Spicy Chicken Sandwich Creamy Sauce (Printable)

Crispy spicy fried chicken with cool tangy sauce on toasted brioche buns

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Spicy Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 tablespoon hot sauce (e.g., Franks RedHot)
04 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
05 - 1/2 cup cornstarch
06 - 1 teaspoon paprika
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
09 - 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - Vegetable oil, for frying

→ For the Creamy Homemade Sauce

13 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
14 - 2 tablespoons sour cream
15 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
16 - 2 teaspoons honey
17 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
18 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce
19 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
20 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ For Assembly

21 - 4 brioche buns, toasted
22 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
23 - 1 large tomato, sliced
24 - 8 pickle slices

# How to Make It:

01 - In a bowl, whisk buttermilk and hot sauce. Add chicken breasts, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours for more flavor).
02 - In a separate bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
03 - Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Dredge each piece in the flour mixture, pressing firmly to coat evenly on all sides.
04 - In a large skillet or deep fryer, heat about 1 inch of oil to 350°F. Fry chicken breasts for 4–5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Drain on paper towels.
05 - In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon juice, hot sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and refrigerate until ready to use.
06 - Spread sauce on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Add lettuce, fried chicken breast, tomato slices, and pickles. Top with bun lid and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between the hot, crispy chicken and cool creamy sauce hits every craving at once
  • You get that drive through taste without ever leaving your kitchen or wondering what is actually in your food
02 -
  • Hot oil will splatter when you add the chicken, so use long tongs and stand back slightly
  • Letting the chicken rest on paper towels keeps it from getting soggy while you assemble everything
03 -
  • Pound the chicken to even thickness so every piece finishes cooking at the same time
  • Let your coated chicken sit on a rack for 10 minutes before frying to help the coating set