Spicy Buffalo Chicken Sliders are everything I crave in a small, punchy sandwich—shredded chicken drenched in bold buffalo sauce, layered with creamy ranch or blue cheese, melted cheese, and all tucked into fluffy slider buns. They’re baked until hot and slightly crispy on top, making them ideal for game days, parties, or a fast weeknight dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I love how quick and easy this recipe comes together with minimal prep. The combination of spicy buffalo sauce and cool, creamy dressing hits the perfect balance of heat and tang. The sliders are hearty enough to satisfy as a main, yet small enough to serve as finger food at gatherings. Plus, I can tweak the spice level or cheese to fit any mood or guest list.
ingredients
(Here’s a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
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2 cups shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie or poached)
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⅓ cup buffalo hot sauce
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¼ cup ranch dressing (or blue cheese dressing)
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1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (optional)
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Salt & pepper, to taste
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12 slider buns or small dinner rolls (e.g. Hawaiian rolls)
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4–6 slices provolone or Monterey Jack cheese
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2 tablespoons butter, melted
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1 clove garlic, minced (optional, to brush on buns)
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Chopped green onion or parsley, for garnish (optional)
directions
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I preheat my oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
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In a bowl, I mix the shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, Cajun seasoning (if using), and a pinch of salt and pepper until everything is well coated.
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I slice the slider buns horizontally and lay the bottom halves in a baking dish.
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I layer half of the cheese slices over the bottom buns.
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I spread the buffalo chicken mixture evenly across the cheese.
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I place the remaining cheese on top of the chicken layer.
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I close the sliders with the top bun halves.
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I mix melted butter with minced garlic (if using) and brush it over the tops of the buns.
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I cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for about 10–15 minutes until the cheese is melted and everything is heated through.
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I remove the foil and bake for an additional 2–5 minutes to lightly crisp the tops.
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I let the sliders rest for a couple of minutes, then slice and serve, garnished with green onion or parsley if I’m feeling fancy.
Servings and timing
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Yield: 12 sliders
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
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Cook Time: 15 minutes
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Total Time: 25 minutes
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Serving Size: 1 slider
Variations
I like swapping out the cheese depending on what I have—cheddar or mozzarella work just fine. For a milder option, I reduce the buffalo sauce or go for a milder variety. When I want extra crunch, I add thinly sliced celery on top of the chicken mixture before baking. If I’m craving extra tang, I use blue cheese dressing instead of ranch.
storage/reheating
I store any leftover sliders in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. To reheat, I pop them in a 350 °F oven for about 10 minutes to crisp them up again. I avoid microwaving if I want to keep the buns from getting soggy.
FAQs
How spicy are these sliders?
That depends on the buffalo sauce I use. Some are extra hot, while others are more mild. I can always adjust the amount to control the heat.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes, I often prepare the buffalo chicken mixture a day in advance and refrigerate it. Then all I have to do is assemble and bake when ready.
What’s the best chicken to use?
I usually go for rotisserie chicken because it’s quick and flavorful. Leftover baked or poached chicken also works great.
Can I freeze these sliders?
I don’t recommend freezing them once assembled, as the buns can become soggy. But I can freeze the buffalo chicken mixture on its own for later use.
What sides go well with these sliders?
I like serving them with fries, a simple green salad, or crunchy celery and carrot sticks with extra ranch or blue cheese dip.
Conclusion
These Spicy Buffalo Chicken Sliders pack serious flavor in a small package. Whether I’m feeding a crowd or just looking for something satisfying and bold, they always hit the spot. Easy to customize, quick to bake, and absolutely delicious—I know I’ll be making them again and again.
Print
Spicy Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10–15 min
- Total Time: ≈ 20–25 min
- Yield: 12 sliders (or according to your number of buns)
- Category: Sandwich / Appetizer
- Method: Baked assembly
- Cuisine: American / Modern
- Diet: Halal
Description
Mini sandwiches filled with spicy Buffalo‑sauced chicken, melty cheese, and creamy ranch (or blue cheese), baked in soft slider buns — perfect for parties or a fun meal.
Ingredients
- 12 slider buns (or small dinner rolls, Hawaiian rolls, brioche sliders)
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie, poached, or leftover)
- ⅓ to ½ cup Buffalo hot sauce (adjust to heat preference)
- ¼ to ½ cup ranch dressing (or blue cheese dressing)
- 4–6 slices provolone, Monterey Jack, or cheddar (or shredded cheese, as needed)
- 2 tbsp butter, melted (for brushing tops)
- 1 garlic clove, minced (optional, to mix with butter)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional garnish: chopped green onions, blue cheese crumbles, extra hot sauce for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to about 175 °C (350 °F).
- If your chicken isn’t already shredded, shred it finely.
- In a bowl, toss the shredded chicken with Buffalo sauce until well coated. Add salt and pepper if needed.
- Slice the slider buns in half horizontally (keep tops and bottoms together in a block if possible).
- Place the bottom halves of the buns (still joined) in a baking dish or on a rimmed baking tray.
- Layer cheese slices (or some shredded cheese) over the bottoms.
- Spread the Buffalo‑chicken mixture evenly over the cheese.
- Drizzle or dollop ranch (or blue cheese) over the chicken layer.
- If using, sprinkle optional garnishes like chopped green onions or blue cheese crumbles.
- Place the top halves of the buns over everything.
- Mix melted butter with minced garlic (if using) and brush over the tops of the buns.
- Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake for ~10 minutes, until cheese is melted. Then remove foil and bake additional 3–5 minutes until the tops are lightly golden.
- Let sliders rest for a minute or two, then slice apart and serve warm (with extra ranch or hot sauce on the side, if desired).
Notes
- You can assemble the sliders ahead and bake just before serving to save time.
- To adjust spice level: reduce Buffalo sauce or mix with more ranch/creaminess for milder flavor.
- Use freshly shredded cheese (not pre-shredded) for better melting.
- If you don’t have slider buns, use small dinner rolls or cut larger rolls to size.
- Leftovers reheated in oven or toaster oven retain better texture than microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: ≈ 224 kcal
- Sugar: ≈ 3.1 g
- Sodium: ≈ 549 mg
- Fat: ≈ 10.6 g
- Saturated Fat: ≈ 1.7 g
- Carbohydrates: ≈ 18.9 g
- Fiber: ≈ 0.6 g
- Protein: ≈ 12.1 g
- Cholesterol: ≈ 31 mg