My Healthy, High Protein Buffalo Chicken Sliders are hands down one of our favorite game day recipes. They’re made with shredded chicken tossed in buffalo sauce, ranch, honey, and garlic, layered with freshly grated mozzarella and Parmesan, then finished with the BEST garlic herb butter topping.
They’re cheesy, a little spicy, packed with protein, and SO easy to throw together for a crowd.
And when I say these are a staple in our house during football season, I mean it. Thomas absolutely devours these and asks me to make them for pretty much every game day gathering we have. And rightfully so. They’re one of those recipes that you set out on the table and somehow the entire pan disappears before you know it.
College football is obviously a big deal in our house. Thomas went to Alabama, so naturally I have no choice but to say Roll Tide. Then when NFL Sunday comes around, we’re an Eagles household. Whether we’re watching Alabama on Saturday or the Eagles on Sunday, there’s a very good chance some kind of game day food is happening in our kitchen.
And these buffalo chicken sliders are always a crowd favorite.
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Why You’ll Love These Healthy Buffalo Chicken Sliders
There are so many reasons I keep coming back to this recipe during football season.
First, they’re incredibly easy to make. Everything gets layered into one baking dish, so you can make 12 sliders at once instead of assembling individual sandwiches.
They’re also packed with chicken, making them a great high protein game day appetizer that is actually filling. You still get everything you want from buffalo chicken—spicy buffalo sauce, creamy ranch, lots of melted cheese—but I like using simple, better-for-you ingredients where I can.
Most importantly, they’re just GOOD. Because no one wants the “healthy” option sitting untouched in the corner of the food table.
The Perfect Game Day Sliders
If you’re hosting people for football season, save this recipe.
These buffalo chicken sliders are easy enough to make for a casual Sunday at home but also perfect when you have a house full of people. You can assemble the entire pan ahead of time, pop it into the oven shortly before everyone arrives, and serve them warm while the cheese is still melty.
They also don’t require a fork and knife, which is basically a requirement for good game day food in my opinion.
Serve them alongside veggies and ranch, chips and dip, wings, a big salad, or whatever else is on your game day spread. They’re also great for tailgates, Super Bowl parties, birthday parties, potlucks, or really any gathering where you need something easy that feeds a crowd.
A Shortcut for the Chicken
One of my favorite ways to make these even easier is using Trifecta pre-cooked grilled chicken breasts.
Instead of cooking and shredding chicken before I can even start making the sliders, the chicken is already cooked and ready to go. I just shred it, mix it with the buffalo sauce and the rest of the filling ingredients, and start assembling.
It’s such an easy shortcut when I’m trying to get food ready for a gathering and already have a million other things going on in the kitchen.
You can use code CKL50 for 50% off your first Trifecta order.
Of course, you can absolutely cook your own chicken breasts for this recipe too. Rotisserie chicken is another easy option if that’s what you have on hand.
Better-For-You Ingredient Swaps
I love finding little ways to make classic comfort foods with ingredients I feel better about without completely changing what makes the recipe good in the first place.
For the buffalo sauce and ranch, I personally like using Primal Kitchen. You can use whatever brands you love, though.
I also use raw, organic, unfiltered honey to add just a touch of sweetness to balance the heat from the buffalo sauce.
For the rolls, I use my homemade sourdough dinner rolls when I have them. Store-bought slider rolls will work perfectly too, so don’t feel like you have to make homemade bread just to make these!
And I highly recommend freshly grating the mozzarella and Parmesan. It melts so much better and gives you that cheesy pull you want in a buffalo chicken slider.
Ingredients
For the Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- 12 rolls: I use my homemade sourdough dinner rolls, but your favorite slider rolls will work.
- 1 lb. chicken breasts: Cooked and shredded. Trifecta pre-cooked grilled chicken breasts are my favorite shortcut.
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce: I like Primal Kitchen as a better-for-you option.
- 1/2 cup ranch: I also use Primal Kitchen ranch.
- 2 tbsp honey: I use raw, organic, unfiltered honey.
- 2 tsp garlic: Freshly minced.
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella: Freshly grated for the best melt.
- 1/2 cup Parmesan: Freshly grated.
For the Garlic Herb Butter Topping
- 3 tbsp butter: Melted. I use grass-fed butter. You can omit the butter topping if you’re cutting or want to lighten them up further.
- 1 tsp garlic: Freshly minced.
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp dried parsley
- 1/4 tsp garlic salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a deep 9×13-inch baking dish with avocado or olive oil spray and set aside.
- Make the buffalo chicken filling. In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch, honey, and minced garlic. Mix until the chicken is evenly coated, then set aside.
- Make the garlic herb topping. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, dried parsley, and garlic salt. Set aside.
- Slice the rolls. Keeping the rolls connected, slice them in half horizontally so you have one large bottom half and one large top half. Place the bottom half of the rolls in the prepared baking dish.
- Assemble the sliders. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the bottom half of the rolls. Spread the buffalo chicken mixture evenly over the cheese, then top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Add the tops. Place the top half of the rolls over the filling. Brush the garlic herb butter evenly over the tops.
