The first time I bit into a bang bang chicken slider, it was an explosion of flavorsweet, spicy, crunchy, and deliciously messy. These little guys are now taking over TikTok and Pinterest, captivating everyone with their speed, fun, and addictive taste.
This 20-minute meal delivers crispy chicken, a creamy chili sauce, and a soft, warm bun embracing it all. It’s the ultimate fast dinner experience, packed into one satisfying bite. Imagine your favorite fast-casual chicken sandwich, but elevated to a game-day snack. Ready to dive in?
I first whipped these up on a whim between soccer practice and a PTA Zoom call, using only what I had on hand. It was an unexpected hit! Now, they’re a top-requested dish in our house. I perfected the sauce through a dozen taste tests, ensuring you’ll love every secret, flavor-packed drop.
There’s something so satisfying about a meal that feels indulgent but doesn’t demand hours in the kitchen. These Bang Bang Chicken Sliders hit every note: they’re crispy, perfectly saucy, and undeniably fun to eat! They’re ideal for busy weeknights or when you need a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for a party.
Beyond being delicious, these sliders are a true weeknight hero. Pan-fried chicken cutlets cook up in a flash, the signature bang bang sauce adds bold flavor with minimal effort, and assembling everything onto soft slider buns keeps the process wonderfully simple. Plus, this dish is incredibly versatileyou can easily tweak the seasonings or sauce to suit your family’s preferences. Expect a little delicious mess, but trust us, it’s absolutely worth it.
Ingredients Breakdown
Crafting exceptional meals always begins with quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to build these delightful sliders:
Chicken Breasts: Thinly sliced chicken cooks quickly and remains perfectly juicy. Season it generously for the best flavor.
Breading Station Staples: Flour, cornstarch, buttermilk, a dash of hot sauce, egg, and Panko breadcrumbs are essential for that unbeatable golden crunch.
Slider Essentials: Soft slider rolls and mozzarella cheese create that desirable cozy, melty texture.
Bang Bang Sauce: The undeniable star of the showa perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and creamy. Whisked together in mere seconds, it elevates these sliders to an extraordinary level.
Oil for Frying: Vegetable or canola oil works perfectly for evenly crisping up your chicken cutlets.
Pro Tip: If you’re out of buttermilk, don’t fret! Simply mix 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutesyou’ll have an instant substitute ready to go!
Simple Steps to Make It
No need to be a culinary expertthis recipe is incredibly straightforward and rewarding. Follow these steps and you’ll be sinking your teeth into crispy, sauce-smothered goodness in no time!
Prep and Season: Begin by seasoning your thinly sliced chicken breasts on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Set up your breading station: combine flour and cornstarch in one bowl, whisk buttermilk with hot sauce and egg in another, and place Panko breadcrumbs in a third.
Bread the Chicken: Dredge each piece of chicken thoroughly in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Next, dip it into the buttermilk mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated. Finally, press it into the Panko breadcrumbs, ensuring an even and complete coating.
Fry to Golden Perfection: Heat a thin layer of oil (about ½ inch) in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry the breaded chicken in batches for approximately 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F. Transfer the cooked cutlets to a paper towel-lined plate to rest briefly and drain excess oil.
Assemble the Sliders: Cut the fried chicken pieces to fit your slider rolls. While the chicken is still warm, place mozzarella slices on top. For the best melt, you can briefly place the open-faced sliders under a broiler for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is bubbling, or cover the skillet for a minute after placing cheese on warm chicken. Then, drizzle generously with bang bang sauce, cap with the top bun, and serve immediately.
Easy Customizations
One of the best features of these sliders is their incredible flexibility. Here are some enjoyable ideas to personalize them:
Turn up the heat: Love an extra kick? Incorporate more hot sauce into the buttermilk mixture, or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to your flour breading.
Go handheld-friendly: For a twist, swap traditional slider rolls for mini brioche buns, or even crisp lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
Switch up the cheese: While mozzarella offers a classic, creamy melt, cheddar or pepper jack would also deliver a fantastic flavor boost.
Make it kid-friendly: Easily adjust the spice level in both the sauce and breading for younger palates. A side of ketchup for dipping is always a hit!
Pro Tip: Any leftover bang bang sauce is too good to waste! It makes an incredible dip for crispy fries, fresh veggies, or even as a spread on other sandwiches.
How to Serve & Store
These sliders are truly at their best when served immediately, while the chicken is still delightfully crispy and the cheese is perfectly melty. However, if you’re planning ahead or dealing with leftovers, here’s how to ensure everything tastes fantastic:
Storage
Reheating Tips
Store fried chicken cutlets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat chicken in a 325°F (160°C) oven or air fryer for about 10 minutes to regain its crispiness. Avoid microwaving, as it will likely make the breading soggy.
Bang Bang sauce can be prepared and refrigerated in advance for up to a week.
Allow the sauce to come to room temperature before serving to ensure it doesn’t cool down your freshly assembled sliders.
For the ultimate experience, remember to assemble these sliders just before serving. Your family (and discerning taste buds) will definitely appreciate the effort!
Expert Insight: Mastering Bang Bang Chicken Sliders
Bang Bang Chicken Sliders are a testament to the power of balancing spicy, creamy, and crunchy textures. The key lies in using thinly sliced chicken that cooks quickly and stays tender, perfectly complemented by a flavorful, homemade sauce. Fresh toppings further enhance the brightness, transforming a simple slider into a truly memorable bite. This recipe skillfully layers contrasting elements, demonstrating how intentional preparation can elevate everyday comfort food.
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Finding the Perfect Bang Bang Chicken Sliders
It took a handful of kitchen experimentsand some truly delicious “failures”to perfect these Bang Bang Chicken Sliders. Early attempts were either overwhelmingly spicy or disappointingly soggy, but persistent tweaking and tasting ultimately led to this beautifully balanced, family-friendly favorite. This recipe truly embodies the rewarding journey of trial and error that makes home cooking so special and authentic.
These Bang Bang Chicken Sliders are perfect for a fast dinner. Crispy chicken cutlets with mozzarella cheese and Bang Bang Sauce make a delicious slider recipe that’s a hit for family dinners and chicken dishes recipes.
Ingredients
Scale
1 1/2 pounds thin sliced chicken breasts
Kosher salt or Fresh black pepper and garlic powder for seasoning the chicken breasts
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 large egg
2 cups (or more as needed) Panko bread crumbs
Vegetable or canola oil for frying
12 slices mozzarella cheese
12 slider rolls
Bang Bang Sauce
Instructions
Season chicken breasts with salt pepper and garlic powder.
Set up breading station with flour and cornstarch mixture, buttermilk hot sauce and egg mixture, and Panko bread crumbs.
Dredge chicken in flour mixture then buttermilk mixture then bread crumbs pressing to coat.
Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.
Fry chicken cutlets 2-3 minutes per side until internal temperature is 165 degrees.
Drain fried chicken on paper towels.
Whisk Bang Bang Sauce and set aside.
Cut fried chicken into smaller pieces place on slider rolls top with mozzarella cheese while warm and drizzle with Bang Bang Sauce then serve.
Sharing a handpicked collection of easy, healthy recipes made in our family kitchen. Rachel brings comforting classics, while Emily adds fresh, modern ideas together creating meals that are simple, flavorful, and family-friendly.
