# What You Need:
→ 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, 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
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and lightly grease.
02 - In a bowl, combine buttermilk and 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, whisk together flour, panko breadcrumbs, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper until evenly distributed.
04 - Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off. Dredge each tender in the flour-panko mixture, pressing firmly to ensure proper adhesion.
05 - Arrange breaded tenders on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly spray with cooking oil. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking, until golden brown and cooked through.
06 - In a small saucepan, combine melted butter, honey, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes. Warm over low heat, stirring occasionally, until ingredients are fully combined and sauce is smooth.
07 - Once chicken is baked, brush generously with hot honey butter on both sides until well coated.
08 - Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 with half the cheese slices, followed by pickles, then the hot honey butter coated chicken tenders. Drizzle with additional hot honey butter. Top with remaining cheese slices, then position bun tops over filling.
11 - Brush buns with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
12 - Bake uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and buns are lightly toasted.
13 - Cool slightly, then pull apart and serve warm.
