If you’re hunting for that perfect finger food that packs a punch, this Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe is the one I consistently reach for. It’s fantastic for game days, casual get-togethers, or whenever you want something with a little spice and a lot of flavor—but without any fuss. I absolutely love how the tender, shredded rotisserie chicken soaks up the buffalo sauce, and the sweet notes from the King’s Hawaiian rolls balance the heat beautifully.
When I first tried this combination years ago, I was hooked immediately—and trust me, once you make a batch, it’ll be one of your go-to crowd-pleasers too. You’ll find that this Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe comes together quicker than you expect, and it’s perfect for feeding a hungry group or meal prepping for the week. Plus, it’s incredibly versatile, which means you can adapt it easily to your taste or occasion.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Speedy and Easy: Using a rotisserie chicken means minimal prep and big flavor without hours in the kitchen.
- Packed with Flavor: The blend of buffalo sauce, ranch, and Cajun seasoning gives these sliders a perfect spicy-tangy kick.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: From parties to weeknight dinners, these sliders always get rave reviews from family and friends.
- Kid-Friendly Adjustments: You can easily dial down the spice or add cheese to keep everyone happy.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients might look simple, but they work hand in hand to deliver that classic Buffalo chicken flavor, balanced with creaminess and a touch of sweetness. When I shop for this recipe, I make sure to get fresh buns and quality buffalo sauce for the most authentic taste.
- Rotisserie chicken: A quick shortcut that brings juicy, tender shredded chicken to the recipe without the hassle of cooking from scratch.
- Buffalo wing sauce: Choose your favorite brand or homemade sauce; it’s the key to that iconic tangy heat.
- Ranch dressing: Adds creaminess and cools down the heat perfectly.
- Cajun seasoning: Gives an extra layer of smoky, spicy flavor—don’t skip it!
- Salt and pepper: Basic seasonings to enhance all the flavors.
- King’s Hawaiian rolls: Their sweetness offsets the spice beautifully and make these sliders easy to handle.
- Shredded Monterey Jack cheese: Melts smoothly for gooey, cheesy goodness.
- Unsalted butter: For brushing the tops, giving a golden, buttery finish.
- Italian seasoning: Mixed with butter for the perfect savory touch on the buns.
Variations
I love tweaking this Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe sometimes to keep things fresh—in fact, it’s fun to make it your own. Whether you’re adjusting spice levels, swapping cheeses, or going keto, there’s an easy way to customize this recipe to your liking.
- Spice Level: When I want less heat for the kids, I cut back on the buffalo sauce and add extra ranch.
- Cheese Swap: Sometimes I use sharp cheddar or pepper jack for a different flavor punch.
- Keto-Friendly: Serve the buffalo chicken on lettuce wraps instead of the rolls for a low-carb option.
- Extra Crunch: Adding thinly sliced celery or pickles brings a delightful crunch and freshness.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe
Step 1: Mix the Buffalo Chicken
Start by shredding your rotisserie chicken into bite-sized pieces—skip the skin unless you love extra fat. Toss the shredded chicken with buffalo wing sauce, ranch dressing, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. I find mixing this by hand helps you really get the sauce evenly distributed, so every bite is packed with flavor.
Step 2: Prep the Buns and Layer
Using a serrated knife, carefully slice the King’s Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally—no need to pull them apart just yet to keep all the buns intact in one block. Lay the bottom half of the rolls cut side up in your greased baking dish. Sprinkle half the shredded Monterey Jack cheese evenly across the bottoms, then spread the buffalo chicken mixture on top before adding the rest of the cheese. Finally, place the roll tops on. This layering keeps everything from sliding around and ensures the cheese melts perfectly over the chicken.
Step 3: Butter and Bake
Whisk together melted unsalted butter and Italian seasoning, then generously brush it over the tops of the slider buns—this is the secret to that golden, flavorful crust. Bake the whole pan in a 350°F oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melty and the tops are just starting to brown. Keep a close eye at the end; you want the cheese gooey but not burnt.
Pro Tips for Making Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe
- Use Quality Rotisserie Chicken: I’ve found that picking a juicy, flavorful rotisserie chicken makes a noticeable difference in taste and texture.
- Even Sauce Distribution: Mixing the chicken and sauce by hand ensures every slider bite is consistently delicious.
- Warm the Rolls Slightly: Briefly warming the rolls before assembling helps melt the cheese more evenly when baking.
- Don’t Overbake: Keep a watchful eye on the sliders toward the end so the buns stay soft and the cheese doesn’t dry out.
How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe
Garnishes
For garnishes, I love adding a little shredded lettuce or some crisp celery sticks on the side for crunch and freshness. Blue cheese crumbles are also a fantastic finishing touch if you’re a fan, but ranch dressing is my absolute must-have on the table to cool things down when the heat kicks in.
