Go Back

The Ultimate Chicken Crisper & Jalapeno Pimento Sandwich

Pimento cheese, candied jalapeños, a drizzle of chipotle honey sauce, and juicy chicken breasts you know and love. We take it up several notches adding Dad’s Gourmet Foods candied jalapeno peppers and jalapeno relish.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings 6 People

Ingredients
  

  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Your preferred cooking oil (we use peanut oil in our outdoor fryer)
  • 1 Jar Dad’s Gourmet Foods Candied Jalapeno Peppers
  • 1 Pkg Brioche buns, or your favorite buns

MARINADE

  • 4 Tsp garlic powder
  • 2 Cups buttermilk
  • 1 Cup dill pickle juice

BATTER

Wet Ingredients

  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 Tsp backing powder
  • 1 Cup buttermilk

Dry Ingredients

  • 1/2 Cup Cornstartch
  • 2.5 Cups General purpose flour
  • 2 Tsp Baking powder
  • 1 Tbsp Powdered sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Lemon pepper
  • 1 Tbs Coarse ground black pepper
  • 1 Tsp Salt (we prefer sea salt)
  • 3 Tsp Garlic powder
  • 2 Tsp Onion powder
  • 3 Tsp Smoked sweet paprika
  • 3 Tsp Ground mustard powder

PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD

  • 1/2 Cup Dad’s Gourmet Foods (DGF) Candied Jalapeño Relish
  • 1 Jar 4 oz jar diced pimentos
  • 4 Ounces Cream cheese, softened
  • 8 Ounces Shredded Colby Jack Cheese
  • 8 Ounces Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
  • 1/4 Cup Quality mayo
  • 1/2 Tsp Salt
  • 1/2 Tsp Ground black pepper
  • 1/2 Tsp Ground cayenne pepper

CHIPOTLE HONEY SAUCE

  • 2/3 Cup Honey
  • 1/4 Cup Water
  • 1/4 Cup Ketchup/Catsup
  • 1 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar
  • 1-2 Tsp Chipotle chili powder, your preferred heat level
  • 1/2 Tsp Salt
  • 1/2 Tsp Hot sauce (I prefer Tobasco)

Instructions
 

PREP CHICKEN BREASTS

  • Place the chicken breasts inside a gallon size baggie and using a rolling pin, or meat tenderizing tool work the breasts down to about 1/2 inch thickness. This will help break down the membrane that is on the outside of the breasts so marinade can also help tenderize. Remove from baggie and cut each breast in half.
  • In a mixing bowl, add your marinade ingredients (buttermilk, pickle juice, garlic powder), mix well.
  • Place chicken breasts in the marinade mixture, cover and place in refrigerator for 1-2 hours. Suggestion: 4-6 hours will render the meat more tender.

Prep wet and dry batter

  • Start with another large mixing bowl. Add the eggs, baking powder and buttermilk. Mix well, set in refrigerator until ready to batter the chicken breasts.
  • Mix the dry batter ingredients. Again, in a large mixing bow, add the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, lemon pepper, salt, pepper, mustard powder, smoked sweet paprika, onion powder and powdered sugar and mix well.

Make the honey chipotle sauce

  • In a small sauce pan, combine honey, water, ketchup, vinegar, chili powder, salt and hot sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.

Deep frying the chicken breasts

  • Heat your cooking oil to 350 degrees. We use an outdoor deep fryer, but you can also use a Dutch oven, or deep fry pan.
  • Pour 1/3 cup of the dry batter mixture into the wet batter mixture, stir to blend well.
  • Remove the chicken from the marinade and dredge well in the dry batter. Then dip in the wet batter then back into the dry batter. Place on a wire rack until ready to place into fryer.
  • Gently place one chicken breast at a time in the fryer and cook for five minutes on each side, until an internal temp of 170 degrees is obtained using an instant read thermometer. Remove from fryer and place on a wire rack to cool.
  • Heat the buns you’ll be serving the sandwiches with. I like to dab a little butter on the buns and toast on a griddle or cast iron skillet until I get a nice, crispy golden brown.
  • Build the sandwiches! Start by adding the honey chipotle sauce on each bun. Then add one of the chicken breasts, top with the pimento cheese, then add a heaping of Dad’s Gourmet Foods Candied Jalapeno Peppers before closing the masterpiece with the other side of the bun.
  • Now get ready for a taste explosion of the best, darn chicken crisper sandwich you’ve ever eaten! It might be a bit messy, but it has it all! Enjoy!