At your next family gathering, potluck or game-day party, these buffalo chicken sliders will reign supreme. Keep this recipe handy, especially if you’re tasked with preparing Super Bowl snacks and other football food.
For snacks, parties and casual dinners, we often look to Buffalo chicken recipes. In this recipe, pillowy Hawaiian slider buns are piled high with tender shredded chicken bathed in a spicy Buffalo sauce. Garnished with lettuce, tomato and other toppings of your choice, a platter of these kicky delights won’t last long.
The best part about these Buffalo chicken sliders, beyond their utter deliciousness, is that the recipe takes only a few ingredients and is a cinch to make. Prepared almost entirely hands-free in your slow cooker, then tossed in a simple three-ingredient sauce, this recipe offers big flavor with little fuss.
See why this is one of our favorite slider recipes ever. Trust us, your guests will agree!
Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Chicken breasts: Lean and juicy, tender chicken breasts cook up with ease in a slow cooker. You can also use leftover cooked chicken breasts for this recipe or opt for shredding a rotisserie chicken from the store instead.
- Louisiana-style hot sauce: Louisiana-style hot sauce is generally a simple blend of chiles, vinegar and salt. The famous Anchor Bar wing sauce in Buffalo uses Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Sauce. Tabasco is another great option. Consult our Test Kitchen’s guide on the best hot sauce brands for more options, or try making homemade hot sauce if you’re feeling ambitious.
- Honey: This sweet addition mellows the heat and makes this Buffalo chicken sliders recipe a true crowd-pleaser.
- Butter: Butter adds richness and gives the simple homemade Buffalo sauce some body so the sauce clings and coats the chicken evenly.
- Slider buns: King’s Hawaiian are the classic go-to bun for Hawaiian roll slider recipes like this one. However, feel free to deviate and use any type of small slider roll you like.
- Toppings of your choice: These sliders are perfect as they are, but you can dress them up with any of your favorite toppings. Keep things classic with lettuce, tomato, onion and blue cheese, or choose from one of these crazy-delicious burger toppings.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the chicken
Add the chicken breasts to a 3-quart slow cooker. Toss with 2 tablespoons hot sauce and the pepper. Cover and cook on low for three to four hours, until tender. Remove the chicken. Discard the cooking juices.
Step 2: Make the sauce
In a small saucepan, combine the butter, honey and remaining hot sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until blended.
Editor’s Tip:Â Want more heat? Add a little extra hot sauce. Alternatively, if you have a different chicken wing sauce recipes you enjoy, feel free to use any in this recipe instead.
Step 3: Shred and sauce
Shred chicken with two forks, then stir into the sauce. Cook until heated through.
Editor’s Tip:Â If you’re planning to serve these sliders as part of a potluck, you can return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and combine it with the sauce. Then, set your slow cooker to its keep-warm setting.
Step 4: Assemble and serve
To serve, spoon the Buffalo chicken on sliced rolls, and garnish with any desired optional toppings.
Recipe Variations
- Cook the chicken in your Instant Pot: To prepare this easy Buffalo chicken sliders recipe with a pressure cooker, consult this guide on how to cook chicken breasts in an Instant Pot.
- Extra cheese, please: For a marvelous melty touch, top the Buffalo chicken sliders with any great melting cheese. Mozzarella, pepper jack, smoked Gouda and provolone would all be fantastic choices.
- Buffalo chicken wraps: For a fun twist, serve the chicken with a selection of tortillas, homemade pita bread or soft flatbread to make the best Buffalo chicken wrap buffet.
How to Store Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Leftover chicken may be cooled and refrigerated in an airtight storage container for three to five days. To reheat, microwave on high in a covered microwave-safe dish until heated through, stirring occasionally. If the chicken seems dry, add a little water or broth to rehydrate the mixture.
The Buffalo chicken mixture can also be frozen. Freeze the cooled chicken mixture in freezer-safe containers for up to three months. To use, partially thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat as directed.
Can you make Buffalo chicken sliders ahead of time?
Yes! For an easy make-ahead potluck recipe, prepare the chicken through Step 3 as directed. For same-day serving, keep the chicken warm in the slow cooker until ready to serve. Alternatively, allow the chicken to cool, then refrigerate or freeze as directed above.
Buffalo Chicken Sliders Tips
What goes with Buffalo chicken sliders?
Try drizzling the Buffalo chicken sliders with homemade ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing. Fried onion strings or pickled onions would be a great way to add a little bite. For an added kick, spoon on your favorite homemade giardiniera or a little three-pepper coleslaw. You can serve the sliders with other potluck favorites, like a classic macaroni salad or homemade potato chips.
Why are my chicken breasts dry?
If your chicken breasts taste dry, they are likely overcooked. While three to four hours on low is a fairly standard cooking estimate for chicken breasts in the slow cooker, every machine is different, so cooking times can vary. For best results, use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of your chicken starting at the two-hour mark. When the thickest part of your chicken breasts reads 165°F, they are fully cooked and ready to shred.