- Bake. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the sliders are heated through and the cheese is melted. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden.
- Serve. Remove from the oven, slice into 12 individual sliders, and serve warm. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Use freshly grated cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is convenient, but freshly grated mozzarella and Parmesan melt much better.
Don’t separate the rolls before assembling. Slice the entire sheet of rolls horizontally and assemble everything at once. It’s SO much quicker than building 12 individual sliders.
Adjust the heat to your preference. Buffalo sauces vary in spice level, so choose one that works for you and your guests.
Cover them for the first part of baking. The foil helps everything warm through and gives the cheese time to melt without over-browning the tops.
Don’t skip that final uncovered bake. Those last few minutes are what give the rolls that lightly golden top.
Can I Make Buffalo Chicken Sliders Ahead of Time?
Yes! That’s one of the reasons these are such a good recipe for game day gatherings.
You can prepare the buffalo chicken mixture ahead of time and keep it covered in the refrigerator. You can also shred your cheeses and prepare the garlic herb butter so everything is ready to assemble.
For the best texture, I prefer assembling the sliders closer to baking time so the sauce doesn’t have hours to soak into the bread.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
If your family leaves you any leftovers—and Thomas usually makes sure we don’t 😂—store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
To reheat, place the sliders in the oven or air fryer until warmed through. This helps bring back some of the texture on the rolls compared to microwaving them.
What to Serve With Buffalo Chicken Sliders
For a full game day spread, I love serving these with simple sides and appetizers that people can grab throughout the game.
Try them with celery and carrots with extra ranch, a veggie tray, chips and guacamole, a fresh salad, potato wedges, sweet potato fries, or your favorite game day dips.
And definitely put out some extra buffalo sauce and ranch for dipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are buffalo chicken sliders spicy?
They can be, but the heat will depend mostly on the buffalo sauce you use. The ranch, honey, and cheese also help balance out the heat, so these aren’t overwhelmingly spicy. I don’t find Primal Kitchen buffalo sauce to be spicy at all!
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Absolutely. Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut. Just shred about 1 pound of cooked chicken and proceed with the recipe as written.
Can I use store-bought rolls?
Yes! I love using my homemade sourdough dinner rolls, but any soft slider or dinner roll will work.
Can I make these without the garlic herb butter?
Yes. If you’re trying to cut back on calories or fat, you can leave off the butter topping. That being said, the garlic herb butter makes the tops of these sliders extra flavorful, so I definitely recommend it when you can!
How many sliders does this recipe make?
This recipe makes 12 buffalo chicken sliders, making it perfect for sharing at a party or game day gathering.
The Ultimate High Protein Game Day Recipe
Football season gives me any excuse to make fun appetizers and have people over, and these Healthy, High Protein Buffalo Chicken Sliders have quickly become one of those recipes that Thomas requests over and over again.
Between Alabama Saturdays and Eagles Sundays, they get plenty of opportunities to make an appearance in our house.
They’re spicy, cheesy, packed with chicken, and topped with that buttery garlic herb mixture that takes them to another level. Best of all, you can make an entire tray at once, which is exactly what I want when I’m cooking for a crowd.
Whether you’re hosting a big game day gathering, heading to a tailgate, or just want an easy high protein dinner for your family, save this buffalo chicken slider recipe. I have a feeling it won’t be the last time you make them!
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I post all my recipes on social media as well and you can stay up to date on what I am up to! Also, I love seeing people try my recipes! When make these, snap a picture, and share it to your socials. Tag @cookingkatielady and #cookingkatielady so I can admire your masterpiece and share with others!
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Description
My Healthy, High Protein Buffalo Chicken Sliders are hands down one of our favorite game day recipes. They’re made with shredded chicken tossed in buffalo sauce, ranch, honey, and garlic, layered with freshly grated mozzarella and Parmesan, then finished with the BEST garlic herb butter topping.
Ingredients
For the Buffalo Chicken Sliders
For the Garlic Herb Butter Topping
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a deep 9x13-inch baking dish with avocado or olive oil spray and set aside.
-
Make the buffalo chicken filling. In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch, honey, and minced garlic. Mix until the chicken is evenly coated, then set aside.
-
Make the garlic herb topping. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, dried parsley, and garlic salt. Set aside.
-
Slice the rolls. Keeping the rolls connected, slice them in half horizontally so you have one large bottom half and one large top half. Place the bottom half of the rolls in the prepared baking dish.
-
Assemble the sliders. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the bottom half of the rolls. Spread the buffalo chicken mixture evenly over the cheese, then top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
-
Add the tops. Place the top half of the rolls over the filling. Brush the garlic herb butter evenly over the tops.
-
Bake. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the sliders are heated through and the cheese is melted. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden.
-
Serve. Remove from the oven, slice into 12 individual sliders, and serve warm. Enjoy!
Note
Did you make this recipe?
The next time you make it, snap a picture, and share it to your socials. Tag @cookingkatielady and #cookingkatielady so I can admire your masterpiece and share with others!:)
Please note that my nutrition label is approximate and can have slight rounding.
