Chicken sliders are small, flavor packed sandwiches that have become a staple for game days, family dinners, parties, and casual meals. They’re SO easy to make, endlessly customizable, and irresistible to both kids and adults. From classic shredded chicken (or grilled) to spicy buffalo, crispy fried, or BBQ, it’s about juicy chicken, soft slider buns, delicious sauces, and balance of textures.
Sliders are such a FUN and crowd pleasing meal. We shared Cheeseburger Sliders which are exactly like cheeseburgers but so much easier to make and feed a crowd!
Also these Turkey Sliders whether it’s saving Thanksgiving leftovers or just for a gathering, quick dinner or potluck, just perfect! And finally we have Philly Cheesesteak Sliders that are like divine! hearty, nutritious and SO TASTY!
So with these chicken sliders, we wanted to share just another inspiration and step by step instructions with variations, expert tips and more!
What Are Chicken Sliders?
Chicken sliders are mini sandwiches made with chicken (shredded, grilled, fried, or saucy) served on soft small buns (slider buns). They’re bite sized by design and often stacked with sauces, cheese, pickles, slaw, or other toppings. Sliders give you all the satisfaction of a classic chicken sandwich in a fun smaller portion that’s ideal for gatherings and shareable meals.
Chicken sliders can be made with chicken that is classic grilled or pan seared, shredded and sauced (like buffalo or BBQ). Also can be made with fried or crispy chicken, pulled chicken versions and can be equally made wtih good old rotisserie chicken.
Why You’ll Love Chicken Sliders
- DELICIOUS! It’s a tasty recipe that makes you enjoy chicken sandwich with a whole new perspective!
- Super versatile recipe, you can swap sauces and styles to suit every taste. Popular ones are made bu following our buffalo chicken, BBQ, honey mustard, grilled, or our hot honey crispy.
- Party ready dish with bite size and easy to serve real food at game days, potlucks, picnics, or dinner parties.
- Customizable with endless types of cheeses, fillings like slaw, pickles, or fresh veggies.
- Quick solution if you have any leftover rotisserie chicken, or any cooked chicken.
- Kid and adult friendly! The smaller portions make sliders a hit with younger eaters.
 Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken. You can use rotisserie or any leftover chicken you have on hand. Today we’re using raw chicken breasts that we are grilling for just a few minutes. If you already have any cooked chicken, skip this step.
- Seasoning. We have a flavorful ancho ranch dry seasoning which have used to season the chicken. You can use Italian, Cajun or any other. Salt and black pepper of course too.
- Sauce. We used ranch, and likewise you can use Buffalo sauce, BBQ, our Garlic Parmesan Sauce, Garlic Sauce. Also try Spicy Mayo, Truffle Aioli, Hot Honey Recipe, Chili Oil Recipeor Harissa Aioli for an exotic tasting slider!
- Dijon Mustard or Mayo. While a sauce like the one above is easy and elevates the dish dramatically, you can use a simple mustard, mayo, hot sauce, honey mustard if you like.
- Cheese: cheddar cheese is a classic, you can also use provolone, pepper jack, parmesan cheese, or mozzarella.
- Extra: Store bought or Homemade Salsa, cream cheese for a creamy effect, fresh. garlic.
- Herbs. Optional, use cilantro, basil, parsley, thyme or your favorite.
- Herb Butter: this is for brushing the sliders before and after cooking. Use butter, your favorite ranch seasoning, and herbs.
- Slider bread. Hawaiian rolls or any slider bread of your choice.
How to Make Chicken Sliders
1. Prepare the Chicken
- This is a from scratch chicken slider which starts with the chicken prep. You can skip this section if using precooked or rotisserie.
- Slice the chicken breast or thighs in half to cook easier. Season them with your favorite seasoning blend. We used an ancho ranch blend, however you can use cajun, Italian or any other.
- Now cook the chicken breasts for 3-5 minutes per side until cooked through.
- Remove the chicken on to a board to cool down slightly.
- Slice the chicken thinly to fit into the sliders without clumping the delicate bread.
2. Prepare The Stuffing mixture for the Chicken Sliders
- Now the chicken is ready if you’ve made it from scratch. If using rotisserie, leftover chicken or even Chicken Fingers, start here.
- Mix in a large plate some ranch seasoning, cream cheese and salsa. Add in some garlic and herbs.
- Now add the chicken pieces into the mixture and mix well.
- Now prepare the other ingredients if using any fillings, cheeses and more.
3. Assemble the Sliders
- Spread sauce or dressing on the bottom bun. We used ranch, homemade or storebought.
- Then add a layer of cheese to hold the bottom layer to the filling.
