Crispy golden crust, ooey-gooey cheese, and that perfect tangy marinara make this Crispy Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe an absolute winner. Trust me, once you try these little flavor-packed sandwiches, you’ll want to make them again and again.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
These sliders are one of my go-to easy crowd-pleasers. I’ve served them at game days, casual dinners, and even for a fun family movie night. The balance of crispy chicken, melted cheese, and buttery buns is just irresistible.
- Crispy, tender chicken: The buttermilk soak and double breading create a crust that’s crunchy without being dry.
- Cheese overload: With provolone and mozzarella sticks baked right on the sliders, you get cheesy heaven in every bite.
- Easy to assemble: The step-by-step breading and baking process is straightforward, perfect whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned cook.
- Flavorful butter topping: The melted butter with Italian herbs and Parmesan is the little secret that makes these sliders extra special.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient in this Crispy Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe plays an important role, from tenderizing the chicken to building layers of flavor and texture. Using fresh Parmesan combined with Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs gives that authentic taste you crave.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Thinner, pounded cuts make perfectly sized slider portions that cook evenly and stay juicy.
- Buttermilk: It tenderizes the chicken and adds a subtle tang; if you don’t have it, don’t worry — I’ve got substitute options below.
- Flour, seasoned salt, black pepper: These form the first coating and build a base flavor layer.
- Eggs: They help the breadcrumbs stick for that unbeatable crispy crust.
- Breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley: This combo creates a flavorful, herbaceous crust that crisps up beautifully.
- Olive oil and butter: A mix of fat types ensures a golden sear and adds richness to the chicken.
- Provolone cheese: Melts smoothly atop the chicken for classic Italian flavor.
- Marinara sauce: Choose your favorite brand or homemade for that fresh tomato zing.
- Frozen mozzarella sticks: These melt inside for a stretchy surprise that kids and adults love.
- Slider buns: Soft but sturdy buns that hold everything together without getting soggy.
- Butter topping ingredients: Melted butter, sea salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, parsley, and Parmesan — the finishing touch that makes your sliders shine.
Make It Your Way
While I love the classic version of these sliders, you can totally tweak this recipe to suit your tastes or dietary needs. That’s the beauty of making sliders—you get to get creative in small, delicious bites.
- Variation: I once swapped the provolone for fresh mozzarella slices, and it made for an even creamier melty center — definitely try that for a richer slider.
- Spicy kick: Add some red pepper flakes into your breadcrumb mixture or top the marinara with a drizzle of spicy chili oil for a subtle heat.
- Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs, plus gluten-free buns, to keep the crunch and flavor without gluten.
- Make it vegetarian: You can swap the chicken for breaded eggplant slices — make it a crispy eggplant Parmesan slider instead!
Step-by-Step: How I Make Crispy Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe
Step 1: Prep the Chicken Just Right
First things first: butterfly your chicken breasts to get thinner, more manageable pieces. If needed, pound them gently between wax paper until they’re about ¾ inch thick. Cutting into halves or thirds helps them fit perfectly on the slider buns. Marinate these babies in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes—this is what keeps them juicy and tender. I sometimes do this part the night before for extra flavor.
Step 2: Set Up Your Breading Station
Creating an assembly line really helps keep things neat (and fast). I use three shallow bowls: one with seasoned flour, one with whisked eggs, and the last one with a mix of breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley. Dip each piece of chicken into flour first, shake off the excess, then egg, then coat completely with the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure they’re well coated for that golden crunch we’re after.
Step 3: Cook the Mozzarella Sticks & Sear the Chicken
Bake the frozen mozzarella sticks first at 450°F for 7 minutes so they're ready when you assemble. Then, reduce the oven heat to 350°F and cook your breaded chicken in a skillet with olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Cook about 4 minutes per side until golden brown. Getting the temperature right here is key—too hot and the crust burns, too cool and it ends up soggy.
Step 4: Assemble the Sliders
Place the bottom halves of your slider buns in a casserole dish. Lay the golden chicken pieces on top, spoon over marinara sauce, then layer with provolone slices and those melty mozzarella sticks you baked earlier. Top with the bun tops. Now for a trick that really finishes the job—brush the buns with a savory butter mixture made with melted butter, sea salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, parsley, and extra Parmesan cheese.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Cover your sliders with foil and pop them into the oven for 8 minutes. Take off the foil and bake another 2-3 minutes to get that cheese bubbling and the tops golden and crisp. This last bake is magic—it melds all the layers together and lets the flavors shine.
Top Tip
From countless tries, I’ve learned a few tricks that always make my Crispy Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe a guaranteed success. These tips help you avoid common pitfalls and get that perfect crispy-cheesy combo everyone loves.
- Buttermilk soaking time: Let your chicken sit at least 30 minutes. If you're in a rush, 30 is enough, but overnight will blow your mind with tenderness.
- Don’t rush the breading: Pat the chicken dry after buttermilk so excess liquid doesn’t make the breading soggy—this keeps things crisp.
- Use a combination of oil and butter: Butter adds flavor, but oil raises the smoke point so your breading doesn’t burn.
