Fried Chicken Nuggets with Blue Cheese Dip

Chicken and breading:

• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 minced garlic clove
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• Black pepper
• 4 skinless chicken breasts, chopped into 1-2 inch nuggets
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Canola oil for frying

Spicy blue cheese dip:

• 2/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
• 1 1/2 tablespoon Franks Red Hot Buffalo Sauce
• 1 teaspoon regular hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Chicken and breading:

1. Mix first six marinade ingredients together in a bowl. Add the chopped chicken and coat well.
2. Let sit for at least four hours or overnight.
3. In another bowl, mix together the first five ingredients of the dry mixture.
4. Place a large skillet on a medium heat with about one inch of the canola oil in it.
5. Using a thermometer, heat the oil slowly to between 350-360 degrees.
6. Working in small batches of about six nuggets, toss them in the flour coating well.
7. Place them on a wire rack and toss the other pieces of chicken until all have been coated and are ready to fry.
8. When the oil has reached temperature, gently place about eight nuggets into the oil.
9. Cook for about four minutes until golden brown.
10. Using a spatula or tongs lift each nugget from the oil and drain on some kitchen towel.
11. You'll have to keep a close eye on the oil as it'll get cooler when you start to cook the chicken.
12. Turn up the heat slowly to keep it at 360 degrees.
13. Sprinkle with sea salt and chopped thyme, serve warm along with the spicy blue cheese dip.

Spicy blue cheese dip:

1. In a medium bowl whisk the yogurt and blue cheese together.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and combine until smooth and creamy.
3. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.