- Now spread the chicken filling evenly, pressing it down over the cheese.
- Top with another layer of cheese, which will hold the filling to the top layer.
- Finish with the top layer of slider bread.
4. Bake the Chicken Sliders
- Melt some butter with the spice blend and herbs in a small bowl.
- Brush the top of the slider bread generously with the melted butter mixture.
- Cover with foil and bake the chicken sliders until the cheese has melted and the bread is slightly toasted.
5. Serve & Enjoy
Arrange sliders on a platter and enjoy!
 Chicken Sliders Recipe Tips
- Use soft buns: Hawaiian rolls or slider buns balance flavors without overpowering the filling.
- Pick your chicken style: Rotisserie chicken speeds prep, grilled chicken adds smoky depth, fried gives crunchy indulgence.
- Warm the chicken: If using pre cooked chicken, make sure to keep it warm before filling the bread. Warm fillings help the cheese melt and make sliders more cohesive.
- Customize sauces: Mix sauces like buffalo and ranch, or BBQ and honey for unique flavor profiles.
- Serve fresh: Sliders are best eaten right after assembly so buns stay soft and fillings stay juicy.
- Don’t overfill the bread, even though it’s tempting! This is to prevent messiness
- Bake covered for moisture retention so the buns don’t become too crisp.
- Add the herb garlic butter topping for flavoring the bread and for a golden glossy look.
Variations
- Buffalo Chicken Sliders: Toss shredded chicken in buffalo sauce and top with ranch and cheese. Use our Buffalo Chicken Wrap as a guide and serve with our Blue Cheese Dressing!
- BBQ Chicken Sliders: Shredded BBQ chicken with coleslaw and cheddar.
- Grilled Chicken Sliders: Marinated grilled chicken with lettuce and provolone.
- Hot Honey Sliders: Fried hot honey chicken or Chicken Fingers  with hot honey glaze, creamy slaw, and pickles.
- Parmesan Garlic Sliders: Sautéed chicken with garlic parm sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and shredded lettuce.
- Asian Chili Sliders. Korean Fried Chicken Strips with some Chili Oil Recipe served with Asian Cucumber Salad.
- Truffle Chicken Sliders. Grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken tossed in Truffle Aioli and served with Truffle Fries
What makes a good chicken slider?
A good chicken slider balances juicy chicken, soft bun, savory sauce, melting cheese, and texture from toppings for an enjoyable bite sized experience.
Can I use leftover chicken?
Yes! Any leftover roasted or shredded chicken is perfect for quick sliders and pairs well with the sauce of your choice.
What cheese melts best on sliders?
Cheddar, provolone, Swiss, or pepper jack all melt nicely and add creamy richness.
How do I keep chicken sliders from getting soggy?
The best way is to avoid a wet filling and runny sauces spread over the bread. Also you can lightly toast the buns before assembling.
Can I make these ahead?
Prepare the chicken and toppings ahead, then assemble right before serving so buns stay soft.
What bread works best for chicken sliders?
The most popular choices include Hawaiian sweet rolls, mini brioche buns, dinner rolls and pretzel slider buns.
How do you keep sliders warm for a party?
To keep sliders warm, you can cover loosely with foil after baking or use a warming tray or slow cooker (on warm setting). It’s best not to leave them uncovered as they dry out.
Can chicken sliders be frozen?
Yes you can freeze them, but make sure to freeze the sliders assembled and unbaked. The assembled sliders should not have fresh ingredients like coleslaw, tomatoes etc. Freeze for 2-3 months then thaw lightly before baking. Bake wrapped in foil until warm and crispy.
How many sliders per person for a party?
- Appetizer portion: 2–3 sliders per person
- Main dish: 3–4 sliders per person
What sides go well with chicken sliders?
- Potatoes. Truffle Fries, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Air Fryer Frozen French Fries, Crispy Potatoes
- Salad. Apple Salad, Broccoli Salad, Mexican Street Corn Salad
Chicken Sliders
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 Chicken Breasts cut in half, you can also use boneless chicken thighs
- 1 Tablespoons Seasoning Italian, Ancho Ranch or your favorite
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Mix in Chicken Mixture
- 2 tabelspoons Cream cheese
- 1/2 cup Salsa
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 Tablespoons herbs cilantro or your favorite
Assemble the Sliders
- 1 slider bread
- 3 cups cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
Herb Butter
- 3 tabelspoons butter
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 Tablespoons herbs
Instructions
-
This is a from scratch chicken slider which starts with the chicken prep. You can skip this section if using precooked or rotisserie.
-
Slice the chicken breast or thighs in half to cook easier. Season them with your favorite seasoning blend. We used an ancho ranch blend, however you can use cajun, Italian or any other.
