Description
A quick and delicious twist on classic hot dogs, these Chicken Parmesan Bird Dogs combine crispy breaded chicken fingers with rich spaghetti sauce and melted cheeses, all nestled in buttery toasted buns and garnished with fresh basil for an easy, crowd-pleasing meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bird Dogs
- 8 hot dog buns
- 8 breaded chicken fingers, cooked
- 1 cup spaghetti sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 Tbsp melted garlic butter
- Fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350ºF (175ºC) to prepare it for melting the cheese on the sandwiches.
- Warm the spaghetti sauce: Heat the spaghetti sauce in the microwave for 45 seconds or until it is warm to ensure it blends nicely with the other ingredients.
- Butter the buns: Brush the inside of each hot dog bun with the melted garlic butter. This adds flavor and helps the bun toast nicely in the oven.
- Assemble the sandwiches: Place one cooked breaded chicken finger inside each buttered hot dog bun.
- Add the sauce: Spoon 2 tablespoons of the warmed spaghetti sauce on top of each chicken finger, spreading it evenly.
- Top with cheese: Add a generous layer of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, then sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top for extra flavor.
- Bake to melt cheese: Arrange the sandwiches on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the bird dogs from the oven and garnish with chopped fresh basil before serving for a fresh aromatic finish.
Notes
- You can use store-bought cooked chicken fingers or make your own for a homemade touch.
- Substitute spaghetti sauce with marinara or your favorite pasta sauce for different flavor variations.
- For crispier buns, toast them slightly before assembling.
- Fresh basil adds a nice aroma and flavor, but you can omit or substitute with Italian seasoning if preferred.
- This recipe can be doubled easily to serve more guests.