Side Dishes
I usually pair these sliders with classic sides like coleslaw or baked sweet potato fries for that nice balance of creamy and crispy. A chilled cucumber salad or even simple veggie sticks with ranch make for light, refreshing accompaniments that don’t compete with the boldness of the sliders.
Creative Ways to Present
When hosting game day parties, I sometimes arrange the sliders on a wooden board with little flags or toothpicks for easy serving. For a fun twist, I’ve also tried mini slider bar setups where guests add their own toppings like pickles, sliced jalapeños, or extra cheese. These little touches make it feel festive and let everyone customize their perfect bite.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually store any leftover sliders in an airtight container in the fridge; they keep well for up to 3 days. When reheating, I recommend wrapping them in foil and warming in the oven to maintain that melty cheese and moist chicken—microwaving tends to dry them out too much.
Freezing
Buffalo chicken sliders freeze surprisingly well if you wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap and then foil to prevent freezer burn. When I want to freeze, I assemble everything except brushing the butter on top, then add it fresh before baking after thawing in the fridge overnight.
Reheating
For reheating, I pop the sliders into an oven preheated to 325°F, covered in foil, for about 10-12 minutes until warmed through and cheese is melty again. This method preserves the soft texture of the buns and chicken much better than microwaving.
FAQs
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Can I make Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe without rotisserie chicken?
Absolutely! You can cook and shred chicken breasts or thighs on your stovetop or in a slow cooker. Just season well and shred once cooked, then proceed with mixing the buffalo sauce and other ingredients as usual.
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How spicy are Buffalo Chicken Sliders?
They have a moderate heat level thanks to the buffalo wing sauce and Cajun seasoning, but the ranch dressing and sweet rolls balance the spice. You can easily adjust by adding more or less buffalo sauce to suit your heat tolerance.
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Can I use different rolls instead of King’s Hawaiian?
Definitely. While King’s Hawaiian rolls are sweeter and complement the spicy chicken really well, other soft slider buns or dinner rolls work fine. Just make sure they’re sturdy enough to hold the filling without falling apart.
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Is this Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe freezer-friendly?
Yes! You can freeze the assembled sliders before baking, but for best results, add the butter topping just before baking after thawing. This keeps the buns from becoming soggy.
Final Thoughts
I genuinely think this Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe is one of those hidden gems that never fails to impress and comes together way faster than you’d expect. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just craving something cozy and flavorful at home, these sliders deliver every time. Give them a try—you might just find yourself making a double batch to keep up with requests from your family and friends!
PrintBuffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 sliders
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Buffalo Chicken Sliders are a perfect blend of spicy buffalo sauce and creamy ranch dressing, layered with shredded rotisserie chicken and melted Monterey Jack cheese, all nestled inside soft King’s Hawaiian rolls. A buttery and Italian seasoned topping adds a delicious finishing touch. Ideal for parties, game days, or an easy family meal, these sliders are flavorful, cheesy, and irresistibly easy to make.
Ingredients
Slider Filling
- 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded (about 3-4 cups shredded chicken)
- 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Rolls and Cheese
- 2 packages King’s Hawaiian rolls, 12 count each
- 8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Topping
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a large baking dish or rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Chicken Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the shredded rotisserie chicken with buffalo wing sauce, ranch dressing, cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well until the chicken is evenly coated with the flavorful sauce mixture.
- Slice the Rolls: Without pulling the King’s Hawaiian rolls apart, use a large serrated knife to slice the entire package in half horizontally like a bagel, separating the tops from the bottoms. Place the bottom halves cut side up into the prepared baking dish, forming a solid base layer.
- Assemble the Sliders: Evenly sprinkle half of the shredded Monterey Jack cheese over the bottom layer of rolls, then spread the buffalo chicken mixture on top of the cheese. Follow with the remaining shredded cheese, and then place the top halves of the rolls back on to form complete sliders.
- Add the Butter Topping: In a small bowl, stir together the melted unsalted butter and Italian seasoning. Generously brush this mixture over the tops of the assembled sliders to create a flavorful golden crust as they bake.
- Bake the Sliders: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the tops of the rolls are lightly browned and crispy.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve warm. Optionally, add coleslaw on top of the sliders or on the side for added crunch and contrast.
Notes
- Do not separate the rolls before slicing to ensure the sliders hold together well while baking.
- Use a large serrated knife for clean even slicing through the rolls.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes to restore crispness and melty cheese.
- For extra spice, add more buffalo wing sauce or cayenne pepper to the chicken mixture.
- Coleslaw adds a nice fresh crunch and balances the spicy and creamy flavors.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 40mg