Hot honey butter BBQ chicken loaded fries
The perfect snack for an evening alone…
If you ask me to name the greatest comfort food of all time, loaded fries are right up there. Without a doubt.
This recipe takes it up a notch with golden crunchy fries, crispy chicken, melted cheese and a lovely hot honey butter BBQ sauce that is doused all over. This is the kind of dinner that’s designed to be served in one giant bowl, enjoyed on the sofa with your latest TV obsession. For me, it’s these loaded fries, a ridiculously oversized blanket and a new series of Bridgerton. No sharing, no interruptions, just me and a fork.
The hot honey butter BBQ sauce is the star (after the chips obvs)
I could happily eat this sauce with a spoon. Actually just give me the jug.
The addition of the butter makes it rich and glossy, whilst the BBQ sauce brings that smoky sweetness and the hot honey adds a gentle kick. Don’t forget the splash of vinegar as this helps balance everything perfectly. I also love vinegar.
AND…If you’re lucky enough to have any left over, it’ll keep in the fridge for up to a week. Which is ideal if you’re cooking burgers, wings, grilled chicken or even roasted vegetables and need something to drizzle over them.
Customise it or just make it your way
If part of the enjoyment of a dish is as little cooking as possible, you can cheat a little by using shop-bought crispy chicken. Here’s a few more ways to simplify or speeds things up:
- Air fry the fries instead of oven cooking
- Air fry the breadcrumbed chicken until golden and cooked through.
- Finish everything in an air fryer drawer instead of under the grill for around 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
So basically, you’re in luck if you own an air fryer…
Easy ingredient swaps
If you’re not a fan of some of the ingredients listed, here’s a few ways to switch them out:
Not a fan of garlic mayo? Spicy mayo or sour cream both work really well.
Want even more spiciness? Add extra hot honey, chilli flakes or sliced jalapeños.
Is the cheese quantity not satisfactory? Don’t blame you. Add extra mozzarella, mature cheddar or whatever cheese you fancy.
FAQs
Can I make these loaded fries in the air fryer?
I’d recommend it tbh because I love an air fryer. You can find my homemade air fryer chip recipe here. Air fry both the fries and the chicken until crispy, then assemble everything in an oven-safe dish and return it to the air fryer for around 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and is bubbling.
Can I use frozen crispy chicken?
You can, no shame here. Shop-bought crispy chicken is a cheeky shortcut and makes this recipe even quicker to throw together.
Can I make the BBQ sauce ahead of time?
Yep. The hot honey butter BBQ sauce keeps well in the fridge for up to a week. Simply warm it gently before tossing with the chicken.
What should I serve with loaded fries?
They’re hearty enough to enjoy on their own, but coleslaw, onion rings or corn on the cob make really tasty sides.
Can I make homemade fries instead?
Errr yes. Homemade fries are ideal if you have the time and prefer to dish to be made from scratch.
Hot honey butter BBQ chicken loaded fries
By Poppy Cooks
https://www.poppycooks.com/recipes/hot-honey-butter-bbq-chicken-loaded-fries/
Ingredients
For the crispy chicken
- 500g chicken mini fillets
- 75g plain flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 100g panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic granules
- 1 tsp onion granules
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper
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Imperial
For the hot honey butter
- 3 tbsp hot honey
- 75g salted butter
- 100g BBQ sauce
- 1-2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (to taste)
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Imperial
For the fries and serving
- 200g frozen fries (or you can make your own)
- Handful grated mozzarella
- Garlic mayonnaise
- Spring onions, sliced
- Red chilli, sliced
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Imperial
Instructions
- Heat a pan of oil or a deep fat fryer full of neutral oil to 170ºc/350ºf. Tip all of your seasonings into the flour with a large pinch of salt and pepper, then pass the chicken fillets through the flour, egg and breadcrumbs. Deep fry the chicken for 6-7 minutes, until golden brown and the chicken is cooked through.
- While the chicken is cooking, make your sauce. Add the butter, hot honey, BBQ sauce and vinegar to a saucepan and bring to a bubble, allowing it all to melt together and thicken slightly. Season to taste and leave to cool.
- When your chicken is cooked, remove from the oil and drain on kitchen paper, then sprinkle with fine salt. Carefully tip the frozen fries into the oil and cook for a few minutes until super crispy.
- Toss the crispy chicken pieces in the warm hot honey BBQ sauce and roughly chop into bitesize pieces. Tip the fries into an oven safe serving dish before scattering over the chicken pieces. Drizzle with a little extra BBQ sauce, then sprinkle with mozzarella.
- Preheat the grill to high. Grill the loaded fries for 5 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling. Drizzle with garlic mayo and sprinkle over sliced red chilli and spring onions with a final flourish of flaky salt.