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a bird dog recipe

Bird Dog Sandwich

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Author: Sandy Coughlin
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
This Bird Dog sandwich reinvents the classic hot dog with crispy chicken tenders in a buttery brioche bun, smothered in tangy-sweet sauce and piled high with fresh toppings.

Ingredients

For the Sauce

  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons smokey barbecue sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ tablespoon lemon juice
  • Splash of Worcestershire
  • teaspoon of cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of finely sliced chives

For the Sandwiches

  • 4 extra large breaded chicken fingers/strips/tenders, (or enough to fill a standard hot dog bun)
  • 4 thick-cut bacon slices, cooked and crisp
  • 4 brioche hot dog buns

For the Toppings

  • Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
  • Romaine or iceberg lettuce, shredded
  • Red onion, thinly sliced
  • Dill pickles, thinly sliced
  • Pepperoncini, thinly sliced
  • Cheese is optional

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, thoroughly whisk together all sauce ingredients until smooth.
  • Cover and refrigerate while prepping the remaining components of this recipe.
  • Cook the chicken according to the package instructions (either in the oven or air fryer).
  • Once the chicken is done cooking, briefly toast the buns on the same pan (about 1 minute).
  • Cook the bacon using your preferred method (oven, stovetop, or air fryer) until crispy.
  • Then, transfer the cooked bacon slices to paper towels to drain any excess grease.
  • Spread a generous layer of sauce on both sides of each bun.
  • Add the chicken, crispy bacon, lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles, and pepperoncini.
  • Complete each sandwich with a turn or two of cracked black pepper and an extra drizzle of the sauce, if desired.

Notes

Recipe notes:
The cook time in this recipe is listed as 10 minutes as I prefer to cook the chicken tenders in the air fryer for an ultra crispy finish. If you decide to cook the chicken in the oven, you will need to plan for a longer time (about 15-25 minutes at 400F).

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 485kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 42g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 20g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 64mg, Sodium: 623mg, Potassium: 273mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 74IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 14mg, Iron: 1mg