Baked Honey Hot Chicken Sandwiches

We are always trying to come up with new recipes for the summer that are crowd pleasing but also fairly easy to put together. Last year Hot Chicken Sandwiches were super popular so we wanted to take a stab at making a baked version that we could enjoy all summer long. 

Ingredients:

• 4 small chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
• 1 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 
  
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and divided
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1. Lightly season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper and place in a shallow baking dish.
2. Pour buttermilk over chicken, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
3. In another shallow baking dish combine flour, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, turmeric, smoked paprika, baking powder, salt, and pepper.
4. Preheat oven to 425°F.
5. Remove chicken breasts from buttermilk, one at a time, and dredge them in the flour mixture until fully coated, shaking off any excess.
6. Transfer coated chicken to a well, greased cooling rack placed over a baking sheet, about 1 1/2 inches apart.
7. Spoon 1 tablespoon melted butter over each piece of chicken and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until coating has browned and the chicken has cooked through.
8. While chicken is baking, combine remaining 1/2 cup butter, honey, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt in a small mixing bowl and whisk together.
9. Once chicken is done baking, remove from oven and brush spicy-honey butter all over each piece until well coated.
10. To assemble: Spread ranch over the bottoms of each bun and top with a piece of honey hot chicken. Top chicken with a handful of shredded lettuce and more ranch. Place top buns over each sandwich and serve.

Source ; spoonforkbacon