Hot Honey Ranch Chicken Tenders Sauce (Print Version)
Creamy, tangy sauce blending ranch flavors with sweet heat from hot honey, ideal for dipping or drizzling.
# What You Need:
→ Base
01 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
02 - 1/4 cup sour cream
→ Flavorings
03 - 2 tablespoons hot honey (or regular honey mixed with 1 teaspoon hot sauce)
04 - 2 tablespoons buttermilk
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
06 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# Preparation Steps:
01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk until smooth and creamy.
02 - Add hot honey, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, dill, parsley, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until fully incorporated and smooth.
03 - Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning or heat level as needed. Add additional hot honey or hot sauce for more spice.
04 - Refrigerate the sauce for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. This improves the overall flavor profile.
05 - Serve chilled as a dipping sauce for crispy chicken tenders, or drizzle over fried chicken sandwiches and roasted vegetables.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The way the hot honey cuts through the rich mayo and sour cream is absolutely addictive
- It comes together in literally five minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant
- You can adjust the heat level to make it perfect for everyone at your table
02 -
- The sauce thickens as it chills, so make it slightly thinner than your ideal consistency
- Homemade hot honey is easy to make by warming regular honey with red pepper flakes
03 -
- Whisk the sauce vigorously for a full minute to incorporate as much air as possible
- Let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving to let the flavors open up