# Components:
→ Chicken Tenders
01 - 12 chicken tenders, approximately 1.5 pounds
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce
04 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
05 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
12 - Cooking spray or oil for baking
→ Hot Honey Butter
13 - 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
14 - 1/4 cup honey
15 - 1 to 2 tablespoons hot sauce, adjusted to taste
16 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
→ Assembly
17 - 12 slider buns
18 - 1 cup sliced dill pickles
19 - 6 slices sharp cheddar cheese, halved
20 - 2 tablespoons melted butter for brushing buns
21 - 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, optional
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and lightly grease the surface.
02 - In a bowl, combine 1 cup buttermilk with 1 teaspoon hot sauce. Add chicken tenders, toss to coat thoroughly, and marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to overnight for optimal flavor development.
03 - In a shallow dish, mix 1 cup flour, 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper until evenly combined.
04 - Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off. Dredge each tender in the flour-panko mixture, pressing firmly to ensure coating adheres properly.
05 - Arrange breaded tenders on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly spray with cooking oil. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through.
06 - While chicken bakes, combine melted butter, honey, 1 to 2 tablespoons hot sauce, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat, stirring frequently, until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
07 - Once chicken is baked, brush generously with the hot honey butter sauce on both sides.
08 - Lower oven temperature to 350°F.
09 - Slice slider buns horizontally, keeping bottoms and tops connected if possible. Place bottom halves in a greased 9 by 13 inch baking dish.
10 - Layer half the cheese over bun bottoms, followed by dill pickles, then hot honey butter chicken tenders. Drizzle with additional hot honey butter. Top with remaining cheese and place bun tops over the filling.
11 - Brush buns with 2 tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
12 - Bake uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes until cheese is completely melted and buns are lightly toasted.
13 - Cool for a few minutes, then pull apart and serve warm.
