Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders
You can still feed a crowd what they want and save yourself the time and mess with this simple Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders recipe!
It doesn’t get easier than Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders with 3-ingredient buffalo chicken and fresh and simple homemade ranch dressing on a toasted garlic bun! This warm and toasty slider recipe is the no-fuss, easy clean-up, slow cooker recipe that’s perfect for a game day snack or a simple weeknight dinner!
ALL OF THE FLAVOR AND NONE OF THE MESS
We are a huge football family. So naturally, we enjoy munching on chicken wings during game day, but I absolutely hate having to fry them! The messy oil splatter and the smell that permeates the house for days aren’t worth it to me, which is why I love this Buffalo Chicken Sliders recipe! It’s an easy and equally delicious finger food that leaves your fingers and your kitchen clean.
If you love buffalo chicken, you must try crisp and cool Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks or crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings!
OTHER RECIPES TO SERVE WITH BUFFALO CHICKEN SLIDERS
- Super Thick and Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing – I love ranch dressing, but sometimes it’s just a blue cheese dressing kind of day.
- Skinny Veggie Dip – This yummy dip is a perfect lighter appetizer to munch alongside these delicious sliders.
- Easy Wedge Salad – Turn your sliders into a meal by serving them alongside a crisp and refreshing wedge salad.
INGREDIENTS
Chicken: This 3-ingredient buffalo chicken consists of boneless skinless chicken breasts, Frank’s Hot Sauce, and butter.
Ranch Dressing: Easy ranch dressing can be made with a buttermilk ranch seasoning packet, buttermilk, mayo, and pepper.
Slider Buns: You can use whatever slider buns you prefer. Brioche, ciabatta, and sourdough rolls are all equally amazing! You’ll toast the buns using olive oil and rub a fresh garlic clove onto them for flavor.
HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER BUFFALO CHICKEN SLIDERS
STEP ONE: To a 4-quart or larger slow cooker, add the chicken breasts, Frank’s Hot Sauce, and butter. Cover the slow cooker and place it on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours.
STEP TWO: While the chicken is cooking, prepare the ranch dressing. Whisk together the ranch dressing mix packet, buttermilk, mayo, and black pepper. Once smooth, cover the ranch dressing and place it in the refrigerator. Once the chicken is cooked, shred it in the slow cooker using two forks.
STEP THREE: Preheat the oven to broil. Split the slider buns in half and place them cut side up onto a baking sheet. Brush the cut side of the buns with olive oil and place them under the broiler for 5-7 minutes, watching them carefully until they’re toasted to a lovely golden brown.
STEP FOUR: When the buns are toasted, remove them from the oven. Cut the garlic clove and rub the cut end onto the toasted side of the buns. Top each bottom bun with a scoop of shredded buffalo chicken and a drizzle of ranch dressing before placing the toasted buns on top. Serve these tasty sliders with a side of carrot sticks, celery sticks, and extra ranch dressing!
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
- On game days, I use the HIGH setting for morning or afternoon games and the LOW setting for evening games. That way, the chicken is ready when we are.
- If the slider buns are connected, you can slice the entire sheet in half instead of breaking them apart first.
- When serving these sliders for a buffet, I put the slider bun tops and bottoms back together after rubbing on the garlic and then arranged the buns on a platter. Guests can build their sliders since all the components are ready to go.
HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT BUFFALO CHICKEN SLIDERS
I don’t recommend saving assembled sliders. The buns will become mushy over time from the buffalo sauce and dressing. However, you can store leftover buffalo chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Then reheat the leftovers in the microwave and toast some fresh buns in minutes. Your leftovers will taste brand new! You can also freeze this buffalo chicken when you may not want to wait 4 hours for the perfect game day slider.
Another great option for repurposing any leftover buffalo chicken is our Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe. Using this chicken will just add even more delicious buffalo flavor to the dish!
OTHER PERFECT GAME DAY APPETIZERS
It would be easy to fill a whole table with delicious buffalo chicken, but there are a ton of other great game-day snacks too! Every snack table needs a great dip, like Jalapeno Crab Dip or Creamy Taco Dip. You’ve got to have some amazing charcuterie, like a sweet and salty Pineapple Cheese Ball or Cracker Canapes. And don’t forget the Bacon Wrapped Smokies! There’s no end to all of these amazing Football Party Food Ideas!
OTHER BUFFALO RECIPES TO ENJOY
- Lightened Up Buffalo Macaroni and Cheese
- Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Cups
- Buffalo Chicken Pizza Bites
- Crispy Baked Buffalo Wings
- Buffalo Bacon Cheeseball
- Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
*This post was originally posted on 11/01/2014.
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Equipment
Ingredients
Buffalo Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 ½ cups Frank's hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
Easy Ranch Dressing
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk
- 1 cup mayo
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
For serving
- 24 slider buns (see note)
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 clove garlic peeled
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts, hot sauce, and butter into a 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours.
- While the chicken is cooking, prepare the ranch dressing. Whisk together the ranch dressing mix, buttermilk, mayo, and pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for later.
- When the chicken is done cooking, use 2 forks to shred it right in the slow cooker. Then mix it into the sauce. Set that aside for now.
- Preheat your oven to broil.
- Split the slider buns in half horizontally. Place all the bun halves cut side up on a baking sheet and then brush them with olive oil.
- Place the baking sheet under the broiler for 5-7 minutes, watching carefully! The buns are ready when they're golden brown.
- Remove the buns from the oven. Cut off the end of the garlic clove and then rub the garlic onto the browned area of the buns. (see note)
- Add some buffalo chicken to the bottom buns. Then top with ranch dressing and place the top buns on the sliders.
- Serve immediately with carrot sticks, celery sticks, and extra ranch.
Notes
- I like using Hawaiian savory butter rolls or small ciabatta rolls for this recipe, but you can use whatever small buns you like.
- When serving these sliders on a buffet, I put the slider bun tops and bottoms back together after rubbing on the garlic and then arrange the buns on a platter. Guests can build their own sliders since all the components are ready to go.
Here in Buffalo, if it’s got Frank’s Hot Sauce on it, it better only be paired with Blue Cheese dressing! Anything else is not “Buffalo” anything. lol
HAHA Good to know!! I’ll have to keep that in mind.
I love all the recipes thank you
My family would love this one! this looks like a great weeknight meal idea since it comes together so quickly.