If you’re in the mood for something a little spicy, cheesy, and downright addictive, then you’ve got to try this Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Mozzarella Recipe. I absolutely love how these sliders bring together tender, juicy ground chicken infused with just the right amount of heat, and that gooey mozzarella surprise inside each bite? Game changer. Seriously, whether you’re feeding a crowd or just craving a flavorful snack, this recipe is fan-freaking-tastic—and I can’t wait to walk you through it!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crazy Flavor Combo: The spicy buffalo sauce pairs beautifully with mellow mozzarella and sharp blue cheese for an irresistible bite.
- Perfect Party Food: These sliders are the ultimate finger food perfect for game day or casual gatherings.
- Easy to Make: Ground chicken and simple ingredients come together quickly, even for weeknight meals.
- Fun Mozzarella Surprise: Stuffing the meatballs with mozzarella gives each slider a gooey, melty center that everyone raves about.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Mozzarella Recipe uses simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store. Using ground chicken breast gives the sliders a light and juicy texture, while fresh veggies add crunch and flavor. Plus, that mozzarella cheese inside? Melted perfection. Here’s what you’ll want to hunt for.
- Ground chicken breast: I like to grind mine fresh when I can; it makes a noticeable difference in texture and flavor.
- Carrot: Finely shredded for subtle sweetness and nutrition without overpowering.
- Red onion: Adds a mild sharpness—feel free to swap for sweet onion if you prefer.
- Green onion: Gives a fresh bite and some color—reserve some for garnish.
- Garlic cloves: Minced for that signature savory boost you can’t skip.
- Salt: A must for balancing flavors and deepening the taste.
- Mozzarella cheese: Have both cubed (for stuffing) and shredded (for topping) on hand—fresh mozzarella works best.
- Frank’s Red Hot Sauce: The classic buffalo wing sauce I always turn to for that perfect spicy kick.
- Dinner rolls: Soft dinner rolls like slider buns work best for nestling the meatballs.
- Blue cheese: Crumbled on top for a tangy contrast everyone goes crazy for.
Variations
I love how this Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Mozzarella Recipe is like a canvas—you can totally personalize it to suit your taste buds or dietary preferences. Don’t hesitate to get creative and make it your own!
- Make it milder: If your family isn’t big on spice, swap half the hot sauce for a mild buffalo wing sauce or add a bit of honey for sweetness—I’ve found that mellowing out the heat keeps everyone happy without losing flavor.
- Low-carb option: Use lettuce wraps instead of dinner rolls for a lighter slider experience that still packs all the flavor.
- Extra kick: Toss in some cayenne pepper or hot paprika for an added fiery punch—my spice-loving friends adore this tweak.
- Cheese swap: Try pepper jack or smoked gouda instead of mozzarella for a different melty surprise I enjoy now and then.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Mozzarella Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Form Your Mozzarella-Stuffed Meatballs
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper—this helps keep the sliders from sticking and speeds up cleanup. In a large bowl, mix the ground chicken with shredded carrot, finely chopped red onion, ¼ cup green onion, minced garlic, salt, and 2 tablespoons of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. Be sure to mix gently but thoroughly; you want everything evenly distributed without overworking the meat, which can make it tough.
Now here’s the fun part: take that mixture and form it into 15 small meatballs, about the size of a golf ball. For each one, press a cube of mozzarella into the center and carefully wrap the meat around it, resealing into a ball shape. This is the trick that gave me so many stunned “wow” faces at dinner—the mozzarella inside kisses you with ooey-gooey goodness when you bite in. Place these little gems on your prepared baking sheet.
Step 2: Bake the Meatballs and Prepare the Rolls
Pop those stuffed meatballs into the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes. Keep an eye on them so they’re cooked through but don’t dry out—juicy is the name of the game here!
While they’re baking, it’s time to prep your rolls. Use a tablespoon to gently trace a circle on the top of each dinner roll. Then, with a sharp knife, carefully cut off the tops and hollow out the insides. Don’t toss the bread you remove! I save mine to make homemade breadcrumbs or croutons later—it’s a little bonus ingredient that reduces waste and adds flavor to other recipes.
Step 3: Toss Meatballs in Sauce, Assemble, and Bake Again
Once the meatballs are out of the oven, grab a medium bowl and pour in the remaining Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. Toss the warm meatballs gently to coat them in sauce—it’s where all those spicy, buffalo flavors come alive. Now nestle each saucy meatball into a prepared roll. For an extra zesty touch, pour any leftover hot sauce evenly over the top of the assembled sliders.
Top each slider with shredded mozzarella and pop the whole tray back in the oven. Bake just until the cheese melts beautifully—around 5 minutes or so. Watch closely to avoid browning, which can happen fast.
Step 4: Finish with Blue Cheese and Green Onions
The moment right out of the oven, sprinkle crumbled blue cheese and fresh green onions over the sliders. I’ve found that this tangy and fresh finish balances out the heat and gooey cheese perfectly, making every bite vibrant and irresistible. Serve warm and get ready for the compliments to roll in.
Pro Tips for Making Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Mozzarella Recipe
- Grind Your Own Chicken: If possible, grinding your own chicken breast cold prevents mushy texture and gives the best slider bite—trust me, it’s worth the little extra effort.
- Don’t Overmix: Overworking the mixture makes the sliders dense; mix just enough to combine ingredients for juicy results every time.
- Use Fresh Mozzarella Cubes: Fresh mozzarella will melt better and taste creamier than pre-shredded for the stuffed centers.
- Watch Your Bake Time: Meatballs cook quickly, so check early to prevent dryness and ensure that gooey mozzarella surprise.
