Buffalo Chicken Sliders are spicy, cheesy, juicy, and incredibly easy to make. Tender shredded chicken is tossed in tangy Buffalo sauce, layered onto soft slider rolls with plenty of melted cheese, and finished with a buttery seasoned topping. They’re perfect for game day, parties, family dinners, or an easy weeknight meal.
Why These Buffalo Chicken Sliders Are A Must-Make
If you love Buffalo chicken, these sliders bring all your favourite flavours together in one easy-to-eat sandwich.
The chicken is coated in a spicy, tangy Buffalo sauce, while melted cheese adds a creamy contrast to the heat. Soft slider rolls soak up some of the sauce and buttery topping, creating a delicious combination of textures and flavours.
They’re also incredibly convenient when you’re feeding a group. Instead of making individual sandwiches, you assemble the entire batch together, bake it, and then separate the rolls before serving.
These sliders are especially popular for game-day gatherings because they can be prepared ahead of time and served as finger food.
They’re also easy to customise. You can make them mild or spicy, add ranch or blue cheese, use different cheeses, or mix in crispy bacon for an extra indulgent version.
Another advantage is that they are a great way to use leftover cooked chicken. Rotisserie chicken works particularly well and can save a lot of preparation time.
Serve them with celery sticks, carrot sticks, ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, potato wedges, or a simple green salad for a complete meal.
Recipe Ingredients
The ingredient list is simple, and several ingredients can easily be adjusted to suit your taste.
Cooked Chicken
Shredded cooked chicken forms the base of the sliders.
Rotisserie chicken is a convenient option, but you can also use leftover baked, grilled, or poached chicken.
Remove the skin and bones and shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
Buffalo Sauce
Buffalo sauce gives the chicken its signature spicy, tangy flavour.
You can use your favourite bottled Buffalo sauce or make a homemade version with hot sauce and melted butter.
Use a mild Buffalo sauce if you’re serving children or guests who don’t enjoy much heat.
Slider Rolls
Soft Hawaiian rolls or dinner rolls work particularly well.
Their slightly sweet flavour balances the spicy Buffalo chicken.
Keep the rolls connected when slicing them open so you can assemble the entire batch at once.
Cheese
Cheese helps balance the heat and creates a delicious melted layer.
Provolone, mozzarella, cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Pepper Jack are all excellent choices.
For a classic Buffalo chicken flavour, mozzarella or Monterey Jack provides a mild, creamy contrast.
Butter
Melted butter is brushed over the tops of the rolls before baking.
It adds richness and helps the rolls become golden and flavourful.
Garlic Powder
Garlic powder adds savoury flavour to the butter topping without overpowering the Buffalo sauce.
Ranch or Blue Cheese
Ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing can be served alongside the sliders or added directly to the sandwich.
If you’re a big fan of Buffalo chicken, a drizzle of ranch over the chicken before adding the cheese is delicious.
Optional Ingredients
You can also add green onions, celery, blue cheese crumbles, crispy bacon, jalapeños, or sliced red onion.
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Sliders
These sliders are simple to assemble and bake, making them ideal for busy days.
Prepare the Chicken
Place your cooked, shredded chicken in a large bowl.
Pour the Buffalo sauce over the chicken and stir until every piece is evenly coated.
Taste the mixture and add more Buffalo sauce if you want stronger flavour or additional heat.
If you’re using very lean chicken breast, you can add a small amount of melted butter or ranch dressing to make the filling even more moist.
Prepare the Slider Rolls
Preheat your oven to approximately 350°F (175°C).
Keep the slider rolls connected and carefully slice through the entire package horizontally.
Don’t separate the individual rolls.
Place the bottom half of the rolls into a baking dish.
Keeping the rolls connected makes assembly much easier and helps the sliders bake evenly.
Add the Buffalo Chicken
Spread the Buffalo chicken evenly over the bottom half of the rolls.
Use the back of a spoon or spatula to create an even layer.
Try to distribute the chicken all the way to the edges so every slider has plenty of filling.
Add the Cheese
Place your chosen cheese evenly over the Buffalo chicken.
You can use slices or shredded cheese.
If you love extra-cheesy sliders, use a combination of two cheeses.
Add Ranch or Blue Cheese
For an extra creamy Buffalo flavour, drizzle a small amount of ranch or blue cheese dressing over the chicken before adding the cheese.
Don’t add too much dressing because excessive moisture can make the bread soggy.
Add the Top Rolls
Carefully place the top half of the rolls over the filling.
Press down gently so everything stays together.
Make the Butter Topping
Melt butter in a small bowl.
Add garlic powder and, if desired, a little dried parsley, onion powder, or Italian seasoning.
Stir until combined.
Brush the seasoned butter generously over the tops of the rolls.
Bake the Sliders
Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminium foil.
Bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until the chicken is hot and the cheese is melted.
Remove the foil and continue baking for another 5–10 minutes, until the tops are golden brown.
Keep an eye on the rolls during the final few minutes because the butter can cause them to brown quickly.
Slice and Serve
Remove the sliders from the oven and allow them to rest for a couple of minutes.
Use a sharp knife to separate the individual sliders.
Serve immediately with extra Buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Add celery and carrot sticks on the side for a classic Buffalo chicken experience.
Tips & Variations
Adjust the Heat
The easiest way to control the spice level is by choosing your Buffalo sauce.
For mild sliders, use a mild sauce.
For more heat, use a hotter Buffalo sauce or add cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.
Use Rotisserie Chicken
Rotisserie chicken is one of the easiest shortcuts for this recipe.
