Crispy golden breading hugging tender chicken, melted cheese, and a saucy tang all come together flawlessly in this Crispy Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe. It’s the perfect bite-sized indulgence for casual dinners or game day snacks you'll want to make again and again.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Whenever I make these Crispy Chicken Parmesan Sliders, it feels like a little celebration in my kitchen. They’re so satisfying without a truckload of time or effort, and people always ask for seconds right away.
- Perfectly Crispy: The panko and Parmesan crust bakes to a golden crunch that’s just irresistible.
- Melty Cheese Magic: Fresh provolone and mozzarella sticks inside make every bite gooey and delicious.
- Easy to Customize: You can swap cheeses or add your favorite herbs for your own twist.
- Great for Anytime: Whether it’s a quick weeknight meal or a party platter, these sliders hit the spot.
Ingredients & Why They Work
All the ingredients here blend to create a harmonious balance of crispy, tender, tangy, and cheesy. Plus, they’re pretty straightforward to find, which I appreciate when time is tight.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Butterflying and pounding the chicken makes it thin and cooks evenly for the best tender texture inside the crispy coating.
- Buttermilk: Acts as the perfect marinade tenderizer; if you don’t have buttermilk, I’ll share my simple substitutions below.
- Flour, seasoned salt & black pepper: Kick off the breading with flavor and help the coating stick beautifully.
- Eggs: Act as the essential glue between the flour and breadcrumbs.
- Breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese & fresh parsley: The combo here builds that crave-worthy crispy crust with herbaceous notes.
- Olive oil & butter: This fat duo adds richness and helps achieve that gorgeous golden fry, even when you’re cooking on the stovetop.
- Provolone cheese: Melts smoothly over the chicken for creamy texture and subtle smoky flavor.
- Mozzarella sticks: Melted inside each sandwich for elasty, stringy, fun cheese pulls that bring a special touch.
- Marinara sauce: Adds the bright tomato tang that makes it unmistakably "parmesan".
- Slider buns: Soft and just the right size for handheld deliciousness.
- Butter topping mix: A savory, herby brush-on that bakes into the buns’ tops to elevate every bite.
Make It Your Way
One of the things I love about this Crispy Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe is that you can tweak it easily. Feel free to swap cheeses, add a basil leaf, or use gluten-free breadcrumbs to suit your tastes and dietary needs.
- Variation: I once tried swapping out the mozzarella sticks for fresh sliced mozzarella and basil for a fresher take—it was fantastic if you like a lighter cheese pull.
- Dietary tweak: Using almond flour instead of regular flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs works great to keep it crispy and satisfying for gluten-sensitive friends.
- Spice it up: Adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the breadcrumb mix brings a little kick that pairs wonderfully with the marinara.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Crispy Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Pound Your Chicken
First, butterfly your chicken breasts and slice them to match your bun size. Pounding them to about ¾ inch thick is a game-changer—it ensures quick, even cooking and keeps the chicken tender. Use wax paper or plastic wrap on top to avoid a mess and keep things sanitary when pounding. Don’t skip marinating the chicken in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes—it tenderizes the meat and helps the breading stick better.
Step 2: Set Up Your Breading Station
Make your life easy by prepping three bowls: seasoned flour, whisked eggs, and the breadcrumb-Parmesan-parsley mix. Dredge each piece first in the flour, then eggs, then breadcrumbs, making sure every nook is coated. I like to do this in batches to keep the breading nice and even.
Step 3: Bake Mozzarella Sticks & Pan-fry the Chicken
While your oven’s heating, bake frozen mozzarella sticks at 450°F for about 7 minutes until melty and just starting to brown. Then, reduce the oven temp to 350°F. In a skillet, heat olive oil and butter until sizzling, and pan-fry your breaded chicken slices until each side gets golden and crunchy—about 4 minutes per side. Don’t overcrowd the pan to keep the crust crispy.
Step 4: Assemble and Bake the Sliders
Lay bottom slider buns in a casserole dish, top with the crispy chicken, spoon on marinara, and layer provolone slices and mozzarella sticks on top. Place the buns over to cover the fillings. Mix up your butter topping and brush it generously over the bun tops. Cover with foil and bake for 8 minutes, then remove foil and continue baking until the tops brown perfectly (2-3 more minutes).
Top Tip
From my own kitchen adventures, I’ve learned that patience with the breading process and letting the chicken rest after frying makes all the difference in getting that perfect crunch without sogginess.
- Don’t Skip Buttermilk: Marinating softens the chicken and seasons it inside out, leading to juicier bites.
- Proper Pounding: Making the chicken pieces an even thickness helps them cook quickly and evenly, preventing dry edges.