- Brush the butter topping generously: It’s easy to skimp here but don’t! This finishing step makes your slider buns irresistibly golden and flavorful.
How to Serve Crispy Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe
Garnishes
I like to sprinkle a little fresh chopped parsley on top after baking—it adds a pop of color and a fresh herbal note that balances the richness. Sometimes, I add a few extra shavings of Parmesan for that cheesy finish.
Side Dishes
These sliders pair beautifully with crisp, garlicky Caesar salad and some oven-baked sweet potato fries for a bit of sweetness and crunch. A simple side of roasted vegetables or even classic chips works well too!
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I like arranging these sliders on large platters with toothpicks topped by fresh basil leaves or cherry tomatoes for a festive touch. You can even set up a slider bar with different cheeses and sauces to let guests customize their own.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After cooling, I wrap each slider individually in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They stay fresh for about 3 days, and the breading keeps surprisingly crisp if reheated the right way.
Freezing
These sliders freeze well—wrap them tightly in foil and tinfoil and place them in a freezer-safe bag. I recommend freezing before baking for best results, then thaw in the fridge overnight before finishing the bake. Makes a great make-ahead meal stash!
Reheating
To keep the crust crispy when reheating, I pop the sliders in a 350°F oven uncovered for about 10-12 minutes. Using the microwave tends to make the breading soggy, so I avoid that if I can.
Frequently Asked Questions:
I recommend using fresh chicken breasts for best texture and flavor. Frozen can work if fully thawed and patted dry, but fresh ensures the breading sticks better and the chicken cooks evenly.
Great question! You can mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice with 1 cup milk and let it sit for 5-10 minutes; this curdled milk acts like buttermilk. Plain yogurt or sour cream thinned with a little milk also works well.
The thinner slices and pounding help cook the chicken quickly and evenly. Cooking about 4 minutes per side on medium-high heat usually does the trick. You can always use a meat thermometer; the internal temp should reach 165°F (74°C).
Absolutely! You can bread the chicken and assemble the sliders, then refrigerate them for a few hours before baking. This makes it perfect for entertaining or meal prep. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if they come straight from the fridge.
Final Thoughts
This Crispy Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe holds a special place in my kitchen because it delivers comfort food vibes without hours of work. It’s one of those meals I recommend to friends all the time because it wins everyone over—crispy, cheesy, savory, and so fun to eat. Give it a go, and I promise you’ll have a new favorite to serve whenever you want to impress with minimal fuss.
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Delicious Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 sliders
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Description
Chicken Parmesan Sliders offer a delicious twist on the classic Italian favorite, featuring tender buttermilk-marinated chicken, crispy breading, melted provolone cheese, gooey mozzarella sticks, and marinara sauce all nestled inside buttery slider buns. Perfect as a fun appetizer or satisfying main dish, these sliders combine crispy texture, savory flavors, and melty cheese for an irresistible bite-sized treat.
Ingredients
Chicken and Breading
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ¾ cup flour
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large eggs, whisked
- 1 ½ cups breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Cooking
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 6 slices provolone cheese
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 18 frozen mozzarella sticks
- 6 slider buns
Butter Topping
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Butterfly each chicken breast by cutting horizontally to create two thinner slices about ¾ inch thick. Cut each piece to fit the slider buns, then place chicken in a gallon freezer bag with buttermilk. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Set Up Breading Stations: In bowl one, combine flour, seasoned salt, and black pepper. In bowl two, whisk the eggs. In bowl three, mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley.
- Bread Chicken: Remove chicken from buttermilk allowing excess to drip off. Dredge each piece first in the flour mixture, then dip briefly in the eggs, and coat thoroughly with the breadcrumb mixture.
- Preheat Oven and Bake Mozzarella Sticks: Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake frozen mozzarella sticks for 7 minutes, then set aside.
- Cook Chicken: Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry chicken pieces for about 4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove from heat.
- Assemble Sliders: Arrange slider bun bottoms in a casserole dish. Top each with cooked chicken, spoon marinara sauce over the chicken, then top with a slice of provolone cheese and three mozzarella sticks each.
- Add Slider Tops and Butter Topping: Place the slider bun tops on each stack. In a small bowl, combine melted butter, sea salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, fresh parsley, and Parmesan cheese. Brush this mixture generously over the tops of the buns.
- Bake Sliders: Cover casserole dish with foil and bake for 8 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 3 minutes until the tops are golden brown and cheese is melted.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve immediately while warm and melty.
Notes
- Slider Buns: Use homemade or bakery slider buns approximately 4 inches in diameter for best size.
- Buttermilk Substitutes: For 1 cup buttermilk, mix 4 tablespoons milk with enough sour cream; or 2 tablespoons milk with enough yogurt; or 1 tablespoon white vinegar with milk and let sit for 5-10 minutes; or 1 tablespoon lemon juice with milk letting it sit until curdled, then stir.
- Use frozen mozzarella sticks for ease, but fresh mozzarella sticks could be substituted if desired.
- For crispier chicken, cook in olive oil and butter to create a golden crust before assembling sliders.
- Cover the sliders with foil during baking to ensure cheese melts without drying out the buns.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
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