Simply remove the skin and bones, shred the meat, and toss it with Buffalo sauce.
This can save significant preparation time.
Try Different Cheeses
Mozzarella gives you a mild, stretchy cheese.
Cheddar adds a stronger flavour.
Monterey Jack creates a creamy, smooth filling.
Pepper Jack adds extra heat.
Provolone provides a mild, savoury flavour that pairs well with Buffalo chicken.
Add Crispy Bacon
Cooked, crumbled bacon adds smoky flavour and a crispy texture.
Sprinkle it over the Buffalo chicken before adding the cheese.
Add Blue Cheese
If you love traditional Buffalo wings, blue cheese is a natural addition.
Add a small amount of blue cheese crumbles to the chicken or serve blue cheese dressing on the side.
Add Ranch
Ranch is one of the most popular pairings with Buffalo chicken.
You can drizzle a little over the chicken before adding the cheese or simply serve it as a dipping sauce.
Add Jalapeños
For extra heat, add thinly sliced fresh or pickled jalapeños.
Pickled jalapeños also add acidity that works well with the rich cheese and Buffalo sauce.
Add Celery
Finely chopped celery can be mixed into the chicken for crunch.
Alternatively, serve celery sticks alongside the sliders.
Make Them Extra Cheesy
For an indulgent version, use two layers of cheese or combine mozzarella with cheddar.
Just be careful not to add so much cheese that it overwhelms the chicken.
Use Turkey
Cooked shredded turkey can replace chicken.
This is a great way to use leftover holiday turkey and turn it into a completely different meal.
Make Them Ahead
You can assemble the sliders several hours before baking.
Cover the prepared baking dish and refrigerate it until you’re ready to cook.
Brush the butter topping over the rolls just before baking for the best texture.
Don’t Over-Sauce the Chicken
Buffalo sauce adds plenty of moisture.
Use enough sauce to coat the chicken generously without making it swimming in sauce.
Too much liquid can make the bottom of the rolls soggy.
Keep the Rolls Together
Don’t separate the rolls before assembling.
Keeping the entire package connected makes the sliders easier to assemble and helps the filling stay inside.
Don’t Overbake
The chicken is already cooked, so the main goal is to heat the filling and melt the cheese.
Overbaking can dry out the chicken and make the rolls harder.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
Buffalo Chicken Sliders are best served fresh, but leftovers can be stored and reheated.
Allow the sliders to cool before storing them.
Place leftover sliders in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in aluminium foil.
Refrigerate for up to 3–4 days.
If possible, store ranch or blue cheese dressing separately so the bread doesn’t become soggy.
Reheating in the Oven
Preheat your oven to approximately 325°F (165°C).
Place the sliders in a baking dish and cover them loosely with foil.
Heat for approximately 10–15 minutes, or until the chicken is hot and the cheese has melted again.
Remove the foil during the final few minutes if you want the tops to become slightly crisp.
Reheating in the Air Fryer
The air fryer is another excellent option for reheating individual sliders.
Place the sliders in the basket and heat at approximately 325°F (165°C) for a few minutes.
Check frequently because the bread can brown quickly.
If you want to prevent the tops from becoming too dark, loosely cover the sliders with foil.
Can You Freeze Buffalo Chicken Sliders?
Yes, you can freeze them, although the texture of the bread may change slightly after thawing.
Wrap individual sliders tightly in foil and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container.
Freeze for up to approximately 2–3 months for the best quality.
Thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating.
For the best results, prepare fresh ranch or blue cheese dressing when serving.
Buffalo Chicken Sliders are an easy, crowd-pleasing recipe that combines everything people love about Buffalo chicken into a convenient handheld sandwich. Spicy shredded chicken, melty cheese, soft rolls, and buttery seasoning make these sliders incredibly hard to resist.
They’re perfect for game day, parties, family dinners, potlucks, and busy weeknights. You can keep them classic with ranch and blue cheese or customise them with bacon, jalapeños, different cheeses, or extra Buffalo sauce.
For the best results, use enough Buffalo sauce to keep the chicken juicy without making it too wet, don’t overbake the rolls, and serve the sliders warm with plenty of ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side.
PrintBuffalo Chicken Sliders
Buffalo Chicken Sliders are reminiscent of your favorite buffalo chicken dip, but in a hand-held slider form! These sliders have just the right amount of spicy buffalo sauce, melty cheese, and creamy ranch topped with a crispy bun. Make them for any get together and watch them disappear!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
Ingredients
- 1 rotisserie chicken shredded (about 3–4 cups shredded chicken)
- ½ cup buffalo wing sauce
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 packages King’s Hawaiian rolls 12 count each
- 8 ounces shredded monterey jack cheese
For the topping:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a large baking dish or a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Place the shredded chicken in a bowl. Add the buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine.1 rotisserie chicken, ½ cup buffalo wing sauce, ½ cup ranch dressing, 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
- Do not pull the rolls apart; simply use a large serrated knife to slice the rolls in half as you would slice a bagel, separating the tops from the bottoms. Place the layer of bottoms into the prepared baking pan, cut side up.2 packages King’s Hawaiian rolls
- Sprinkle half of the cheese evenly across the rolls and top evenly with the chicken mixture. Top with the remaining cheese. Place the tops of the rolls on top.8 ounces shredded monterey jack cheese
- In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter and Italian seasoning. Brush over the tops of the sliders.3 tablespoons unsalted butter, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tops are slightly browned.
- If desired, serve with coleslaw on the sliders or on the side.
