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Hot Baked Chicken Sandwich

Featured in Delicious Main Dish Recipes for Every Occasion.

This Hot Baked Chicken Sandwich is a healthier twist on Nashville's classic. It’s baked—not fried—so it’s lighter, but still packs the same heat and crunch. Covered in panko seasoned with turmeric and smoked paprika, then finished with a sweet and spicy honey butter, it delivers big flavor. Add crispy lettuce and creamy buttermilk ranch for the perfect bite. Perfect for anyone craving bold flavors with less oil.
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Updated on Fri, 18 Apr 2025 07:05:19 GMT
Hot Baked Chicken Sandwich Pin it
Hot Baked Chicken Sandwich | chefmelt.com

Get that famous Nashville kick and crispiness without dumping chicken in oil. This better-for-you baked take brings all the punchy flavors and crunchy feel of the real thing, with nicely spiced chicken breasts in a crispy panko shell, topped off with fiery honey butter.

After tons of tries in my kitchen, I've found that the secret to crispy chicken from your oven comes down to how you bread it and managing your oven temp just right.

Key Components

  • Chicken Breasts: Each about 8 oz, flattened evenly
  • Panko Breadcrumbs: They're what makes it so crunchy
  • Good Honey: Cuts through the fire
  • Cayenne Pepper: Brings that trademark heat
  • Buttermilk Ranch: Tames the spicy kick
  • Fresh Buns: Need to be tough enough for the filling

Step-By-Step Walkthrough

1. Getting Chicken Ready:
Flatten chicken breasts to ½-inch thick between plastic using a meat pounder. This helps them cook evenly. Wipe them totally dry with paper towels. Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides. Let them sit out for 15 minutes so they'll cook better.
2. Setting Up Your Coating Area:
Put out three flat dishes: first with spiced flour (mixed with garlic powder and paprika), second with whisked eggs and a splash of hot sauce, third with seasoned panko. Line them up with a wire rack at the end.
3. Breading The Chicken:
Take one piece at a time, roll in flour and shake off extra. Dunk in egg mix, letting drips fall off. Push firmly into panko to get good coverage. Place on rack. Chill uncovered for 30 minutes to set the coating.
4. Oven Cooking:
Heat oven to 425°F with rack in middle. Put breaded chicken on a parchment-covered baking sheet. Spray plenty of olive oil cooking spray on top. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and hits 165°F inside at the thickest part.
5. Making Spicy Honey Butter:
While chicken bakes, mix melted butter, honey, cayenne, paprika, and garlic powder. Keep it warm in a small pot on very low heat.
Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich Pin it
Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich | chefmelt.com

Putting It All Together

1. Final Touches:
Brush fresh-from-the-oven chicken generously with the spicy honey butter right away. This lets the flavor soak into the crust. Brown buns under broiler for 1-2 minutes. Put shredded lettuce on bottom bun, add chicken, throw on pickles and more honey butter if you want.
2. Keeping Everything Just Right:
Eat sandwiches right away when chicken is hot and super crispy. If making several batches, keep first batch warm in a 200°F oven, but don't leave them there longer than 15-20 minutes or they'll get soggy. Don't pile chicken pieces on top of each other - lay them flat on a wire rack.
Baked Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich Recipe Pin it
Baked Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich Recipe | chefmelt.com

Great Side Matches

  • Smooth coleslaw
  • Crunchy french fries
  • Mac and cheese
  • Pickle spears
  • Sweet potato wedges
  • Cold beer or lemonade

Plan-Ahead Tips

Get parts ready separately for quicker putting together:

  • Bread chicken up to 8 hours early, keep uncovered in fridge
  • Make honey butter and warm it up gently when needed
  • Fix toppings and keep them apart
  • Brown buns right before serving

These sandwiches show you can get real authentic tastes without unhealthy cooking. Whether you make them for a simple dinner or weekend fun with friends, folks will ask for them again and again.

Easy Baked Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich Recipe Pin it
Easy Baked Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich Recipe | chefmelt.com

Closing Thoughts

Every time you make these, you'll learn something new about balancing hot, sweet and crunch. Go slow with each step, especially the coating and temperature parts. You'll end up with a healthier version of Nashville's famous sandwich that's just as tasty and satisfying as the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ How do I control the heat?
Adjust the cayenne in the honey butter to make it milder or spicier, depending on your taste.
→ Why chill the breaded chicken?
Letting it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes helps the breading stick and stay crispy when baked.
→ Can this be prepped early?
It’s best fresh, but you can bread the chicken and chill it for up to 4 hours before baking.
→ What side dishes go best?
Pair it up with coleslaw, pickles, potato wedges, or a creamy macaroni salad.
→ Can I swap chicken thighs in?
Absolutely, boneless thighs work great! Just adjust the bake time to cook them through.

Hot Baked Chicken Sandwich

Get all the flavor of Nashville hot chicken in this baked version with crunchy panko and sweet-spicy honey butter.

Prep Time
40 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Total Time
60 Minutes

Category: Main Dish Recipes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 4 Servings (4 sandwiches)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

→ Chicken

01 2 large chicken breasts (8 oz each), cut in half lengthwise
02 3/4 cup regular flour
03 1 tsp turmeric powder
04 1 tbsp garlic powder, split in half
05 1 tsp smoked paprika
06 1 tsp salt
07 1/2 tsp black pepper
08 2 eggs, large
09 1 cup panko crumbs

→ Hot Honey Butter

10 1/2 cup melted butter (unsalted)
11 1 tbsp smoked paprika
12 1/4 cup honey
13 1 tsp cayenne pepper
14 1/4 tsp salt

→ Assembly

15 4 soft burger buns, toasted lightly
16 1/2 cup ranch dressing (buttermilk)
17 2 cups crunchy shredded lettuce (iceberg)

Instructions

Step 01

Dry the chicken and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grab three dishes: one for flour mixed with half the spices, one for whisked eggs, and one for panko combined with the remaining spices. Set them up in a row.

Step 02

Start by dipping the chicken in the flour mix, then into the eggs, and finally give it a good press in the panko. Lay them on a greased rack sitting over a baking tray. Chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

Step 03

Turn your oven on to 400°F. Spray the chicken pieces lightly with some cooking oil and pop them in for 15-20 minutes, or until crispy and cooked through.

Step 04

Combine the melted butter, honey, cayenne, paprika, and salt in a bowl. Stir it all together and brush generously over the warm chicken.

Step 05

Spread some ranch over the bottom of the toasted buns. Layer on the chicken and lettuce, and then slap the bun top on. Serve right away.

Notes

  1. You can swap chicken for pressed tofu to make it vegetarian.
  2. Chilling for half an hour helps keep that breading in place.
  3. This baked version cuts down on grease but keeps the flavor of Nashville hot chicken.

Tools You'll Need

  • Wire rack set over a baking tray
  • Three shallow bowls for coating the chicken
  • Brush for spreading sauce
  • Whisk for mixing

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Has dairy ingredients
  • Has eggs
  • Contains gluten/wheat

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 680
  • Total Fat: 38 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 52 g
  • Protein: 35 g