The first bite of a Whataburger Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich is pure Texas magic. Crispy, golden chicken tenders nestle between thick slices of buttery Texas toast, topped with melted Monterey Jack cheese and drizzled with that signature sweet and tangy honey barbecue sauce. This isn’t just another fast food sandwich, it’s a Texas treasure winning hearts since 2001. While nothing quite replaces the experience of visiting an actual Whataburger, this copycat recipe brings all those beloved flavors straight to your kitchen, complete with the messy, delicious eating experience that makes this sandwich legendary.
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Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
The magic of Whataburger’s chicken strip sandwich lies in its perfect balance of textures and flavors. The chicken gets double-coated for maximum crispiness, while the thick Texas toast provides a sturdy foundation that won’t fall apart under the weight of toppings. The combination of tangy honey barbecue sauce and creamy Monterey Jack cheese creates the signature flavor profile, making this sandwich a menu staple. The key is achieving restaurant-quality fried chicken at home while building layers of flavor that complement rather than compete.
Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need:
- Texas toast – Provides thick, buttery foundation that can handle generous toppings without falling apart
- Butter – Creates golden, crispy exterior on toast while adding rich flavor
- Monterey Jack cheese slices – Melts smoothly and adds a creamy texture that balances the tangy sauce
- Honey barbecue sauce – Delivers signature sweet and tangy flavor that defines this sandwich
- Chicken tenders – Provide lean protein with perfect shape for sandwich assembly
- All-purpose flour – Creates coating base that helps batter adhere and develop crispiness
- Salt – Enhances chicken flavor and balances the sweetness of sauce
- Black pepper – Adds gentle heat and depth to chicken seasoning
- Garlic salt – Contributes savory complexity that elevates simple fried chicken
- Buttermilk – Tenderizes chicken while creating thick batter for superior crunch
- Frying oil – Ensures even cooking and golden color development
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How to Make a Chicken Strip Sandwich
- Combine flour, salt, pepper, and garlic salt in a bowl.
- Pour buttermilk into the flour mixture and stir to combine.
- Coat the chicken tenders with the batter and place them on a rack and allow them to dry.
- Heat oil to 350 degrees.
- Gently place a few of the battered chicken tenders into the hot oil.
- Cook until they are golden brown.
- Drain on a clean wire rack that has been placed on top of a baking sheet.
- Butter both sides of the Texas Toast.
- Cook the bread on a skillet or a griddle until the bread is golden brown.
- Flip the bread over and brown the other side of the bread.
- Place three chicken strips on four slices of bread.
- Top strips with Monterey Jack Cheese.
- Spread barbecue sauce on the remaining four slices of bread.
- Place bread with BBQ sauce on top of the cheese.
Whataburger Honey Barbecue Sauce
Get saucy – this sticky and sweet sauce is a big treat on chicken. I bet you didn’t know that you can purchase Whataburger’s Honey BBQ Sauce online. It’s so much easier to buy Whataburger’s authentic sauce than trying to make it yourself.
You can imagine you’re eating at a Whataburger’s while never leaving your house. Below are three links I found if you don’t live near an HEB or Central Market store where you can walk in and buy the sauce.
Other sauces you should try are their spicy ketchup, mustard, and creamy pepper dressing. All are so good that it is hard to decide which sauce you are going to enjoy when you go there.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
These sandwiches are best enjoyed immediately while chicken is crispy and cheese is melted. However, leftover fried chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating tips: To maintain crispiness, reheat chicken in a 375°F oven for 5-7 minutes rather than using the microwave. Toast fresh bread and reassemble with new cheese and sauce for best results.
Make-ahead strategies: Chicken can be fried earlier in the day and reheated before serving. Store at room temperature for up to 2 hours, then refrigerate if holding longer.
Whataburger Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich
Ingredients
- 8 slices Texas Toast
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 8 slices Monterey Jack Cheese
- 4 tablespoons honey barbecue sauce
Chicken Strips
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 2 1/2 cups buttermilk
- oil for frying
Instructions
Chicken Tender Instructions
- Make the seasoned flour by combining flour, salt, pepper, and garlic salt. Stir the flour until it is well blended.
- Make a batter of the seasoned flour and buttermilk by pouring in about 1/2 cup of the buttermilk into the flour. You want the batter a little shaggy.
- Coat the chicken with the batter and place on a rack and allow it to dry. The batter may fall off when cooking if you don’t allow the batter to try the chicken.
- Discard remaining buttermilk.
- Heat oil to 350 degrees.
- Gently place 3 or 4 breaded chicken tenders into the hot oil. Cook chicken tenders a few at a time until they are golden brown. Drain on a clean wire rack that has been placed on top of a baking sheet.
Chicken tender sandwich assembly
- Butter both sides of the Texas Toast. Cook the bread on a skillet or a griddle until the bread is golden brown, flip the bread over and brown the other side of the bread.
- Place three chicken strips on four slices of bread, then top with 2 slices of Monterey Jack Cheese, and then spread about 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce on one slice of the bread.
Nutrition
Love Whataburger? Try these copycat recipes!
Favorite Sandwich Recipes
- Arby’s Chicken Salad Sandwich
- Baconator Breakfast Sandwich
- Bennigans Monte Cristo
- Burger King Whopper Sandwich
- Copycat Chick Fil A Sandwich
- Country Fried Steak Sandwich
- Egg McMuffin Sandwich
- Frisco Sandwich
- Panera Steak Sandwich
- Sloppy Joe Recipe
- Starbucks Breakfast Sandwiches
Be sure to check out more of my sandwich recipes and the best fast food copycat recipes here on CopyKat.com!
I moved to Colorado, I miss Whataburger. Thank you for this recipe. I miss those chicken fingers.
My Mom liked this!
Quite possibly this is the best sandwich in the whole world.
I can’t wait to give this a try!
This sandwich was great. I really missed not having these since I moved overseas. I can’t wait to check out more of your website if I could just look away from this tasty sandwich.
This was very much like the real deal.
I live overseas, and I miss these recipes from home. Loved this sandwich.
very good. Thank you for sharing!.,.,.,.,
I have the same question. Do you soak the tenders in the buttermilk?
Loved this! I always wanted to try it with Cheddar cheese. And I did!
Look how delicious the sandwiches look! Thank you for sharing the recipe!! Can’t wait to try it!
Why do you need 2 1/2 cups of buttermilk if you only use 1/2 cup
The flour tends to turn the buttermilk into paste. I hate that.
We now have 2 Whataburger’s in our town What a treat. Biggest burgers in all of franchisedum. This sauce is good on many things but it was made for fried chicken. Thanks, Steph for the recipe.