If you are looking for the ultimate crowd pleasing appetizer or a super fast weeknight dinner, these incredibly delicious Chicken Parmesan Sliders are exactly what you need. This brilliant recipe takes all the rich, comforting flavors of classic Italian chicken parmesan and shrinks them down into a perfectly handheld, bite sized sandwich. Featuring sweet Hawaiian rolls, crispy breaded chicken, tangy marinara sauce, and mountains of melted mozzarella cheese, these sliders are guaranteed to disappear from the baking dish in absolute record time.
Finding meals that both adults and kids will eagerly devour can sometimes be a massive challenge, but these sliders are a guaranteed homerun. They require barely any prep work, making them the perfect companion to other fast, family friendly dinners like a bubbling pan of BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese or a massive platter of Cheesy Rotel Beef Tacos.
Whether you are hosting a huge game day party, packing up food for a neighborhood potluck, or simply trying to get a hot, satisfying dinner on the table after a long day of work, these cheesy, garlic butter coated sliders deliver massive flavor with very little effort.
Why This Slider Recipe Works So Well
The real magic of these Chicken Parmesan Sliders lies in the incredible balance of textures and the genius shortcut of using store bought ingredients. Instead of spending hours breading and frying raw chicken cutlets, this recipe utilizes frozen breaded chicken tenders or patties. When baked inside the soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls and smothered in hot marinara and cheese, the chicken stays perfectly crispy on the edges while becoming wonderfully tender in the center.
Furthermore, the crowning glory of this dish is the savory garlic butter glaze that gets brushed over the top of the buns right before baking. As the sliders bake in the oven, this butter seeps into the bread, creating a beautifully toasted, golden crust that tastes exactly like premium garlic bread.
If your family thoroughly enjoys rich, deeply savory comfort meals like a warm French Onion Chicken Rice Casserole or a highly satisfying Poor Man’s Husband Casserole, they will absolutely swoon over the heavy, cheesy profile of these baked sandwiches.
Essential Ingredients
You only need a handful of very simple, everyday grocery items to pull this magnificent dinner together.
For the Sliders:
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Sweet Hawaiian Rolls: One standard package of twelve rolls. The slight sweetness of the bread pairs perfectly with the savory, acidic tomato sauce.
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Breaded Chicken Tenders: Use your absolute favorite brand of frozen, fully cooked breaded chicken strips or chicken patties.
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Marinara Sauce: Use a high quality jarred pasta sauce or homemade marinara if you have some on hand.
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Mozzarella Cheese: Freshly shredded mozzarella or thick slices of provolone cheese will give you that iconic, stretchy cheese pull.
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Parmesan Cheese: Grated parmesan adds a sharp, salty bite that authenticates the chicken parmesan flavor.
For the Garlic Butter Glaze:
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Unsalted Butter: Melted down to act as the base for the glaze.
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Garlic Powder and Italian Seasoning: To give the top of the buns that authentic garlic bread aroma.
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Fresh Parsley: Finely chopped for a pop of fresh green color.
Step by Step Instructions
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Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cook your frozen breaded chicken tenders according to the package directions until they are hot and crispy.
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Slice the Rolls: Without pulling the individual rolls apart, use a large serrated knife to slice the entire slab of Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally. Place the bottom half of the rolls directly into your prepared baking dish.
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Layer the Chicken: Once the chicken tenders are fully cooked, chop them into smaller bite sized pieces so they fit nicely, or simply lay them across the bottom buns in an even layer.
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Add Sauce and Cheese: Spoon your marinara sauce generously over the top of the crispy chicken. Next, sprinkle a heavy layer of shredded mozzarella cheese and grated parmesan cheese entirely over the sauce.
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Top and Glaze: Place the top half of the Hawaiian rolls carefully over the cheese layer. In a small microwave safe bowl, melt the unsalted butter and stir in the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and fresh parsley. Use a pastry brush to generously coat the top of the rolls with this savory garlic butter mixture.
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Bake to Perfection: Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for about 15 minutes. This allows the cheese to melt without burning the bread. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the tops of the rolls are deeply golden brown and slightly crispy.
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Serve: Let the sliders cool for just a few minutes before using a sharp knife to cut along the seams of the rolls. Serve while piping hot!
Chicken Parmesan Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 package (12 count) sweet Hawaiian rolls
- 12 oz frozen breaded chicken tenders, cooked and chopped
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- nonstick cooking spray as needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the frozen chicken tenders according to package directions, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally and place the bottom half into the prepared baking dish.
- Spread the chopped chicken evenly over the bottom rolls.
- Spoon the marinara sauce evenly over the chicken.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan cheese evenly over the sauce.
- Place the top half of the rolls over the cheese layer.
- In a small bowl, mix melted butter, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and parsley.
- Brush the butter mixture generously over the tops of the rolls.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes until golden and the cheese is melted.
- Slice into individual sliders and serve hot.
Notes
What to Serve With Chicken Parmesan Sliders
Because these sliders are so incredibly rich and heavy, they pair wonderfully with fresh, crisp side dishes or classic Italian sides. A simple Caesar salad is always a fantastic choice, or you can serve up a massive tray of our Creamy Parmesan Oven Baked Potatoes to keep with the heavy, cheesy parmesan theme.
If you have leftover sliders, they make a fantastic lunch the very next day. Alternatively, if you want to switch things up for your next lunch prep, you can throw together some fresh and easy Gourmet BLT Wraps.
Hosting a crowd for a fun weekend gathering? You can easily follow up this incredible savory dinner by treating your guests the very next morning to a decadent, buttery Ultimate Breakfast Grilled Cheese.
And of course, no comfort food feast is ever truly complete without a fantastic dessert to cap off the evening! Serve up our highly addictive, bite sized Rhubarb Cheesecake Bombs to perfectly balance the rich garlic and tomato flavors of the sliders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these sliders ahead of time? You can assemble the sliders up to the point of adding the garlic butter glaze, cover them tightly, and store them in the refrigerator for a few hours before your party. However, because the marinara sauce can make the bread slightly soggy over time, it is highly recommended to bake them the same day you assemble them.
What is the best kind of chicken to use? Frozen breaded chicken strips or chicken nuggets are the absolute easiest and most convenient option. However, if you have leftover homemade fried chicken cutlets or even plain grilled chicken breasts, those will work beautifully in this recipe as well.
How do I store and reheat leftovers? Store any leftover sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The absolute best way to reheat them is in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes, or in an air fryer, so the buns crisp back up. Microwaving them will result in very soft, slightly chewy bread.