Craving chicken? Crush it with our Honey BBQ Chicken Sliders that are filled with flavorful spices, sweet hot honey, and protein-rich chicken. As they say with most chicken sandwiches, the secret’s in the sauce, and this recipe is no exception. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is the star ingredient in the creamy spread that’s layered on top of better-for-you breaded chicken. With just the right balance of herbs and spices, BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and a touch of honey, this is the chicken sandwich that deserves a spot in your regular lunch or dinner rotation.
Chicken is packed with protein and important B vitamins that make it a no-brainer for protein-rich recipes. It can be baked, grilled, or roasted with simple ingredients to make endless amounts of easy, healthy lunches and dinners. You can use air-fried or baked chicken in these sandwiches, and you can choose to use regular boneless, skinless chicken breasts (unbreaded), if you prefer. We breaded ours with a crispy panko breading before baking them up and cooking to perfection.
While your chicken is baking (or grilling, if you prefer), you can prepare the rest of the ingredients, starting with the sauce. To make the protein-rich spread for the sandwiches, you’ll take our freshly cultured farmer cheese, BBQ sauce, hot honey, hot sauce, garlic, salt, and chives, then whip it up into a silky smooth sauce that spreads easily. After that, it’s all about assembly.
Brush some fresh sandwich buns with butter, top with the chicken, sauce, and a few extra ingredients before adding the other half of the bun and smashing them down a little to seal everything in. Now, it’s time to eat! Grab a container of Lifeway Farmer Cheese at a store near you so you can enjoy these with us!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese,a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 20 mins Servings: 6Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 6 pieces of fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thaw beforehand if using frozen)
- 1/2 cup whole grain, crispy panko breadcrumbs (use gluten-free, if needed)
- 2 tbsp. melted butter
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
For the Sauce:
- 1/2 cup Farmer Cheese
- 2 tbsp. hot honey or raw honey
- 2 tsp. hot sauce of choice
- 2 tbsp. fresh chives (or 1 tsp. dried)
- 1/2 cup natural/organic BBQ sauce
For Assembly:
- 12 pack of whole grain sandwich buns (or gluten-free, if needed)
- butter for brushing
- garlic and herb mixture
- optional topping: dill pickle slices, coleslaw, extra Lifeway Farmer Cheese
Directions
- To make the chicken: Cover a baking sheet with non-stick spray or foil. Take the fresh chicken breasts and put them in a large casserole dish. Brush each side with melted butter, then add the crumb toppings, sprinkle with garlic and pepper, then flip and do the same on the other sides. Add your chicken to the prepared pan with foil (remove out of the casserole dish), and bake them in the oven for 20-25 minutes on 350 degrees, or until the tops are crispy and the chicken is done (test with a fork). If air-frying, do the same process, but place them in a small pan suitable for an air-fryer (instead of a baking sheet), and air-fry for 12-15 minutes (or until done).
- If you aren't using breaded chicken, repeat the same step as number one, except leave out the breadcrumbs and just use the seasonings and butter. You can also grill instead of bake if going this route as well!
- While your chicken is baking, make the sauce. Whisk together the farmer cheese, raw or hot honey, hot sauce, BBQ sauce, and stir/whisk until thick and creamy. You can use a food processor to do this, if preferred.
- Toast the whole grain sandwich buns. For extra-richness, brush them with some butter and add a garlic and herb spice mix before or after toasting (depending on if you're using a toaster or toaster oven), if you prefer.
- Assemble: On top of one toasted bun, add a couple tablespoons. of sauce, a piece of prepared chicken, and top with another layer of sauce. Add dill pickles, coleslaw, or an extra layer of Lifeway Farmer Cheese on top, if desired. Then add the other bun, smash down a little to seal everything in. Repeat until all the sandwiches are done, and enjoy!
