These Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches deliver the perfect bite with layers of crispy chicken, creamy slaw, crunchy pickle chips, and a drizzle of hot honey for a medley of sweet and spicy flavors. Made in an air fryer, they’re a quick n’ easy meal for any day of the week.
Why I Love This Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich Recipe
I love making air-fried chicken sandwiches. There’s no need for a deep fryer, which means no messy oil splatter, and you still get all the crispy, delicious flavor of deep frying – without all the extra calories. Plus, the chicken cooks way faster too!
My Air Fryer Buttermilk Spicy Chicken Sandwich has been a hit at home, but just wait until they try these sandwiches with hot honey chicken.
Crispy, juicy chicken drizzled with hot honey? What a genius move. And when you contrast that with creamy coleslaw and crunchy pickle chips, it’s just mindblowing.
And guess what? This can also be turned into a delicious salad! Check out my Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Summer Salad for a fresh, flavorful twist.
Featured Ingredients
(Note: These are the main ingredients, but you’ll find the full list and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Chicken breasts: You’ll need 3 large or 4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- All-purpose flour: This is the base for your breading.
- Eggs: These will help the flour mixture stick to the chicken.
- Cornflakes: These get smashed into chunky crumbs for that extra crunch..
- Honey: Sticky and sweet, honey is melted with hot sauce and butter to create the hot honey sauce.
- Hot sauce: The spicy flavor that gives this chicken its signature kick. Use your favorite hot sauce! I like Siracha.
- Butter: Adds richness to the hot honey sauce.
- Brioche buns: The ultimate chicken sandwich bun!
- Butter lettuce leaves: Add a crisp, fresh base for your sandwich.
- Beefsteak tomato: Slice thick for juicy, flavorful layers.
- Coleslaw: Use homemade or store-bought for a tangy crunch.
- Pickle chips: Add a zesty, briny kick to every bite.
How to Make Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches
Step 1: Bread the Chicken
To start, slice your chicken breasts in half lengthwise to create two thinner cutlets.
In one shallow bowl, mix the flour with onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. In a second bowl, beat the eggs. Then in a third bowl, add the crushed cornflakes.
Take each piece of chicken and coat it in the seasoned flour, shaking off any extra. Next, dip it in the egg, and then press it into the crushed cornflakes to coat it completely.
Once it’s all breaded, transfer the breaded chicken to a plate.
Step 2: Air Fry
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Give the basket a quick spray of oil, then place the chicken in a single layer. If you’ve got a lot of chicken, you might need to cook it in two batches.
Air fry for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until it’s nice and crispy with golden edges. Easy and delicious!!
Step 3: Make the Hot Honey Sauce
While the chicken is cooking, combine honey, hot sauce, butter, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the butter melts and everything’s nice and smooth. Give it a taste and add more hot sauce if you want to kick up the heat.
Drizzle or brush the hot honey over the chicken.
Step 4: Assemble & Serve
Assemble the sandwich:
- Toast a brioche bun in a skillet or toaster until golden brown (optional).
- Start with 1-2 pieces of lettuce on the bottom bun, followed by a tomato slice.
- Next, pile on 1-2 pieces of hot honey chicken on top of the tomato.
- Add 2 tablespoons of coleslaw and spread it out evenly over the chicken.
- Top it off with 3-4 pickle slices for that tangy crunch.
- Drizzle a little extra hot honey over the pickles, then crown it with the top bun.
Repeat these steps for the remaining 3 sandwiches. Done and delicious!
What to Pair with Your Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
Pair your hot honey chicken sandwiches with some awesome sides for the ultimate satisfying meal! Go classic with potato chips or try my Air Fryer Homestyle French Fries. You could also mix things up with creamy, flavorful Instant Pot Potato Salad.
Feeling something hearty? Try the Best Damn Instant Pot Baked Beans. And to cool things down, sip on a refreshing Peach and Mint Iced Tea Mocktail. It’s delicious.
Storage
To keep your chicken sandwich fresh, store the chicken and other ingredients separately in the fridge. This prevents the bread from becoming soggy. The chicken will last for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
To reheat your chicken, you can place it in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes, or until heated through.
PrintRecipe
Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
These Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches are the ultimate combo of crispy chicken, creamy slaw, pickles, and sweet-spicy hot honey. Made in the air fryer, they’re a quick and easy win for any day!
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 1 ½ lbs chicken breasts (3 large or 4 small breasts)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups cornflakes, crushed into coarse crumbs
- Cooking oil spray
Hot Honey Sauce:
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tbsp hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- 2 tbsp butter
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
To Assemble The Sandwich:
- 4 brioche buns
- 4–8 butter lettuce leaves
- 1 beefsteak tomato, sliced
- ½ cup coleslaw (homemade or store-bought)
- ½ cup pickle chips
Instructions
- Slice the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to create two thinner cutlets.
- Set Up Dredging Stations:
- In one shallow bowl, mix the flour with onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- In a second bowl, beat the eggs.
- In a third bowl, add the crushed cornflakes.
- Bread the Chicken. Working one piece at a time, dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Dip in the egg, then press into the crushed cornflakes, coating thoroughly. Transfer the breaded chicken to a plate.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Lightly grease the air fryer basket with oil spray and arrange chicken in a single layer. You may need to cook the chicken in two batches.
- Air fry the chicken for 10 minutes at 400°F, flipping halfway through, until crispy and browned around the edges.
- While the chicken is cooking, make the hot honey sauce. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine honey, hot sauce, butter, and red pepper flakes. Stir until butter melts and mixture is smooth. Taste and adjust the hot sauce to your desired level of heat.
- Drizzle or brush the hot honey over the chicken.
- Assemble the sandwich:
- Toast a brioche bun in a skillet or toaster until golden brown. (optional step)
- Place 1-2 pieces of lettuce on the bottom bun, followed by a tomato slice.
- Place 1-2 pieces of hot honey chicken on top of the tomato.
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of coleslaw on top of the chicken and spread in an even layer.
- Arrange 3-4 pickle slices on top of the coleslaw.
- Drizzle some extra hot honey over the pickles, then place on the top bun.
- Repeat these steps for the remaining 3 sandwiches.
Notes
- To keep your chicken sandwich fresh, store the chicken and other ingredients separately in the fridge. This prevents the bread from becoming soggy. The chicken will last for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
- To reheat your chicken, you can place it in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes, or until heated through.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
ROBYN says
omg i made this last night an will definately be cooking it a lot more thank you
Debra Shell says
I fixed your hot honey chicken sandwiches tonight for dinner . I followed it just like you had it and my husband and I loved it thank you so much !!! Can’t wait to try another recipe . Definitely a keeper !! Sharing the recipe with my daughter she will love it !!