These Buffalo Chicken Sliders are a simple, cheesy, and flavorful appetizer or easy family meal. Tender shredded chicken is tossed with creamy ranch dressing and tangy hot sauce, layered onto soft dinner rolls, then baked until the cheese is perfectly melted.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Big buffalo flavor: Hot sauce, ranch, and seasoned chicken create a deliciously tangy and creamy filling.
- Easy to make: This recipe uses simple ingredients and comes together quickly once the chicken is shredded.
- Cheesy and satisfying: A generous layer of Mexican-blend cheese makes every bite warm and gooey.
- Family-friendly: Serve these sliders for game day, parties, casual dinners, or a fun weekend meal.
Ingredients
- Shredded chicken
- 2 cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1/3 cup hot sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Dinner rolls
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare the shredded chicken and set it aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, ranch dressing, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper. Stir until the chicken is evenly coated.
- Carefully cut the dinner rolls in half horizontally, keeping the rolls together if possible. Place the bottom half in a 9×13-inch casserole dish or on a baking sheet.
- Spread the buffalo chicken mixture evenly over the bottom buns.
- Sprinkle the shredded Mexican-blend cheese evenly over the chicken.
- Place the top half of the rolls over the cheese.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
- Brush the seasoned butter generously over the tops of the buns.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tops are lightly golden.
- Slice into individual sliders and serve warm.
Tips & Tricks
- Use freshly shredded cheese: It melts smoothly and gives the sliders a wonderfully gooey texture.
- Adjust the heat: Use less hot sauce for mild sliders or add more for extra buffalo flavor.
- Keep the rolls connected: Cutting the rolls horizontally as one piece makes assembling and baking the sliders easier.
- Don’t skip the butter topping: The seasoned butter adds flavor and helps the buns become lightly crisp and golden.
- Use leftover chicken: This is a great way to turn leftover cooked chicken into an easy meal.
- Check your ranch and hot sauce: For a halal-friendly recipe, choose products made without alcohol or other non-halal ingredients.
Details
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes, plus time needed to prepare the chicken
- Yield: 12 sliders, depending on roll size
- Category: Appetizer, Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Difficulty: Easy
- Dietary Notes: Halal-friendly when all packaged ingredients are halal-certified or verified suitable
Notes
For a milder version, reduce the hot sauce and add a little extra ranch dressing. You can also use cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a cheddar-Monterey Jack blend instead of Mexican-blend cheese.
Serve the sliders with extra ranch dressing, fresh vegetables, coleslaw, potato wedges, or a simple green salad.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition per slider will vary according to the type of rolls, chicken, cheese, ranch dressing, and hot sauce used.
- Calories: Approximately 250–300
- Protein: Approximately 15–18g
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 18–22g
- Fat: Approximately 12–16g
FAQ
Can I make Buffalo Chicken Sliders ahead of time?
Yes. Assemble the sliders several hours ahead, cover them tightly, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Add a few extra minutes to the covered baking time if they are going directly from the refrigerator to the oven.
How can I make these sliders less spicy?
Reduce the amount of hot sauce and increase the ranch dressing slightly. A mild hot sauce can also be used.
What cheese is best for Buffalo Chicken Sliders?
Mexican-blend cheese works well because it melts easily, but cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a combination of both are also delicious.
Can I use leftover chicken?
Absolutely. Leftover roasted, poached, or baked chicken can be shredded and used in the filling.
How do I keep the sliders from getting soggy?
Avoid using an excessive amount of sauce, and bake the sliders uncovered for the final few minutes. This helps the tops become lightly crisp while the cheese stays melted.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store leftover sliders in an airtight container or tightly covered baking dish for up to 3–4 days.
Freezer: For best texture, freeze the assembled chicken filling separately when possible. Fully baked sliders can also be frozen individually in airtight freezer-safe packaging for up to 2 months.
Reheating: Reheat refrigerated sliders in a 350°F (175°C) oven until warmed through. For frozen baked sliders, thaw in the refrigerator first, then reheat in the oven until hot.
Similar Recipes
Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Ingredients
- Shredded chicken
- 2 cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1/3 cup hot sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Dinner rolls
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare the shredded chicken and set it aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, ranch dressing, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper. Stir until the chicken is evenly coated.
- Carefully cut the dinner rolls in half horizontally, keeping the rolls together if possible. Place the bottom half in a 9×13-inch casserole dish or on a baking sheet.
- Spread the buffalo chicken mixture evenly over the bottom buns.
- Sprinkle the shredded Mexican-blend cheese evenly over the chicken.
- Place the top half of the rolls over the cheese.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
- Brush the seasoned butter generously over the tops of the buns.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tops are lightly golden.
- Slice into individual sliders and serve warm.
Notes
Conclusion
These Buffalo Chicken Sliders are an easy way to turn shredded chicken into something extra special. With creamy ranch, spicy hot sauce, plenty of melted cheese, and buttery seasoned rolls, they’re simple enough for a weeknight yet delicious enough for a party. Once assembled, they need only a short bake before they’re ready to share.