Hot Honey Pimento Cheese Fried Chicken Sandwich

Name: Hot Honey Pimento Cheese Fried Chicken Sandwich
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 8 min
Yield: 1 servings
Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients: 1 large croissant, sliced in half; 1 tbsp mayonnaise; 1 cooked fried chicken cutlet; 2 tbsp hot honey; 3 tbsp pimento cheese; 6-8 candied jalapeño slices; 1 tsp honey, for drizzling (optional)

This Southern fried chicken sandwich layers crispy chicken glazed in hot honey with creamy pimento cheese and spicy-sweet candied jalapeños on a toasted croissant. It's a celebration-worthy sandwich that balances heat, richness, and textural contrast.

🌍Southern American 🏷️Fried chicken sandwich 🏷️Pimento cheese 🏷️Hot honey 🏷️Croissant sandwich Southern

🏷️

🏷️Comfort food

-0:00

TikTok

Total

8 min

Servings

1

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$16–$26

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

1 large croissant, sliced in half
1 tbsp mayonnaise
1 cooked fried chicken cutlet
2 tbsp hot honey
3 tbsp pimento cheese
6-8 candied jalapeño slices
1 tsp honey, for drizzling (optional)optional

7 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
Slice a croissant in half lengthwise.
2
Spread mayonnaise on the cut side of both croissant halves.
3
Place the croissant halves, mayonnaise-side down, in a pan over medium heat and toast until golden brown and crispy.
4
Place the cooked fried chicken cutlet in a shallow bowl and pour hot honey over it, ensuring it's well coated.
5
Place the hot honey-glazed chicken cutlet on the bottom half of the toasted croissant.
6
Top the chicken with a generous spoonful of pimento cheese.
7
Arrange the candied jalapeño slices over the pimento cheese.
8
For extra sweetness, drizzle a little more honey over the jalapeños.
9
Place the top half of the croissant on the sandwich, press gently, and serve immediately.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Toast the croissant halves in a dry skillet or toaster oven until golden and crispy; this prevents sogginess and adds textural contrast.
Apply the hot honey glaze to the warm fried chicken just before assembly so it adheres and stays glossy.
Use room-temperature pimento cheese so it spreads easily without breaking the toasted croissant.
Assemble in the order: mayo base, chicken, hot honey drizzle, pimento cheese, candied jalapeños—this order keeps structural integrity.

Substitutions

Hot honey → spicy sriracha mixed with honey (1:1 ratio) or cayenne-infused butter
Pimento cheese → spicy cheese spread or roasted red pepper cream cheese
Croissant → buttered brioche bun or soft ciabatta roll
Candied jalapeños → fresh jalapeño slices or pickled jalapeños (drains excess liquid first)

Storage & make-ahead

Assemble immediately before serving. Store leftover pimento cheese refrigerated for up to 5 days; reheat the fried chicken gently in a 325°F oven for 5 minutes if making ahead.

Common Questions

Can I make the pimento cheese ahead of time?

Yes. Pimento cheese keeps refrigerated for up to 5 days. Make it a day or two in advance and assemble the sandwich just before serving.

What's the best way to keep the croissant from getting soggy?

Spread mayo on the inside of both croissant halves as a moisture barrier, and assemble the sandwich no more than 5 minutes before eating.

Can I use store-bought fried chicken?

Yes. Use a high-quality rotisserie or deli fried chicken cutlet, then brush or drizzle with the hot honey glaze just before assembling.

How spicy is this sandwich?

The heat comes from the hot honey and candied jalapeños. Start with fewer jalapeño slices if you prefer mild; the hot honey adds warmth but not extreme spice.