A quick buffalo chicken salad comes together in about 10 minutes, then is piled onto slider buns for an ideal game-day appetizer, lunch, or easy dinner.
Football season or not, these Buffalo Chicken Salad Sliders are a simple, crowd-pleasing option whenever you want bold flavor without a lot of fuss. The base is a classic cold chicken salad made with shredded chicken, crunchy vegetables and a zesty buffalo-blue cheese dressing. Served on sweet Hawaiian rolls or any slider buns, they balance spicy, creamy and slightly sweet into each bite.
This recipe is perfect for making ahead since the salad is served cold. Pack a couple of sliders for lunch, bring them to a potluck, or arrange a platter for game-day gatherings. The assembly is fast and forgiving — you can easily adjust heat, texture and cheese to suit your tastes.
Buffalo Chicken Salad Sliders Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast (boneless, skinless)
- ½ cup pepperoncinis, sliced
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup chopped celery
- 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
- ¼ cup buffalo sauce
- ¼ cup blue cheese dressing
- 8 Hawaiian sweet rolls or slider buns
- ½ cup blue cheese crumbles (optional topping)
Buffalo Chicken Salad Sliders Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, sliced pepperoncinis, shredded carrots, chopped celery and chopped cilantro.
- Pour the buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing over the mixture.
- Toss everything together until the chicken and vegetables are evenly coated with the sauce and dressing.
- Split the Hawaiian rolls or slider buns and spoon generous portions of the buffalo chicken salad onto the bottom halves.
- Top each slider with blue cheese crumbles if desired, then close with the top halves of the rolls and serve immediately.
Make-Ahead and Storage
The chicken salad can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Assemble the sliders just before serving to keep the rolls from becoming soggy. Leftover assembled sliders are best eaten within 24 hours.
Tips for Best Results
- Use cooked shredded chicken from a rotisserie bird, leftover roast chicken, or quickly poach breasts and shred them for this recipe.
- Adjust the heat by varying the amount of buffalo sauce or choosing a milder buffalo-style sauce if you prefer less spice.
- Swap blue cheese dressing for ranch if you want a creamier, milder flavor, or combine a little ranch with blue cheese dressing for balance.
- For extra crunch and color, add thinly sliced red onion or chopped scallions.
- Serve on toasted Hawaiian rolls to add a warm contrast and bring out the sweet-and-spicy balance.
Variations
- Buffalo Wrap: Spoon the chicken salad into large tortillas with lettuce for a handheld wrap.
- Low-Carb Option: Serve the buffalo chicken salad over a bed of greens instead of on buns.
- Extra Cheesy: Melt provolone or pepper jack on the bottom roll before adding the salad for a warm, gooey slider.
- Mix-In Ideas: Add chopped pickles, roasted corn, or a handful of shredded cabbage for added texture and flavor.
Nutrition Snapshot
Per slider (approximate): Calories 190 kcal; Carbohydrates 16 g; Protein 16 g; Fat 6 g; Saturated Fat 3 g; Cholesterol 45 mg; Sodium 541 mg; Potassium 173 mg; Sugar 4 g. These values will vary with brands and exact portion sizes.
Quick, flavorful and easy to scale, these Buffalo Chicken Salad Sliders are a great addition to game-day menus, casual lunches, or a simple weeknight dinner. Make a double batch to feed a crowd — they disappear fast!