How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Mozzarella Recipe
Garnishes
I always finish these sliders with a generous sprinkle of crumbled blue cheese and plenty of sliced green onions. The tangy blue cheese cuts through the spicy heat beautifully, and the green onions add a fresh, crunchy pop. For extra color and flavor, sometimes I also add a little chopped celery on the side, because that classic buffalo pairing just can’t be missed.
Side Dishes
Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Mozzarella Recipe pairs fabulously with crispy sweet potato fries or classic celery sticks with ranch dip. My family also loves a simple mixed green salad with a light vinaigrette to balance the richness of the sliders. And if you’re feeling indulgent, crispy homemade onion rings are always a hit!
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I love arranging these sliders on a wooden serving board lined with parchment paper and garnished with fresh herbs—it instantly makes things look rustic and inviting. You could also serve them open-faced on mini baguette slices for a fun appetizer twist. If you want to get extra fancy, drizzle some blue cheese dressing artistically on the plate or offer individual ramekins of ranch or extra buffalo sauce for dipping.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover buffalo chicken sliders? Oh yes, they do happen! I store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. The key is to let the sliders cool completely before covering them to avoid sogginess from condensation. I usually separate the buns from the meatballs if I’m planning to reheat them later.
Freezing
I’ve frozen both the cooked meatballs and the assembled sliders individually wrapped in plastic wrap then sealed in a freezer bag. They keep their flavor and texture well for up to two months. When you’re ready, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently for best results.
Reheating
To reheat, I prefer warming the meatballs in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes until hot through, then placing them back in their rolls with fresh cheese to melt under the broiler for a couple of minutes. Avoid microwaving if you want to keep the bread from getting soggy and the cheese nice and melty.
FAQs
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Can I substitute ground chicken with another meat for this recipe?
Absolutely! While this recipe shines with ground chicken for a light texture, you can swap it for ground turkey, pork, or even beef depending on your preference. Keep in mind that cooking times may vary slightly and the flavor profile will change, so adjust seasonings and sauce quantities if needed.
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How spicy are these buffalo chicken sliders?
They have a nice medium heat level thanks to Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. If you’re sensitive to spice, you can reduce the amount of hot sauce or balance it with a bit of honey or ranch dressing. For a spicier kick, toss meatballs in extra hot sauce or add cayenne pepper to the mix.
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Can I prepare these sliders ahead of time for a party?
You can definitely prep the meatballs up to the baking step, then refrigerate covered for a few hours before cooking. Assembling the sliders and baking with cheese is best done just before serving to keep the rolls fresh and cheese melty. This makes entertaining much easier!
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What can I do with the bread I hollow out from the rolls?
Don’t throw it away! I like to cube the bread and use it to make homemade croutons or pulse into breadcrumbs for coating chicken or adding to meatballs. It’s a great way to minimize waste and add flavor to other dishes.
Final Thoughts
This Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Mozzarella Recipe has quickly become one of my go-to favorites whenever I want something cozy, flavorful, and just a little exciting at the dinner table. The combo of spicy buffalo sauce with melty mozzarella stuffed inside ground chicken is something I never thought I’d crave so hard—but I do, all the time! Give this recipe a try—you’ll be so happy you did—and I promise, your family and friends will ask for it again and again. Let me know how your sliders turn out; I love hearing your tweaks and stories!
Print
Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Mozzarella Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 15 sliders
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Mozzarella-Stuffed Buffalo Chicken Sliders are a flavorful and fun appetizer or party snack featuring juicy ground chicken meatballs stuffed with gooey mozzarella cheese, coated in spicy Frank’s Red Hot sauce, and baked inside soft dinner rolls. Topped with melted mozzarella, crumbled blue cheese, and fresh green onions, these sliders deliver a delicious buffalo wing-inspired taste in an easy-to-eat slider format.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb ground chicken breast
- ¼ cup finely chopped shredded carrot
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
- ¼ cup sliced green onion, plus more for garnish
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 oz mozzarella, cut into 15 cubes
- 2 Tbsp Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (for mixing into meatballs)
For Assembly & Topping
- 5 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (for tossing meatballs and drizzling)
- 15 dinner rolls
- ¾ cup crumbled blue cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the meatball mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, shredded carrot, chopped red onion, ¼ cup sliced green onion, minced garlic, salt, and 2 tablespoons of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. Mix thoroughly until evenly combined.
- Form mozzarella-stuffed meatballs: Divide the mixture into 15 equal portions. For each portion, flatten the meat mixture slightly, place one mozzarella cube in the center, then carefully mold the meat around the cheese to fully enclose it, forming a meatball shape. Place the meatballs onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs: Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the chicken meatballs are fully cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Prepare the rolls: While the meatballs bake, use a tablespoon to trace a circle on the top of each dinner roll. Using a sharp knife, cut the tops off the rolls along the outline and hollow out the centers to make room for the meatballs. Keep the hollowed bread for other uses like croutons or breadcrumbs.
- Toss meatballs in sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the remaining ½ cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce and the cooked meatballs. Toss gently to coat the meatballs evenly with the sauce.
- Assemble the sliders: Nestle each sauced meatball inside a hollowed roll. Drizzle any remaining sauce over the tops of each slider. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly on top of the meatballs and rolls.
- Melt the cheese: Return the assembled sliders to the oven and bake until the shredded mozzarella melts, about 5 minutes.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the sliders from the oven and sprinkle crumbled blue cheese and additional sliced green onions over the top. Serve warm and enjoy your buffalo chicken sliders!
Notes
- For freshest results, grind your own chicken breast by cutting into 1-inch pieces, chilling in the freezer for 15 minutes until firm but not frozen, and processing in a food processor until finely ground.
- Save the hollowed-out bread from the rolls to make homemade croutons, breadcrumbs, or simply enjoy toasted as a snack.
- Adjust amount of hot sauce to your preferred spice level.
- Ensure meatballs are cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to guarantee food safety.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
