Nashville Hot Chicken Melt

SERVES: 4

COOK TIME: 20 Min

Trendy? Yes. Weekend perfect? You bet it is. Easy to prepare? Absolutely, thanks to a few refrigerated and frozen shortcuts. We do have to admit that our Test Kitchen crew went bonkers for these, and it didn’t take long for them to disappear after they were photographed. This is one of those dishes that looks so basic, you really wonder “could it be that good?” Well, it is!

What You'll Need

2 tablespoons hot sauce
4 frozen breaded chicken breasts
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
4 tablespoons butter, melted
4 slices white bread
4 slices Colby jack cheese
8 slices bread & butter pickles

What to Do

Brush hot sauce on both sides of chicken breasts and place on a baking sheet. Cook according to package directions.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine brown sugar, cayenne pepper, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, and melted butter; mix well. Top bread slices with cheese and a chicken breast. Generously brush chicken with spice mixture and place back in oven for 2 to 3 minutes to melt cheese. Remove from oven, top with pickle slices, and serve.

Test Kitchen Tip:

When it comes to selecting the chicken, we liked a buttermilk breaded variety, but you can use whatever floats your boat. Prefer batter dipped tenders? Go for it!