Description
Delicious Chicken Parmesan Sliders made with crispy chicken tenders, melted mozzarella, marinara sauce, and garlic butter brushed slider buns. Perfectly baked to a golden finish, these handheld sandwiches combine classic Italian flavors in a fun, easy-to-serve format ideal for gatherings, game days, or quick dinners.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken & Cheese
- 1 26 oz package crispy chicken tenders or chicken breast cutlets (i.e. Perdue or Tyson)
- 12 slices mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup marinara sauce (thick) (plus additional for serving)
- 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (divided)
Buns & Butter Mixture
- 12 slider rolls
- 4 Tbsp salted butter (melted)
- 3 medium garlic cloves or 1 tsp granulated garlic (minced)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning or oregano
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Garnish (Optional)
- 1-2 Tbsp chopped fresh Italian parsley
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Preheat oven or follow package instructions to cook the crispy chicken tenders on a sheet pan. Once cooked, let them cool to room temperature for easier handling during assembly.
- Prepare Baking Dish and Buns: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 12×8 inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Slice the slider rolls in half horizontally and place the bottom halves evenly in the dish.
- Make Garlic Butter Mixture: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic (or granulated garlic), onion powder, dried Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir well to blend all flavors.
- Assemble Sliders – Bottom Layer: Generously brush the garlic butter mixture all over the bottom slider buns. Then, layer 6 slices of mozzarella cheese atop the buttered buns. Spread half a cup of marinara sauce over the cheese layer evenly.
- Add Chicken and Sauce: Arrange the cooled chicken tenders over the marinara sauce layer. Drizzle the remaining half cup of marinara sauce on top of the chicken. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese over the chicken and sauce.
- Add Cheese and Top Buns: Cover the chicken layer with the remaining 6 slices of mozzarella cheese. Place the top halves of the slider rolls over the cheese layer. Brush the tops with the remaining garlic butter and sprinkle the top with the reserved Parmesan cheese.
- Bake the Sliders: Loosely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to prevent drying out and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes until the tops are lightly golden and the cheese is fully melted.
- Serve: Using a sharp knife, cut the sliders along the perforations or between buns. Garnish with chopped fresh Italian parsley if desired. Serve warm with extra marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- You can substitute the crispy chicken tenders with homemade breaded and fried chicken cutlets if preferred.
- For a spicier slider, increase the crushed red pepper flakes or add a dash of hot sauce to the marinara.
- To keep sliders warm before serving, loosely cover with foil and keep in a low oven (200°F) for up to 30 minutes.
- Slider rolls can be found at most grocery stores; if unavailable, mini sandwich buns or small potato rolls work well.
- Fresh parsley garnish adds a nice pop of color and freshness but can be omitted if unavailable.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