- Fry in Batches: Avoid crowding your pan to keep the oil hot and coating crisp.
- Brush Butter Generously: This finishing touch gives the buns that irresistible, buttery glow and flavor you’ll crave.
How to Serve Crispy Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe
Garnishes
I love sprinkling freshly chopped parsley on top for color and a burst of freshness. A light drizzle of extra marinara on the side for dipping is another easy way to amp up flavor when serving.
Side Dishes
These sliders pair beautifully with simple arugula or Caesar salad for a balanced meal. For something heartier, crispy sweet potato fries or garlic Parmesan roasted potatoes are my go-to sides when serving guests.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I like arranging a platter with mini slider skewers, alternating each slider with a cherry tomato or basil leaf for pops of color and freshness. It makes grabbing these sliders both fun and mess-free.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers, store the sliders in an airtight container in the fridge. I find they taste best reheated within 2 days so the chicken stays tender and the bun doesn’t dry out.
Freezing
These sliders freeze surprisingly well! Wrap each slider tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 2 months. When you want to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
To reheat, I recommend baking the sliders in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes. This keeps the crust crispy and melts the cheese nicely without making the buns soggy like microwaving can.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes! Chicken thighs can be used, but be sure to pat them dry and pound evenly for best results. They’ll bring a bit more juiciness and flavor, but cook times might vary slightly.
No worries. You can easily make a buttermilk substitute by mixing 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar with enough milk to reach a cup. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to thicken before using.
I prefer pan-frying because it gives you a beautiful crispy crust quickly, but you can bake the chicken at 425°F for about 20 minutes if you want a hands-off option. Just spray the chicken with cooking oil to help crisp the coating.
Absolutely! Prepare the chicken and toppings ahead, then assemble the sliders right before baking. You can also bake them in advance and reheat carefully to keep them fresh and tasty.
Final Thoughts
This Crispy Chicken Parmesan Sliders Recipe has become a reliable favorite in my home—easy enough for weeknights, impressive for guests, and downright delicious every single time. Trust me, once you try these, you’ll see why they’re worth the effort and keep coming back to share with friends and family too.
Print
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
These Chicken Parmesan Sliders feature tender breaded chicken breasts topped with marinara, provolone cheese, and melted mozzarella sticks, all nestled in buttery slider buns for a delightful handheld meal perfect for parties or family dinners.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 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
- 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 the chicken breasts and cut the seam to create two thinner slices each about ¾ inch thick. Use wax paper and a meat pounder as necessary to flatten the chicken evenly. Cut each piece in half or thirds to match the slider bun size.
- Marinate: Place the buttermilk in a thick gallon freezer bag. Add the chicken pieces and marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
- Breading Setup: Prepare three separate bowls: Bowl 1 with flour, seasoned salt, and black pepper; Bowl 2 with whisked eggs; Bowl 3 with breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, and chopped fresh parsley.
- Bread the Chicken: Remove chicken from marinade letting excess drip off. Dredge each piece in flour mixture, then dip briefly in eggs, then coat thoroughly in breadcrumb mixture. Set aside.
- Bake Mozzarella Sticks: Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake frozen mozzarella sticks for 7 minutes, then remove and set aside.
- Cook Chicken: Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Pan-fry the breaded chicken pieces until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Remove from heat.
- Assemble Sliders: Arrange the bottom slider buns in a casserole dish. Place cooked chicken on each bun bottom. Spoon marinara sauce over the chicken. Add a slice of provolone cheese and place three baked mozzarella sticks on top.
- Top and Prepare for Baking: Cover with the slider buns on top.
- Make Butter Topping: In a small bowl, mix melted butter, sea salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, fresh parsley, and Parmesan cheese. Brush this butter mixture generously over the tops of the buns.
- Bake Sliders: Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake for 8 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 3 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve warm. Enjoy your delicious Chicken Parmesan Sliders!
Notes
- Slider buns used are approximately 4 inches in diameter; store-bought or bakery buns work well.
- Buttermilk substitute options include: 4 tablespoons milk + enough sour cream to make 1 cup, 2 tablespoons milk + enough plain yogurt to make 1 cup, or acidic milk preparations with vinegar or lemon juice allowed to curdle before use.
- To ensure even cooking, pound chicken to uniform thickness about ¾ inch.
- For a crispier crust, let breaded chicken rest briefly before frying.
- Frozen mozzarella sticks can be substituted with fresh mozzarella sticks or slices for different texture.
- Baking time and temperature ensure buns are buttery and slightly toasted, enhancing flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 880 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Leave a Reply