Chicken Jalapeno Popper Sliders
This post first appeared on Real Housemoms where I am a contributor.
Chicken Jalapeno Popper Sliders are packed with shredded chicken, bacon, creamy cheeses, and jalapenos – perfect for game day or parties!
Why We Love Cheesy Chicken Jalapeno Sliders
- Chicken sliders are easy to make and you can change up ingredients easily to have a whole new flavor.
- You can use a rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken to shred up and save even more time on this pulled chicken slider recipe.
- Make your sliders as spicy as you like just by changing up the amount of jalapeno you add and whether you use the seeds or not.
- You can eat these sliders cold or hot, so the leftovers are just as good (maybe better) as the fresh batch.
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Jalapeno Popper Chicken Sliders
CHICKEN: I use boneless skinless chicken breasts to make these sliders and usually just cook a couple of extra breasts with dinner the night before. You can use a rotisserie chicken from the store, or cook chicken breasts in a slow cooker or InstantPot ahead of time.
CHEESE: I like to use Monterey Jack Cheese and cream cheese. You can use shredded cheddar cheese, Colby jack, and even make a half-and-half blend with mozzarella cheese. If you want even more spice you can use Pepper Jack. I like to shred it myself so it melts better than the bagged cheeses.
BACON: You can use regular or thick-cut bacon for these sliders, just make sure it’s cooked nice and crispy.
BUNS: My family would cry if I put sliders on anything except Hawaiian rolls, but you can use any kind of slider buns you want. Pretzel sliders are a great idea and so are brioche or butter slider buns.
How to Make Jalapeno Popper Sliders with Chicken
Jump to RecipeSTEP 1 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and grab a baking sheet. Slice the slider buns in half so you have a top and a bottom. Then place the bottom layer on the baking sheet.
**Pro Tip: Use parchment paper or aluminum foil to line the baking sheet to make cleanup a breeze later on.
STEP 2 While the oven heats up, place a large skillet over medium heat. Arrange the bacon strips and cook them until they’re nice and crispy, flipping as needed. Then transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
STEP 3 Shred the chicken and chop the bacon. In a large mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese and half of the jack cheese until well mixed. Then add the jalapenos, chicken, and bacon and mix until evenly combined.
STEP 4 Spread the chicken mixture over the bottom slider buns in an even layer. Sprinkle the rest of the shredded cheese over the filling.
STEP 5 Place the top slider buns over the filling. Melt and butter and garlic powder together in a small bowl in the microwave. Give that and stir and then brush the garlic butter over the tops of the buns.
STEP 6 Bake the sliders for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted, and the tops are golden. Remove them from the oven, cut the sliders apart and you’re ready to serve!
Tips & Tricks
- To make prep easier, you can cook off the chicken ahead of time or use a rotisserie chicken. You can also shred the meat ahead of time and store it in an airtight container until you’re ready to assemble.
- If you want less bread, you can spread this delicious filling over tortillas, roll them up, and slice them to make pinwheels.
- Add more heat by leaving the jalapeno seeds in when you cut up the peppers. Want ’em even spicier? Add some of your favorite hot sauce to the cream cheese mixture or use pepper bacon to add another level of flavor.
Jalapeno Popper Chicken Sliders Recipe FAQ
How do you shred chicken?
You can shred chicken by removing it from the bone, placing it on a plate or serving dish, and using two large forks to separate the meat. I like to put the cooked boneless chicken in my stand mixer bowl with the paddle attachment in place and turn it on low to shred the chicken. It makes this task SUPER easy.
What is a slider?
A slider is a small sandwich with a top and bottom bun. It can be a small hamburger, deli meat sandwich, chicken sandwich, or made with some kind of spread (like this recipe) in the middle. It’s usually able to be eaten in two to four bites and is a crowd favorite for any occasion!
Types of Chicken Sliders
Chicken Parm Sliders – add marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese over breaded chicken tenders, bake, and enjoy!
Buffalo Chicken Sliders – mix shredded chicken with your favorite hot sauce (we love Frank’s for these sliders), spread over rolls, and top with jack cheese, and a little ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Chicken Fajita Sliders – toss the chicken in Italian Salad Dressing and add some crumbled bacon and parmesan cheese
BBQ Chicken Sliders – toss shredded chicken with your favorite BBQ sauce, spread over the buns, and top with cole slaw, and a little extra bbq sauce.
Bacon Ranch Chicken Sliders – mix cream cheese, shredded chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese, green onions, and ranch dressing to make a spread-like filling.
Other Recipes You May Like
- Hawaiian Pizza Sliders
- Bourbon Bacon Roast Beef Sliders
- Ham and Turkey Club Sliders
- Italian Beef Sliders
- Meatloaf Sliders
Chicken Jalapeno Popper Sliders
Ingredients
- 12 slider buns (see note)
- 5 strips bacon
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 chicken breasts cooked and shredded (2 cups)
- 2 small jalapenos seeded and diced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Leave the slider rolls attached and cut them in half to create a top and bottom section. Place the bottom of the rolls onto a baking sheet. Set aside the tops for now.
- Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon strips and cook until crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes, flipping as needed. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cool enough to handle, finely chop the bacon.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and 1 cup of jack cheese. Add the bacon, chicken, and jalapenos and mix until that's evenly combined.
- Spread the chicken mixture over the slider bun bottoms in an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup jack cheese evenly over the chicken mixture. Place the slider bun tops over the filling.
- Put butter and garlic powder into a small bowl and melt in the microwave. Stir to combine and then brush the garlic butter over the tops of the slider buns.
- Bake for 20 minutes until the tops are golden and the cheese is melted.
- Remove the sliders from the oven. Use a knife or spatula to cut between the sliders to separate them before serving warm.
Notes
- If the slider rolls you choose don’t come connected to each other, just make sure to separate them into tops and bottoms and arrange all the bottoms on the baking sheet. Hawaiian rolls work great, and so do brioche or butter slider buns.
- Save cooking time by grabbing a rotisserie chicken and shredding the meat for your chicken (just be sure to take the skin off first). You’ll need about 2 cups of shredded chicken in total.
- Want your sliders spicy? Leave in the jalapeno seeds.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.