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Ready to indulge in a taste of the south with this unique Bird Dog Sandwich? Chicken tenders, bacon, honey mustard, and cheddar cheese all on a hot dog bun; get ready to dig in y’all!
An Anderson original, the bird dog sandwich is loaded with all the good stuff! The marriage of chicken tenders, soft hot dog buns, melted cheese, bacon, oh my, it just works.
This is one of those recipes where if you know, you know. If you don’t well I just feel sorry for you. Ha!
Southern bird dog sandwiches … what the heck is that?! It’s really an alternative to a hot dog. A flavorful meal you can’t get enough of.
The best way I can describe it is a “working man’s lunch,” as my Grandma used to say. Hearty, easy, fast, and delicious – what more can any working man ask for?!
This savory chicken sandwich is near and dear to my heart, being from the south. A famous southern bird dog sandwich is hard to come by; that’s why I created this recipe to make it right at home.
I’ve been told this is the best copycat version of the original traditional bird dog from JC’s Restaurant.
If you can’t make it to j c’s sandwich shoppe, then you must get all the ingredients and make the best Bird Dog Sandwich right at home! Bring the whole family in for this one.
Some of our other favorite sandwiches we have on our site include: Italian Subs, Croque Monsieur Recipe, and Grilled Italian Sausage Sandwiches.
Jump to:
- WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- HOW TO MAKE BIRD DOG SANDWICH:
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
- WHERE DID THIS SANDWICH ORIGINATE?
- WHAT OTHER SAUCES CAN I USE?
- WHAT CAN I SERVE WITH THIS SANDWICH?
- ANY OTHER SUBSTITUTIONS?
- HOW TO STORE:
- DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Southern Chicken Bird Dog Sandwich Recipe
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- It makes a lot to feed a crowd.
- It uses store-bought ingredients and fresh ingredients to throw this together quickly.
- Popular flavor combination makes this a pleasing meal.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- Hot dog bun
- Thick-cut bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
- Crispy chicken fingers
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Honey mustard
HOW TO MAKE BIRD DOG SANDWICH:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place the hot dog buns on a sheet tray. Add half of the crispy bacon to the inside of each bun.
- Add a crispy chicken tender to each bun.
- Top with the remaining bacon.
- Add the cheese on top. Place in the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the buns are lightly toasted.
- Add honey mustard to taste and serve immediately.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
WHERE DID THIS SANDWICH ORIGINATE?
The original bird dog originated at JC’s Restaurant in South Carolina.
They are great for a downtown lunch option – with daily side specials and an endless selection of sandwiches, lunch will never be boring.
WHAT OTHER SAUCES CAN I USE?
You can you any sauce you like to customize to your taste. While honey-mustard sauce is the classic, some others I suggest are:
- Beer cheese – our creamy beer cheese is amazing on these!
- Ranch dressing
- Honey bbq sauce
- Wild honey mustard
- Buffalo sauce
WHAT CAN I SERVE WITH THIS SANDWICH?
Side possibilities are endless! Here are some of our favorites:
- Potato chips
- Tater Tots – try our Air Fryer Tater Tots with these!
- Bacon Green Beans
- Mac salad
- Napa Slaw
- Crispy Fries – try our homemade french fries
- Pinto beans
- Side salad
- Potato Salad
- And don’t forget a moon pie!
ANY OTHER SUBSTITUTIONS?
Our recipe is for a traditional southern bird dog sandwich, but you can switch it up with the different sauces listed above.
Some other custom touches you might like to try:
- Buffalo Bird Dawg – toss the chicken tender in buffalo sauce, and instead of honey mustard add some ranch or blue cheese dressing.
- Loaded Bird Dawg – Add extra bacon and cheese—top with sour cream instead of honey mustard and freshly sliced green onions.
- Honey BBQ Bird Dawg – switch out the honey mustard for honey bbq sauce, you can even coat the chicken tender with it first. Top it off with a healthy dose of slaw.
HOW TO STORE:
Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Wrap leftovers in foil and place in the oven until warmed through. You can also microwave leftovers.
Freeze for up to 3 months.
Wrap leftover sandwiches in plastic wrap, then freezer-safe foil. Place them in the freezer in a freezer-safe container.
To thaw, place the dish in the fridge overnight.
DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- This makes a large batch, but you can easily double it to feed more or halve the recipe as needed.
- Custom options available, see my tips above on that.
- This freezes well, see my tips above on how to store.
- Use store-bought ingredients to bring this together quickly.
Looking for that bird dog special in the comfort of your own home?
Try our Bird Dog Sandwich STAT!
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
If you’ve tried this BIRD DOG SANDWICH, let me know how it turned out in the comments! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!
Southern Chicken Bird Dog Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 hot dog buns
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon cooked crispy and crumbled
- 6 cooked breaded chicken tenders
- 1 & 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- honey mustard to serve
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place the hot dog buns on a sheet tray. Add half of the crispy bacon to the inside of each bun.6 hot dog buns, 6 slices thick-cut bacon
- Add a crispy chicken tender to each bun.6 cooked breaded chicken tenders
- Top with the remaining bacon.
- Add the cheese on top. Place in the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the buns are lightly toasted.1 & 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Add honey mustard to taste and serve immediately.honey mustard
Notes
- This makes a large batch, but you can easily double it to feed more or halve the recipe as needed.
- Custom options available, see my tips above on that.
- This freezes well, see my tips above on how to store.
- Use store-bought ingredients to bring this together quickly.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
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