Description
These Honey Chipotle Garlic Chicken Sliders are a mouthwatering blend of spicy, sweet, and smoky flavors featuring crispy fried chicken drenched in a honey chipotle sauce, served on garlic butter toasted slider buns with tangy pickles and a zesty chipotle ranch. Perfect for a casual gathering or game day, these sliders combine a flavorful marinated chicken with a crunchy double-fried crust for irresistible texture and taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade / Wet Batter
- 2 lb chicken breast, pounded to 1/2 inch thick, cut into slider-sized pieces
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup pickle juice
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
Chicken Dry Batter
- 300 g all purpose flour
- 150 g cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp chipotle powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Honey Chipotle Sauce
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup chipotle adobo sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Garlic Butter Slider Buns
- 4 tbsp salted butter
- 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
- 1 pack slider buns (about 8 buns)
For Assembly
- Pickles
Homemade Chipotle Ranch
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 packet Hidden Valley Restaurant Style Ranch seasoning (0.4 oz)
- 2 tsp chipotle powder
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to 1/2-inch thickness and cut into slider-sized portions. In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, pickle juice, and hot sauce. Submerge the chicken pieces in the marinade, cover tightly, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or preferably overnight to tenderize and infuse flavor.
- Prepare Chipotle Ranch: While the chicken marinates, whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, ranch seasoning packet, and chipotle powder. Refrigerate this sauce until ready to serve for a creamy, smoky dressing to complement the sliders.
- Mix Dry Batter: In a large bowl, combine all dry batter ingredients: all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, chipotle powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to evenly distribute the spices.
- Batter the Chicken: Remove chicken from marinade. For each piece, dip into the dry batter, then back into the wet marinade, and finish with a second dip into the dry batter. Avoid packing the flour; gently toss or sprinkle to maintain some wet spots for a lighter, crispier coating.
- Fry Chicken: Heat oil in a deep pan or fryer to 350–365°F (175–185°C). Carefully add the battered chicken pieces and fry without disturbing for the first 2–3 minutes to set the crust. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes total. Transfer to a wire rack to drain and rest. For extra crispiness, double fry the chicken by returning it to the hot oil for a brief second fry after resting.
- Make Honey Chipotle Sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add chipotle adobo sauce, honey, ketchup, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer gently, stirring frequently until the sauce thickens slightly, forming a glossy glaze.
- Coat Chicken: Toss the hot fried chicken pieces in the prepared honey chipotle sauce until they are evenly coated with a sweet and spicy glaze.
- Prepare Garlic Butter Buns: Melt butter in a small saucepan, then stir in garlic powder and chopped parsley. Brush the garlic butter generously onto the split slider buns. Arrange buns on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 5–10 minutes until golden. Optionally, broil for 1 minute for an extra golden finish.
- Assemble Sliders: Spread a generous amount of chipotle ranch on the bottom half of each bun. Add pickles, then top with a piece of the coated chicken. Close the slider with the top bun and brush with additional garlic butter for an extra flavor boost.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken overnight enhances tenderness and flavor.
- Double frying the chicken ensures an extra crispy crust that holds up well to the sauce.
- You can adjust the spiciness of the sauce by modifying the amount of chipotle adobo and cayenne pepper in the batter.
- Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature for optimal frying results.
- These sliders are best served warm and fresh but can be partially prepped ahead of time.
Keywords: Honey Chipotle Chicken, Chicken Sliders, Fried Chicken, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Game Day Snacks, Crispy Chicken, Homemade Sliders