Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Crispy Onion Strings

So here we are, at the end of June, and it already feels like an endless summer. Probably because the kids have been home and the world has been virtually shut down since March, or maybe because the warm weather arrived early this year. Whatever the reason, I’m loving it! It’s hard to believe that July 4th is this weekend, and although I’m sure there will be at least 2 other families here, I don’t have a thing planned for them to eat. I get overwhelmed with menu planning for large groups sometimes. I just want to hang out with my guests and not end up in the kitchen or at the grill the whole time. That’s why these Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Crispy Onion Strings work – they can be prepped fully in advance so that we can enjoy more time outside.

Crock Pot in the Summer?

So, I know that we don’t typically think “crock pot” when we think “summer”, but go with me on this. You can prep an entire crock pot of pulled chicken in advance of your barbecue. Then, you simply unplug it, bring it outside, and let your guests make their own sandwiches. No slaving by the grill all day, no running in and out of the house for random condiments. I honestly don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner. We very often have crock pots going during our fall and winter parties, so why not summer too? Crock pots are one of the absolute best ways to lower stress when entertaining, and there’s no reason not to use them in the summer.

How to make the Hot Honey BBQ Sauce

So you’ll prep your pulled chicken in the crock pot, and you’ll pour lots of Hot Honey BBQ Sauce in there. This barbecue sauce is, quite simply, ridiculous. It’s thick, tangy, sweet, hot and kicky all at once. The base of the sauce is onions, garlic and ketchup. You’ll saute them in a saucepan together and then add the rest of the ingredients – mustard, Worcestershire sauce, honey, paprika and brown sugar.

The little bit of heat (and it’s not much, I promise) comes from the hot sauce, and gets you at the back end just when you think the bite is over. Kind of a spicy little surprise. And the smokiness comes from the ancho chili powder.

Like any good barbecue sauce, it gets better with age, and this recipe will make enough to last you for a few uses.

How to make the Crispy Onion Strings

So you dump the sauce in with the chicken – check. Next, the onions. You won’t believe how many thin onion strings you can make with just one large onion. Be sure to slice the onion nice and then so that you get strings vs. rings. Then, simply dredge the onion strings in buttermilk, then flour and then fry.

It’s so easy, and you can reheat them in the toaster oven if needed. The biggest challenge with these onion strings is having enough left over for the actual sandwiches, because you won’t be able to stop picking on them while you’re cooking.

Choosing the right bread for Honey Hot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

So the only thing left now is the bread. I don’t care what kind of bread you use, as long as you slice it thick. I’m talking Texas Toast kind of thick. I love using challah because it adds a little sweetness to these Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Crispy Onion Strings. But any kind of bread will do. Be sure to buy your bread unsliced, so that you can control the thickness of the slices. The bread is the only thing you’ll be putting on the grill. Give it some butter, and give it a good grill on both sides. If you don’t grill or toast the bread, it won’t hold up to the sandwich, so don’t skip this step.

All that’s left to do is pile these sammies high with goodness. Throw some pickles on there if you like. And when you make these Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Crispy Onion Strings, be sure to put out lots of napkins. It’s a messy kind of fun. Enjoy!

Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Crispy Onion Strings

Tangy pulled chicken & crispy onion strings piled high on thick-sliced bread

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 45 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

inactive 6 hrs

Total Time 7 hrs 15 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Ingredients

  

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The Sandwiches

• 2-3 lbs. boneless skinless breasts and/or thighs
• Hot Honey BBQ Sauce
• Crispy Onion Strings
• 1-2 loaves white bread unsliced

The Hot Honey BBQ Sauce

• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 onion chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tbsp. ancho chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. paprika
• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 2 Tbsp. hot sauce

The Onion Strings

• 3 cups vegetable oil
• 1 large sweet onion
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 Tbsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Instructions

 

Make the sauce:

• In a skillet, saute the onion and garlic in oil until softened. Add ketchup and 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a boil, the lower the heat and simmer 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer until thickened, 10-15 minutes longer. Off heat, use an immersion blender to puree until smooth. Alternately, use a food processor or standard blender.
• Place the chicken into a crock pot on the low setting. Add 1 cup of Hot Honey BBQ Sauce plus 1/2 cup of water at a time until the chicken is coated and saucy. Cook 4-6 hours, then use forks to pull the chicken apart into long strings.

Make the onion strings:

• Peel and slice the onion crosswise as thinly as possible. Separate into rings. Pour buttermilk into a shallow bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper and cayenne.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Dredge each onion ring in the buttermilk, then the flour mixture, and drop into the skillet. Flip after 2-3 minutes so that both sides are golden brown. Remove onion rings to a paper towel-lined plate. Keep warm.

Assemble the sandwiches:

• Slice the bread into 1 inch-thick slices and butter on both sides. Grill over medium heat until both sides are crisp and golden. Pile the pulled chicken and onion strings in between two slices of grilled bread.

Keyword chicken, dinner

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