Name: Jimmy’s Bang Bang Chicken Sliders
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 1 servings
Ingredients: 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs; 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided; 1/2 cup ketchup; 1/2 cup Sriracha chili sauce; 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons honey, divided; 1/2 cup water; 3 tablespoons lime juice; 2 teaspoons grated lime zest; 2 teaspoons minced garlic; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 12 mini pretzel buns, split; 12 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese, halved; 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; Coarse salt, optional; 2 green onions, chopped; SRIRACHA-LIME DIPPING SAUCE:; 1 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons Sriracha chili sauce; 2 tablespoons lime juice; 2 teaspoons grated lime zest

I simmer chicken thighs in a spicy-sweet sauce, shred them and then pile 'em high on pretzel buns to create an incredibly addictive party food. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

Ingredients

3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup Sriracha chili sauce

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons honey, divided

1/2 cup water

3 tablespoons lime juice

2 teaspoons grated lime zest

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon pepper

12 mini pretzel buns, split

12 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese, halved

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Coarse salt, optional

2 green onions, chopped

SRIRACHA-LIME DIPPING SAUCE:

1 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise

2 tablespoons Sriracha chili sauce

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 teaspoons grated lime zest

Instructions

1 In a Dutch oven over medium heat, brown chicken in 1 tablespoon olive oil for 5 minutes.

2 Meanwhile, stir together ketchup, chili sauce, 1/2 cup honey, water, lime juice and zest, garlic, ginger and pepper. Pour over browned chicken and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until chicken is tender, 25-30 minutes. Remove chicken and bring sauce back to a simmer; cook until thick, about 5 minutes. Shred chicken with 2 forks; toss with reduced sauce.

3 Preheat oven to 375°. Place bottom buns in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Place half a slice of cheese on each of the buns; spoon chicken mixture on top of cheese. Top with remaining cheese; replace bun tops. Stir together the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, remaining 2 tablespoons honey and the red pepper flakes. Brush over bun tops. Sprinkle with the coarse salt if desired.

4 Bake until tops are golden and cheese has melted, 10-15 minutes. Garnish with green onions.

5 Stir together all sauce ingredients. Serve alongside sliders.