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A pan of baked hot honey chicken sliders with melted cheese pulling apart

Chicken Sliders

These are the absolute best chicken sliders for a quick weeknight dinner or a fun party. The secret is brushing the tops with a sweet and spicy hot honey glaze before baking. It creates a beautiful glossy look and an incredible crispy texture. They are so simple and easy to assemble because you make them all in one pan. Your family will love this healthy and flavorful spin on classic comfort food.
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Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken sliders
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 944kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 package sweet Hawaiian rolls One 12-count slab, sliced horizontally to form the top and bottom buns.
  • 6 thin square slices Colby-Jack cheese Thin slices layered over the bottom buns to create a barrier.
  • 12 medium crispy chicken tenders Fully cooked and chopped into half-inch pieces for the filling.
  • 3 tablespoons Mike's Hot Honey Whisked into the butter glaze to provide a sweet and spicy kick.
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter Melted and mixed with honey to create a rich browning glaze.
  • 1 cup iceberg lettuce Finely shredded to add a cool crunch to the finished sliders.
  • 2 medium vine-ripened tomato Cut into thin circular slices for a fresh juicy contrast.
  • 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley Finely chopped and scattered over the glaze for color and freshness.

Instructions

  • Slice the entire package of 12 sweet Hawaiian rolls horizontally to separate the tops from the bottoms, then place the bottom slab into a 9x13-inch clear glass baking dish. Arrange 6 thin square slices of Colby-Jack cheese across the bread so they overlap slightly and form a complete barrier. (I tried using shredded cheese the first time, it melted into a messy puddle that made the bottom buns completely soggy. Solid slices are the fix.) You want to make sure the cheese covers the entire surface of the rolls edge-to-edge. The cheese acts as a shield that prevents the juices from the chicken from soaking into the bottom buns while baking. Look for a clean, uniform layer with overlapping corners. Layer the cheese completely over the bottom slab of rolls, this structural barrier keeps the bottom bread from getting soggy.
    Slices of Colby-Jack cheese layered over sweet roll bottoms in a glass pan
  • Take 12 fully cooked crispy chicken tenders and cut them into irregular half-inch pieces using a sharp chef's knife. Scatter the warm breaded chicken pieces evenly over the cheese layer in the 9x13-inch clear glass baking dish, filling every gap. Press down gently with your hands to settle the chicken into the cheese so the sandwich fillings stay stable. You'll see a beautiful contrast between the crunchy golden-brown breading of the chicken and the orange and white marbled cheese below. The chicken should form a dense, bumpy layer that completely covers the cheese without any huge gaps. You'll smell the savory garlic and onion seasonings from the hot breading right away. Scatter the cut chicken pieces in a tight single layer, nesting the pieces tightly prevents them from falling out later.
    Crispy breaded chicken pieces layered over cheese in a glass baking pan
  • Place the top slab of the sweet Hawaiian rolls over the chicken layer, then mix 3 tablespoons of Mike's Hot Honey and 2 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter in a small bowl. Use a silicone pastry brush to spread the glossy glaze evenly over the tops of the rolls, ensuring you coat the sides. Bake in a 350°F preheated oven for exactly 10 to 12 minutes until the tops turn a deep amber color. You'll hear the butter sizzling slightly around the edges of the pan and the cheese will look molten and bubbly. Watch the tops closely because the sugars in the hot honey can go from beautifully caramelized to scorched very quickly. The kitchen will fill with a rich aroma of toasted sweet bread and spicy honey. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes, moderate heat melts the cheese before the honey glaze burns.
    Brushing a glossy hot honey glaze onto the top buns of chicken sliders
  • Remove the sliders from the oven and carefully lift off the top bun slab using a wide metal spatula to reveal the melted interior. Scatter 1 cup of finely shredded iceberg lettuce and 6 thin slices of red vine-ripened tomato over the warm chicken, then sprinkle 1 tablespoon of finely chopped flat-leaf parsley across the top. Replace the warm top buns and cut the sliders into individual sandwiches before serving. The crisp green lettuce will wilt slightly against the warm chicken and the bright red tomatoes add a fresh pop of color. You'll see the cheese stretched thin around the edges of the golden-brown rolls. The contrast between the cold crunchy toppings and the hot savory chicken is exactly what makes these sandwiches incredible. Slice into individual portions immediately after topping, cutting while hot keeps the crispy layers from separating during assembly.
    Baked chicken sliders sliced open showing lettuce tomato chicken and melted cheese

Notes

Store any leftover sliders in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. I do not recommend freezing the fully assembled sliders because the fresh lettuce and tomato slices will turn mushy when thawed. If you want to freeze the base, you can freeze the baked bread, chicken, and cheese layers for up to 1 month wrapped tightly in aluminum foil. To reheat the sliders, place them on a baking sheet in a 350°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes until warmed through. If the buns look like they are browning too fast, pull a piece of foil over the top. Add a fresh handful of shredded lettuce right before serving to restore that perfect signature crunch.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 944kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Fat: 89g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Cholesterol: 444mg | Sodium: 853mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g