Step-by-Step: Crafting Your Hot Honey Chicken Sliders

Making these hot honey chicken sliders is incredibly straightforward, designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort. Follow these simple steps to bring this delicious and exciting dish to your table in just minutes:

1. Cook the Chicken: Begin by cooking your frozen boneless chicken bites. Whether you prefer the satisfying crispiness achieved in an air fryer or the consistent bake of a conventional oven, always follow the specific package directions to ensure the chicken is perfectly cooked, golden brown, and delightfully crispy (1). This step is crucial for the texture of your sliders. While the chicken cooks, you can efficiently move on to preparing the other components.
2. Prepare the Rolls: Carefully take your block of Hawaiian rolls and slice it horizontally through the middle, separating it into a top and bottom layer. A serrated knife works best for a clean cut.
3. Mix the Garlic Mayonnaise: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise with the garlic powder (2). Stir vigorously until the mixture is thoroughly combined and smooth. This creates a flavorful, creamy spread that will serve as the delicious base of your sliders.
4. Spread the Mayonnaise: Generously spread the prepared garlic mayonnaise mixture evenly over the entire bottom half of the sliced Hawaiian rolls (3). Ensure full coverage, as this layer adds essential moisture, tang, and an extra burst of savory flavor to each bite.
5. Separate the Rolls (Optional for Individual Assembly): For easier individual assembly and serving, we recommend carefully separating the rolls into individual buns at this stage. Gently remove the top half of each bun and set it beside its corresponding bottom half, ready for filling. If you prefer to assemble them as a whole sheet for efficiency, refer to our alternate assembly instructions below.
6. Melt the Butter: In a large, microwave-safe bowl (make sure it’s big enough to later toss all the cooked chicken in comfortably), melt the unsalted butter (4). You can do this in a microwave in short bursts or gently on the stovetop.

7. Create the Hot Honey Sauce: To the melted butter in the large bowl, add the honey, Frank’s RedHot sauce, paprika, and cayenne pepper (5). Whisk all the ingredients vigorously until they are thoroughly combined, creating a smooth, vibrant, and aromatic hot honey sauce (6). The goal is a well-emulsified mixture.
8. Toss the Chicken: Once your chicken bites are fully cooked, crispy, and hot, immediately transfer them directly into the bowl containing the freshly made hot honey sauce (7). Gently toss the chicken using tongs or a rubber spatula until every single piece is thoroughly and evenly coated in the glorious sweet and spicy glaze (8). This ensures maximum flavor saturation.

✨ Pro Tip: Effortless Honey Measuring ✨

Honey can be notoriously sticky, making clean-up a minor chore. To make measuring honey a breeze, lightly spray your measuring cup or spoon with a non-stick baking spray or a tiny bit of neutral oil (like vegetable or canola oil) before pouring in the honey. The honey will then effortlessly slide right out, leaving barely any sticky residue and making your post-cooking clean-up significantly easier!

Customize Your Hot Honey Sliders: Flavor Variations

One of the best things about these Nashville-style hot honey chicken sliders is how easily you can customize them to perfectly suit your personal taste and desired heat level. The base recipe offers a delightful mild to medium warmth, but don’t hesitate to adjust the spice or add other creative twists to make them uniquely yours!

• Amp Up the Heat for Spice Lovers: For those who crave an extra fiery kick, consider using a specialized hot honey blend instead of regular honey, or significantly increase the amount of Frank’s RedHot sauce and/or cayenne pepper in your sauce mixture. You could even swap out the traditional dill pickles for thin slices of pickled jalapeños or banana peppers for an additional layer of heat and tang. For the truly adventurous, a tiny dash of ghost pepper flakes can turn up the intensity to extreme levels!
• Keep it Milder for Gentle Palates: If you prefer a gentler warmth or are serving guests with varying spice tolerances, simply reduce the amount of hot sauce and cayenne pepper. For a very mild version, you can even omit the cayenne entirely, allowing the sweetness of the honey and the tang of the hot sauce to shine with just a hint of spice.
• Add a Cool & Creamy Contrast: While the dill pickles already provide a fantastic tangy and refreshing contrast, for an even richer and more complex experience, try adding a spoonful of creamy coleslaw on top of the hot honey chicken before placing the top bun. The cool, crisp cabbage and creamy dressing will create an incredible textural and temperature contrast against the warm, sweet, and spicy chicken, reminiscent of classic Southern fried chicken sandwiches.
• Cheesy Goodness: For an extra layer of irresistible comfort and flavor, melt a thin slice of your favorite cheese, such as provolone, sharp cheddar, or Monterey Jack, over the chicken bites. You can do this immediately after they’re cooked, or place the cheese on the bottom bun before adding the hot chicken to let it get deliciously gooey.
• Herbaceous Twist: A sprinkle of fresh chopped chives, cilantro, or green onions over the finished sliders can add a refreshing herbaceous note. These fresh greens brighten the overall flavors and add a pop of color, making your sliders even more appealing.
• Sweet and Tangy Glaze Boost: For an even more intense sweet and tangy flavor profile, brush the top halves of the Hawaiian rolls with a little melted butter and a pinch of garlic powder before placing them on top of the assembled sliders.