-
Now cook the chicken breasts for 3-5 minutes per side until cooked through.
-
Remove the chicken on to a board to cool down slightly.
-
Slice the chicken thinly to fit into the sliders without clumping the delicate bread.
-
Now the chicken is ready if you've made it from scratch. If using rotisserie, leftover chicken or even Chicken Fingers, start here.
-
Mix in a large plate some ranch seasoning, cream cheese and salsa. Add in some garlic and herbs.
-
Now add the chicken pieces into the mixture and mix well.
-
Now prepare the other ingredients if using any fillings, cheeses and more.
-
Spread sauce or dressing on the bottom bun. We used ranch, homemade or storebought.
-
Then add a layer of cheese to hold the bottom layer to the filling.
-
Now spread the chicken filling evenly, pressing it down over the cheese.
-
Top with another layer of cheese, which will hold the filling to the top layer.
-
Finish with the top layer of slider bread.
-
Melt some butter with the spice blend and herbs in a small bowl.
-
Brush the top of the slider bread generously with the melted butter mixture.
-
Cover with foil and bake the chicken sliders until the cheese has melted and the bread is slightly toasted.
-
Arrange sliders on a platter and enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Chicken Sliders Recipe Tips
- Use soft buns: Hawaiian rolls or slider buns balance flavors without overpowering the filling.
- Pick your chicken style: Rotisserie chicken speeds prep, grilled chicken adds smoky depth, fried gives crunchy indulgence.
- Warm the chicken: If using pre cooked chicken, make sure to keep it warm before filling the bread. Warm fillings help the cheese melt and make sliders more cohesive.
- Customize sauces: Mix sauces like buffalo and ranch, or BBQ and honey for unique flavor profiles.
- Serve fresh: Sliders are best eaten right after assembly so buns stay soft and fillings stay juicy.
- Don’t overfill the bread, even though it's tempting! This is to prevent messiness
- Bake covered for moisture retention so the buns don't become too crisp.
- Add the herb garlic butter topping for flavoring the bread and for a golden glossy look.
Variations
- Buffalo Chicken Sliders: Toss shredded chicken in buffalo sauce and top with ranch and cheese. Use our Buffalo Chicken Wrap as a guide and serve with our Blue Cheese Dressing!
- BBQ Chicken Sliders: Shredded BBQ chicken with coleslaw and cheddar.
- Grilled Chicken Sliders: Marinated grilled chicken with lettuce and provolone.
- Hot Honey Sliders: Fried hot honey chicken or Chicken Fingers  with hot honey glaze, creamy slaw, and pickles.
- Parmesan Garlic Sliders: Sautéed chicken with garlic parm sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and shredded lettuce.
- Asian Chili Sliders. Korean Fried Chicken Strips with some Chili Oil Recipe served with Asian Cucumber Salad.
- Truffle Chicken Sliders. Grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken tossed in Truffle Aioli and served with Truffle Fries
What makes a good chicken slider?
A good chicken slider balances juicy chicken, soft bun, savory sauce, melting cheese, and texture from toppings for an enjoyable bite sized experience.
Can I use leftover chicken?
Yes! Any leftover roasted or shredded chicken is perfect for quick sliders and pairs well with the sauce of your choice.
What cheese melts best on sliders?
Cheddar, provolone, Swiss, or pepper jack all melt nicely and add creamy richness.
How do I keep chicken sliders from getting soggy?
The best way is to avoid a wet filling and runny sauces spread over the bread. Also you can lightly toast the buns before assembling.
Can I make these ahead?
Prepare the chicken and toppings ahead, then assemble right before serving so buns stay soft.
What bread works best for chicken sliders?
The most popular choices include Hawaiian sweet rolls, mini brioche buns, dinner rolls and pretzel slider buns.
How do you keep sliders warm for a party?
To keep sliders warm, you can cover loosely with foil after baking or use a warming tray or slow cooker (on warm setting). It's best not to leave them uncovered as they dry out.
Can chicken sliders be frozen?
Yes you can freeze them, but make sure to freeze the sliders assembled and unbaked. The assembled sliders should not have fresh ingredients like coleslaw, tomatoes etc. Freeze for 2-3 months then thaw lightly before baking. Bake wrapped in foil until warm and crispy.
How many sliders per person for a party?
- Appetizer portion: 2–3 sliders per person
- Main dish: 3–4 sliders per person
What sides go well with chicken sliders?
- Potatoes. Truffle Fries, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Air Fryer Frozen French Fries, Crispy Potatoes
- Salad. Apple Salad, Broccoli Salad, Mexican Street Corn Salad
Leave a Reply