Hot Honey Ranch Chicken Tenders (Printable)

A bold, creamy dipping sauce blending ranch tang with sweet heat, ideal for crispy chicken tenders and sandwiches.

# Ingredient List:

→ Base

01 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
02 - 1/4 cup sour cream

→ Flavorings

03 - 2 tablespoons hot honey (or regular honey plus 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

# Steps:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk until smooth and fully incorporated.
02 - Add hot honey, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, dill, parsley, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Whisk until mixture is creamy and uniform in color.
03 - Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning or heat level as needed. Add more hot honey or hot sauce for additional spice.
04 - Refrigerate sauce for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Store in an airtight container.
05 - Serve as a dipping sauce for crispy chicken tenders, or drizzle over fried chicken sandwiches, wraps, and roasted vegetables.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sweet heat from hot honey cuts through the rich creaminess in the most addictive way
  • It comes together in literally five minutes with ingredients you probably already have
  • This sauce makes everything taste better from chicken tenders to roasted vegetables
02 -
  • The flavor transforms completely after that 30 minute rest in the fridge so do not skip this step or it will taste flat
  • Hot honey brands vary wildly in heat level so start with less and add more until you find your perfect sweet spot
  • This sauce keeps beautifully in the fridge for up to a week and actually gets better after a couple of days
03 -
  • Let the sauce come to room temperature for 15 minutes before serving if you have been storing it in the fridge
  • Make a double batch because you will want to put this on everything once you taste it

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