Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders
I’m always brainstorming ideas for using leftover rotisserie chicken (I’m looking at you, chicken Florentine soup). When I first made these chicken bacon ranch sliders, my family went wild for them!
There is one caveat attached here. Though super delicious, these tiny chicken bacon sandwiches are SUPER RICH, so they’re not an everyday meal (very much like this pesto gnocchi, one of our other favorite weeknight meals).
I make chicken sliders with pulled rotisserie chicken, but you can also use chicken thighs or breasts—whatever’s easiest. If you use pre-cooked bacon and pre-grated cheese, the sliders can be in the oven in about 10 minutes. Customize the recipe with whatever you have on hand, but note that the ranch dressing mixture is the true star!
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Ingredients For Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders
Ingredient Notes
- Buttermilk: Contributes moisture and tanginess to the dish.
- Chicken: Using rotisserie chicken is convenient, but use any cooked chicken you like or have.
- Everything Bagel Spice: I have a simple recipe for everything bagel seasoning. We put that sh!t on everything! It adds a variety of flavors and textures, including sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, and dried onion.
- Hawaiian Rolls: These soft rolls have a sweetness that compliments the savory ingredients.
- Ranch Seasoning: Provides a tangy, herby flavor characteristic of ranch dressing but is more concentrated in flavor.
It’s important to note that when making substitutions in recipes, the texture and flavor may be slightly different. However, these substitutes are the best options for changing the original recipe.
Ingredients Substitutions
- Bacon: Turkey bacon can be used as a leaner option.
- Buttermilk: Mix 1 cup milk with 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar as a quick substitute.
- Butter: Margarine or a plant-based butter alternative can replace regular butter.
- Cheddar Cheese: Any melting cheese like Monterey Jack or Colby can be used instead.
- Chicken: Cooked turkey or deli meats like black forest ham can replace rotisserie chicken.
- Hawaiian Rolls: Any soft dinner rolls or slider buns can be substituted for Hawaiian rolls.
- Parmesan Cheese: Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano, or Asiago cheese are good alternatives.
- Ranch Seasoning: You can make your own by mixing dried herbs like dill, chives, and parsley with garlic powder, onion powder, and a bit of buttermilk powder.
Recipe Variations
Try any of the following for a twist on this chicken bacon ranch sliders recipe:
- Asian-Inspired: Add hoisin sauce and sliced green onions.
- BBQ Sauce: Drizzle a layer of BBQ sauce over the chicken.
- Buffalo: Mix the shredded chicken with buffalo sauce before adding it to the sandwiches.
- Cajun Kick: Sprinkle Cajun seasoning over the ranch mixture.
- Caprese: Replace the shredded cheese with fresh mozzarella and add sliced tomatoes and fresh basil.
- Chipotle: Add chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- Cuban: Use ham and Swiss cheese instead of chicken and cheddar.
- French Onion: Add caramelized onions and use Gruyère cheese.
- Roasted Garlic: Smash in some roasted garlic cloves. I have a recipe for air-fryer roasted garlic.
- Greek: Add feta cheese and sliced Kalamata olives.
- Italian: Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the chicken and top the buns with marinara sauce.
- Jalapeño Popper: Add a layer of diced jalapeños and cream cheese.
- Mediterranean: Top with sun-dried tomatoes and olives.
- Mexican: Add taco seasoning and sliced jalapeños.
- Mushroom Swiss: Add sautéed mushrooms and use Swiss cheese.
- Philly Cheesesteak: Use sliced beef and sautéed peppers and onions.
- Pesto: Spread this small-batch basil pesto on the rolls before assembling.
- Pizza: Add pepperoni and use mozzarella cheese.
- Spinach Artichoke: Mix in chopped spinach and artichoke hearts.
- Teriyaki: Brush teriyaki sauce on the chicken
Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of this post, or scroll to the bottom to see the PRINTABLE recipe card with ingredient measurements and complete instructions.
How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders
STEP 1: Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until crisp.
STEP 2: Whisk the buttermilk, melted butter, and ranch powder in a measuring cup or bowl. Set aside some of the mixture. Add the dried minced onion to the remaining mixture and stir.
STEP 3: Line a baking dish with the bottom buns. Spoon half of the plain ranch mixture evenly over the bottom buns.
STEP 4: Top the buns with the cooked bacon.
STEP 5: Scatter the pulled chicken evenly over the buns.
STEP 6: Spread the grated cheese over the sandwiches, then spoon the remaining plain ranch mixture over the cheese.
STEP 7: Place the top buns on the sliders, and then use your hands to press them down gently but firmly. Spoon the dried onion ranch mixture over the top buns.
STEP 8: Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese and bagel seasoning over the buns. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake the sandwiches in a preheated oven. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips
1. Use a serrated knife to slice the rolls in half horizontally all at once, keeping them connected.
2. You can toast the bottom buns briefly before assembling to prevent sogginess.
3. You can make a few at a time in the air fryer rather than a huge batch in the oven.
Recipe Notes
- Use pre-cooked bacon and pre-grated cheese to save time.
- The order you put the chicken, bacon, and cheese on the buns doesn’t matter.
- Add some arugula for color and extra flavor.
- Chicken bacon ranch sandwiches are messy! Serve with lots of napkins.
Storage For Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders
- Leftover sliders can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can then be reheated in a 350°F oven or air fryer for about 8 minutes or until heated through. For best results, wrap in foil before reheating to prevent drying out.
More Weeknight Meal Ideas
Did you make these chicken bacon ranch sliders? Please rate the recipe and tell me how it went in the comments below. Also, stay in touch with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to see more delicious food and recipes!
Printable Recipe Card
Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders
Special Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons or digital kitchen scale
- Skillet
- Tongs
- Oven-safe 9×13-inch (23×33-cm) baking dish
- Whisk
- Liquid measuring cup or bowl
- Aluminum foil
- Wire rack
Ingredients
- 13 ounces bacon, approximately one 375 g package
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup salted butter, melted
- 2 packages ranch seasoning, also called ranch dressing powder
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 15 Hawaiian rolls, or soft dinner rolls or slider buns
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken, pulled
- 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon everything bagel seasoning, optional
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC) and have an oven-safe 9×13-inch (23×33-cm) baking dish ready.
- Whisk the buttermilk, melted butter, and ranch powder in a measuring cup or bowl. Pour ⅓ of the mixture into a separate bowl and stir in the dried minced onion. Set the onion-ranch mixture aside as it's for the top buns.
- Slice the rolls if needed or pull them apart if pre-sliced. Line the baking dish with all of the bottom buns. Spoon half of the plain ranch mixture evenly over the bottom buns.
- Top each bun with bacon, chicken, and cheese. Don’t worry about placing the ingredients on too neatly as the sliders will later be pulled apart.
- Spoon the remaining half of plain ranch mixture over the toppings.
- Place a top bun on each slider then use your hands to press them all down gently but firmly.
- Spoon the onion-ranch mixture over the top buns. Sprinkle on the grated Parmesan and everything bagel spice if using. Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake the sliders for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and bake for 12 to 15 minutes longer or until the rolls are golden. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- Use pre-cooked bacon and pre-grated cheese to save time.
- The order you put the chicken, bacon, and cheese on the buns doesn’t matter.
- Add some arugula for color and extra flavor.
- Chicken bacon ranch sandwiches are messy! Serve with lots of napkins.
Storage
- Leftover sliders can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can then be reheated in a 350°F oven or air fryer for about 8 minutes or until heated through. For best results, wrap in foil before reheating to prevent drying out.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and is provided as a courtesy. For precise nutritional data, please calculate it independently using your preferred nutrition calculator.
