Spicy Chicken Sandwich Creamy Sauce (Printable version)

Crispy spicy fried chicken with cool homemade sauce on buttery brioche bun. Perfect for family dinners or game day.

# Ingredient list:

→ Chicken & Marinade

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 tablespoon hot sauce
04 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
05 - 1 teaspoon paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

→ Dredge

09 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
10 - 1/2 cup cornstarch
11 - 1 teaspoon paprika
12 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
13 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
14 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
15 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
16 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ For Frying

17 - 3 cups vegetable oil

→ Creamy Homemade Sauce

18 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
19 - 1/4 cup sour cream
20 - 2 teaspoons hot sauce
21 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
22 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
23 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
24 - 1 teaspoon honey, optional
25 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ To Serve

26 - 4 brioche burger buns
27 - 8 dill pickle slices
28 - 4 lettuce leaves
29 - 1 small tomato, sliced, optional

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, hot sauce, salt, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, and onion powder. Add chicken breasts, cover, and marinate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
02 - In a shallow dish, combine flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, cayenne, and black pepper.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a heavy skillet or Dutch oven to 350°F. Place a wire rack over a sheet pan for draining.
04 - Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Coat each piece in the dredge, pressing firmly to adhere. For extra crunch, dredge each piece twice.
05 - Fry chicken 4 to 6 minutes per side, or until deep golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to the wire rack to drain.
06 - Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, hot sauce, lemon juice, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and honey if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Lightly toast brioche buns until golden brown.
08 - Spread sauce generously on both sides of each bun. Layer with fried chicken, pickle slices, lettuce, and tomato if using.
09 - Serve immediately with extra sauce on the side.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • The double-dredge technique creates an audibly crispy crust that stays crunchy even after it cools.
  • Buttermilk does double duty, tenderizing the chicken while adding subtle tang that balances the heat.
  • The homemade sauce is brighter and more complex than anything from a bottle, with just enough kick to keep things interesting.
  • Everything can be prepped ahead, making it surprisingly weeknight-friendly once you get the rhythm down.
02 -
  • Maintain oil temperature between 340°F and 360°F, if it drops too low the coating absorbs grease and turns soggy instead of crisp.
  • Don't skip pounding the chicken to even thickness, thick spots stay raw while thin edges burn, ruining the whole piece.
  • Let the chicken rest on a wire rack, not paper towels, which trap steam and turn your hard-won crispy crust limp in minutes.
  • Double dredging is the secret to that craggy, extra-crunchy texture, the little bits of wet batter clinging to the coating fry up into delicious crispy nuggets.
03 -
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, it holds heat better than thin pans and gives you more consistent frying results.
  • Press the chicken firmly into the dredge and let it rest for 2 minutes before frying, this helps the coating stick and creates a thicker, crunchier crust.
  • Add a pinch of sugar to the dredge for a hint of caramelization and deeper golden color, it's a small trick that makes a big difference.
  • If your oil smokes, it's too hot, lower the heat immediately or your coating will burn before the chicken cooks through.
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