Hot Honey Ranch Chicken Tenders Sauce (Printable)
Creamy, tangy sauce with sweet heat, ideal for dipping or drizzling over savory dishes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Base
01 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
02 - 1/4 cup sour cream
→ Flavorings
03 - 2 tablespoons hot honey (or regular honey + 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
# How to Make It:
01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk until smooth and uniform.
02 - Add hot honey, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, dill, parsley, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Whisk until fully incorporated and creamy.
03 - Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning or heat level as needed, adding more hot honey or hot sauce if you prefer more spice.
04 - Refrigerate the sauce for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld together.
05 - Serve as a dipping sauce for crispy chicken tenders, or drizzle over sandwiches, wraps, and salads.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The way the sweet heat hits first, then that cool creamy ranch follows, creating this perfect flavor push and pull that keeps you going back for just one more bite.
- It takes literally five minutes to throw together, but tastes like something you'd get at that trendy chicken spot downtown with the two hour wait.
02 -
- The sauce thickens up in the fridge, so if you prefer it thinner, stir in another tablespoon of buttermilk right before serving.
- This sauce actually gets better after a day or two in the fridge, giving all those dried herbs time to really soften and bloom.
03 -
- If you only have regular honey, add a half teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce to mimic that hot honey kick.
- Letting the sauce sit for at least an hour before serving makes a huge difference in flavor development.