: Chicken fully submerged in the brine.
- 2
prep
Warm the honey in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in chili crisp, vinegar, and flaky salt. Set aside.
Doneness cue: Glossy, loose honey — not boiling.
- 3
cook
Heat the oil to 350°F in a Dutch oven and clip on a thermometer.
Doneness cue: Steady 350°F before the first piece goes in.
- 4
prep
Whisk the flour, cornstarch, and all dredge spices in a shallow dish. Dredge each thigh, pressing the coating on, and rest on a rack for 10 minutes.
Doneness cue: Coating looks dry and shaggy after resting — that is the craggy crust forming.
- 5
cook
Fry 2–3 pieces at a time for 6–7 minutes, flipping once, until deep golden and 165°F internal. Hold finished pieces on a wire rack in a 200°F oven.
Doneness cue: Golden brown and audibly crunchy when tapped.
- 6
cook
Brush the cut sides of the buns with melted butter and toast in a skillet or under the broiler until golden.
Doneness cue: Light golden edges, no burning.
- 7
assemble
Build each slider: bun bottom, comeback sauce, slaw, fried chicken, a generous drizzle of hot honey, pickles, bun top.
Doneness cue: Honey drizzle visible on the crust — do not be shy.
- 8
finish
Serve immediately, with extra hot honey on the side.
Doneness cue: These do not sit well — hand them out hot.
Pairings
Drink · Sweet tea, lager, or a sparkling lemonade
Side · Extra pickles and a pile of napkins
Per serving (est.)
calories 840 · proteing 40 · carbsg 72 · fatg 42
Approximate, per 2-slider serving including buns and honey.
Shop the Kitchen
Everything used in this recipe · Amazon Associate links
5–6 qt Dutch oven
essentialHolds heat through frying so the oil temperature recovers fast between batches.
Deep-fry thermometer or instant-read
essentialFrying without a thermometer is guesswork; 350°F is the whole ballgame.
Wire rack + half sheet pan
essentialKeeps fried chicken crisp and doubles as the holding station in a warm oven.
Silicone pastry brush
nice-to-haveEven butter on the buns and a clean honey drizzle.
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