This recipe I am sharing with you today is one that I have had my eye on for literally years. South Carolina Bird Dog Sandwiches. I first saw this recipe on Pinterest quite some time ago and had saved it to my private list of recipes that I wanted to try.
It comes from a blog called Plain Chicken. It was posted way back in 2014 so that tells you just how long I have been wanting to try it.
As it happens, life got in the way and I just never got around to it, until now that is! I just happened to have everything I needed in the house and I went with it!
I was not disappointed! This hot sandwich was well worth the wait and I won't be waiting that long to make it again, I can promise you!
So just what is a South Carolina Bird Dog sandwich? I can promise you I am not cooking a bird dog here!
The original sandwich comes from restaurant in Anderson, South Carolina called Daddy Rabbitt's over 25 years ago. That original diner is no longer in operation, but the sandwich lives on!
This delicious sandwich is the perfect marriage of bacon, chicken tenders, cheese and honey mustard. Or, as I have also seen it described, the perfect option for those who don't like hot dogs! I can't imagine not liking hotdogs myself, but it takes all kinds!
These hot chicken and bacon sandwiches are great for picnics, cook outs or any time at all really. They are the perfect quick supper option for those days when you really can't be asked to cook much!
You could of course go whole hog and make everything from scratch, chicken fingers, dressing, etc. But I have taken the easy option here myself and I can tell you its really delicious!
I have also taken the liberty to downsize the recipe to just one serving, easy for you to multiply the ingredients to feed as many or as few people as you are wanting to feed!
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A SOUTH CAROLINA BIRD DOG SANDWICH
This can be as simple or as complicated as you wish to make it. This is the simple version.
- 1 good quality hot dog bun, split and buttered on the cut sides
- 1 1/2 slices of streaky bacon crumbled
- 2 cooked breaded chicken fingers, keep hot (I do mine in the air fryer, only takes about 5 to 8 minutes)
- 2 TBS grated cheddar cheese
- 2 tsp honey mustard salad dressing
Because there are so few ingredients it make sense to use the best that you can procure. I used D'Italiano Brizzolio soft sausage buns. They are nice and don't fall apart when you are eating them. I hate it when hog dog or sausage buns don't hold together in the eating!
I used PC Buttermilk Breaded Chicken Fillets. I like them because they are made from the whole fillet of chicken and not ground up chicken shaped into a chicken strip. They are also all breast meat.
I like to use what is called streaky bacon in the UK. Bacon strips with a nice quantity of meat in ratio to fat. Smoked. I usually keep mine in the freezer. I roll each strip into a roll and pop the rolls into a baggie, ready to take out as and when I need bacon.
You can take out only as many slices as you want. They thaw out really quickly. For today I took out two slices, thawed, cut them in half crosswise and grilled them until crisp. You could crumble the bacon into the sandwiches, or just put in the whole half slices.
I used Hellman's honey mustard dressing. You could make your own from scratch if you wanted to. This one looks really tasty! I used Kraft double cheddar pre-grated cheese. I usually like to grate my own cheese, but I had this and was going for a quick and easy meal.
HOW TO MAKE A SOUTH CAROLINA BIRD DOG SANDWICH
This is so simple, quick and easy to make.
Preheat the broiler of your oven to high. Place the hotdog bun, buttered cut sides up on a small baking tray.
Pop the bun under the broiler and grill until toasted. This should only take about a minute. Remove from the oven.
Place the crisp slices of bacon on the bottom half of the bun. Top with the chicken fingers. (I cut mine into 1/2 inch slices) Sprinkle the cheese over top of the chicken.
Pop the sandwich back under the grill for several minutes until the cheese melts. Drizzle the top with the honey mustard dressing and serve immediately.
You don't really need to toast the bun, but I don't know any bun that is not improved by buttering it and toasting it! That's just me. I found myself wondering if maybe even garlic butter would be a nice toasting option!
I have also heard that people like ranch dressing on their sandwiches. I personally thought the honey mustard dressing was just perfect. A bit spicy and a bit sweet! Of course you can douse your sandwich in as much dressing as you like! I used a bit of restraint myself today!
I served my sandwich simply with some crisp celery sticks. Any way to get in some vegetables. I think French fries are the usual option, or even potato chips.
This made for a lovely supper that was quick and easy to make and quite delicious. It was also quite ample. The next time you are wanting a quick supper, I highly recommend.
I have to say it was a lot more delicious than just a hot dog, but then again, when I am in the mood for a hot dog, nothing else will do! I really like them both!
Some other hot sandwich options that you might also enjoy are:
HOT HAM & CHEESE WITH BACON & CARAMELIZED ONIONS - A fresh poppy seed kaiser roll filled with plenty of shaved ham, smoky bacon, swiss cheese and caramelized onions. Wrapped in foil and heated through, this makes a great supper sandwich, especially with a cup of hot soup on the side!
THE ULTIMATE MEATLOAF SANDWICH - You will need leftover cooked meatloaf to make these delicious sandwiches. Slabs of Diner Glazed meat loaf are brushed with BBQ sauce and browned in some butter. A slice of cheese is melted on top and then the meatloaf is layered on a half baguette spread with horseradish sauce and grainy mustard, as well as crisp lettuce and then topped with some crisp battered onion rings. Now you know why I called it the Ultimate!
Yield: 1
Carolina Bird Dog
Cook time: 15 MinTotal time: 15 Min
Quantities are given for one hot sandwich only. Multiply to make more. This is a simple and delicious alternative for someone who is not fond of hotdogs. Apparently it comes from South Carolina.
Ingredients
- 1 good quality hot dog bun, split and buttered on the cut sides
- 1 1/2 slices of streaky bacon crumbled
- 2 cooked breaded chicken fingers, keep hot (I do mine in the air fryer, only takes about 5 to 8 minutes)
- 2 TBS grated cheddar cheese
- 2 tsp honey mustard salad dressing
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler of your oven to high. Place the hotdog bun, buttered cut sides up on a small baking tray.
- Pop the bun under the broiler and grill until toasted. This should only take about a minute. Remove from the oven.
- Place the crisp slices of bacon on the bottom half of the bun. Top with the chicken fingers. (I cut mine into 1/2 inch slices) Sprinkle the cheese over top of the chicken.
- Pop the sandwich back under the grill for several minutes until the cheese melts.
- Drizzle the top with the honey mustard dressing and serve immediately.
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These sound delicious Marie, I'm not a huge fan of hot dogs, must be one of a few people. But I'm a great fan of chicken, so will try this soon.
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