# Components:
→ For the Chicken
01 - 12 chicken tenders, approximately 1.5 lbs
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1.5 cups panko breadcrumbs
05 - 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
09 - 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
12 - Cooking spray or 3 tablespoons neutral oil for baking
→ For the Hot Honey Butter
13 - 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
14 - 0.25 cup honey
15 - 1.5 tablespoons hot sauce, such as Frank's RedHot
16 - 0.5 teaspoon chili flakes, optional for additional heat
17 - 0.25 teaspoon salt
→ For Assembly
18 - 12 slider buns or Hawaiian rolls
19 - 8 slices cheddar or pepper jack cheese
20 - 0.5 cup sliced dill pickles
21 - 2 tablespoons melted butter for brushing buns
22 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional for topping
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease the surface.
02 - In a bowl, combine buttermilk and egg. Add chicken tenders and allow to marinate for 10 minutes.
03 - In a shallow dish, combine panko, flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper.
04 - Remove each chicken tender from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off, then coat thoroughly in breadcrumb mixture. Arrange on prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
05 - Spray tops with cooking spray or drizzle with oil. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through.
06 - While chicken bakes, whisk together melted butter, honey, hot sauce, chili flakes, and salt in a small bowl.
07 - Once baked, toss hot chicken tenders in the honey butter sauce until fully coated.
08 - Lower oven temperature to 350°F. Slice slider buns horizontally while keeping bottoms connected and place bottoms in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
09 - Layer cheese slices, then sauced chicken tenders, then sliced pickles over bun bottoms. Cover with bun tops.
10 - Brush bun tops with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
11 - Bake uncovered for 7 to 10 minutes, until cheese melts and buns are lightly toasted.
12 - Remove from oven and serve warm. Pull apart and enjoy.