Experiment with these delicious suggestions to find your perfect hot honey chicken slider combination and create a personalized culinary masterpiece!

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

These hot honey chicken sliders are so incredibly delicious and disappear so quickly, you’ll be lucky if you have any leftovers! However, if you do, proper storage ensures they remain enjoyable for a little longer.

Storage: Any leftover hot honey chicken sliders should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep well for up to 4 days. While they are undoubtedly best enjoyed fresh, when the chicken is at its crispiest, they still make for a delightful snack or quick meal later. Simply warm them slightly in the microwave for 30-60 seconds or in a toaster oven for a few minutes (until heated through) before serving to revive some of their warmth and flavor.

Freezing: This recipe is generally not recommended for freezing once the sliders are fully assembled. The delicate texture of the cooked chicken can become soggy, and the Hawaiian rolls might dry out or become crumbly upon thawing. For the absolute best results, always prepare and serve these sliders fresh.

✨ Pro Tip: Smart Advance Preparation ✨

Planning ahead for a party or a busy weeknight dinner? You can certainly prepare certain components of these Hot Honey Chicken Sliders in advance to significantly save time on the day of serving. We recommend making both the garlic mayonnaise mixture and the hot honey sauce up to 2-3 days beforehand. Store both in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve, simply cook the chicken as directed, gently warm the hot honey sauce (if it has solidified slightly), and then quickly assemble the sandwiches just before serving. This approach ensures the chicken remains perfectly crispy and all the flavors are at their absolute peak!

• 24 ounces frozen crispy boneless chicken bites, such as Tyson Anytizers (fully cooked)
• 12 count Hawaiian rolls
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 tablespoons Frank’s RedHot sauce
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 8 ounces dill pickle chips, for topping

• Cook the frozen crispy boneless chicken bites in your air fryer or oven according to the package instructions until golden and crispy.
• Carefully slice the entire block of Hawaiian rolls horizontally through the middle. Lift off the top layer and set it aside.
• In a small bowl, thoroughly mix the mayonnaise with the garlic powder. Spread this garlic mayonnaise evenly over the bottom half of the rolls.
• Replace the top section of the buns temporarily, then gently separate the rolls into individual buns. Remove the top half of each bun again and place it next to its bottom half for easy individual assembly.
• Melt the unsalted butter in a large bowl (large enough to comfortably toss the chicken in). To the melted butter, add the honey, Frank’s RedHot sauce, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Stir well until all ingredients are fully combined into a smooth hot honey sauce.
• Once the chicken is cooked, add it directly into the bowl with the hot honey sauce. Gently toss until every piece of chicken is thoroughly and evenly coated in the sweet and spicy glaze.
• Evenly divide the coated chicken among the bottom halves of each individual bun. You might need to gently tear or cut larger chicken pieces to ensure they fit well.
• Top each chicken-filled bun with several dill pickle chips. Replace the top halves of the buns onto the assembled sliders.
• Serve your delicious hot honey chicken sliders immediately and enjoy!

Alternate assembly instructions (for larger batches)

• If you prefer to keep the rolls attached for a quicker assembly, after spreading the garlic mayo on the bottom half of the rolls (as a whole sheet), arrange the hot honey chicken evenly across. Then, layer the dill pickle chips on top of the chicken, and carefully replace the top half of the rolls.
• Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the sliders apart along the natural perforations of the rolls. You may need to cut through some of the chicken pieces. Separate them for individual serving.