These Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders are great for an easy weeknight dinner, game day spread, or crowd-pleasing appetizer. They are loaded with melty cheese, crispy bacon, savory ranch, and juicy chicken all tucked into the perfect handheld bite. Even better, they take about 20 minutes of hands-on time and use already cooked chicken like rotisserie, so with very little prep, boom, dinner is in the oven.
For over 20 years, I've been feeding a crowd of people every Sunday during football season with this collection of game day recipes. It has everything from cheesy dips and bite-sized snacks to tacos to liven up your get together.
These Bacon Chicken Ranch Sliders are a go-to when I need a casual grab-and-go meal that just about everyone enjoys. Whether it's a random weeknight when life is slammed or a big game day party, these are perfect! Bonus, they are quick to whip together and so easy to serve.
When it comes to making sliders, there are a few non-negotiables: they have to be made in one pan, the tops need a buttery seasoning brushed over them, and each bite needs a really tasty filling. So many slider recipes are mostly bread with a scant amount of filling, and who one wants that? Luckily, these have the perfect balance of filling-to-bread ratio.
If you're a slider fan, you're definitely in the right place. We've made a lot of them over the years. A few favorites are our Hot Honey Chicken Sliders, Pastrami Sliders, and Italian Grinder Sliders. They're all family-tested, crowd-approved, and perfect for those days when you need a meal that's easy but still feels a little special.
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Why this recipe made the cut
Just like all the recipes on Borrowed Bites, this recipe was tested multiple times and served to different groups to make sure it turns out great every time. Here's why we love it:
- Simple: No hard-to-find ingredients or complicated steps. Mix up some pantry staples, spread on sweet Hawaiian rolls, and dinner is practically done.
- Amazing flavor: Creamy, cheesy, bacon-filled sandwiches are hard to resist. Mix with the the herby ranch dressing mix, and watch them disappear.
- Made for real life: Easy enough for weeknights, but tasty enough to serve up at potlucks, game day parties, or family gatherings. They come together quickly without requiring too much time or effort.
Bacon chicken ranch slider ingredients
This recipe uses simple ingredients, but a few small tricks can make a big difference! Here are my best tips for getting great results every time.
- Chicken: We love the convenience of rotisserie chicken, but any cooked and diced chicken will work.
- Bacon: Thick-cut bacon is always the best flavor and texture, but good quality bacon bits are a good alternative .
- Ranch: Since ranch is a main flavor profile, use one you know and love.
- Hawaiian rolls: Look for the freshest rolls possible. You will need one 24 pack or two 12 packs.
- Mayonnaise: Full-fat always has the best flavor and the creamiest texture.
- Yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt helps to keep the filling creamy without it being overly heavy. Avoid flavored or regular yogurt, which will change the flavor and consistency. If you prefer, sour cream is also a good substitute.
- Cheese: For the creamiest, smoothest texture, shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese contain anti-caking agents that give it a slightly grainy texture. Sharp cheddar adds the boldest flavor, but mild or medium cheddar are both delicious.
- Butter: Salted butter is our go-to for best flavor.
- Garlic Powder: Just a touch adds a layer of flavor to the savory topping.
Helpful kitchen tools
How to make chicken bacon ranch sliders
If using raw bacon, you will need to use your favorite method to get it crispy before starting. We love our hands-free oven bacon method for this.
Also, preheat the oven to 350ºF and spray a 9x13 baking pan with nonstick spray or spread light layer of oil across the bottom and sides.
To cut the Hawaiian rolls, remove the them from the bag in one large piece. Do not let them separate. Using a long serrated knife, cut the rolls in half, being careful to keep them all intact. Place the bottom rolls into the prepped pan, pressing gently if needed to help them fit.
In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, yogurt (or sour cream), and ranch dressing mix. Stir until evenly combined.
Add in the shredded chicken and the bacon pieces.
Gently stir together to combine.
Spread the chicken bacon ranch mixture across the bottom half of the rolls.
Sprinkle with the shredded cheese.
In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, ranch seasoning, and garlic powder. Use a pastry brush (or spoon) to spread the flavored butter mixture across the tops half of the rolls. Be sure to use all of it even if it seems like it is a too much.
Bake for 20-25 minutes. You are looking for golden brown tops and all the cheese to be melted. If the tops are browning before the filling is hot, loosely tent with a piece of foil across the tops of the buns.
What to serve with sliders
Complete your menu with any of these additions:
Sides
Desserts
How to store and reheat
Store: Place any cooled leftover sliders in an airtight container. Keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Reheat: To warm, place individual sliders in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until heated through. If you'd like the tops to be crisp again, place them under the broiler for about 30 seconds after microwaving. You can also reheat them in the oven or an air fryer for a few minutes until warm and slightly crispy.
FAQs
Hawaiian rolls are a favorite for this type of slider because they are soft, slightly sweet and stay connected together, making them quick to assemble and bake in one batch. If you can't find Hawaiian rolls, mini dinner rolls or pretzel buns are both great alternatives. Just keep in mind that you will need to assemble them individually rather than slicing the entire package in half.
Bottled ranch dressing is not a good substitute in this recipe because the dry seasoning mix is much more concentrated and provides a stronger flavor than premade dressing. For best results use a quality brand of ranch seasoning powder.
Tips & tricks
- Use the longest serrated knife you have and take your time cutting the rolls in half. If needed, cut from one side, then rotate the rolls and finish from the other side to keep the cut even across the entire slab.
- Be sure to dice the chicken because small, bite-sized pieces distribute more evenly throughout the filling and make the sliders much easier to cut and serve.
- The fresher the rolls, the softer and fluffier the finished sliders will be.
More recipes
Looking for other recipes? Try these:
This post was photographed by Rhadonda Sedgwick.
Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 24 Hawaiian rolls or 2 12 count packages
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 ½ tablespoons Ranch dressing mix
- 5 cups diced cooked chicken about 1 rotisserie chicken
- ¾ cup diced bacon about 8-10 ounces **See note
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese about 6 ounces
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons ranch mix
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º. Lightly spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- Remove the Hawaiian rolls from the bag in one large piece (don't pull them apart). Using a long serrated knife, cut the rolls in half, being careful to keep them all intact. Place the bottom set of buns into the prepared pan. You might have to press them in gently to make them fit.24 Hawaiian rolls
- Mix dressing ingredients together in a large bowl. Add in chicken and bacon, stir.½ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup greek yogurt, 1 ½ tablespoons Ranch dressing mix, 5 cups diced cooked chicken, ¾ cup diced bacon
- Spread the chicken bacon ranch mixture across bottom rolls, then evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese across the top.3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Place the top rolls over the cheese layer. In a separate bowl, mix melted butter, garlic powder, and ranch mix. Use a pastry brush to spread across the tops of the rolls. It will seem like too much but keep going until it is all used up.4 tablespoons butter, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 2 teaspoons ranch mix
- Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, or until the center is heated all the way through. The tops should be golden brown and the cheese fully melted. If they start to brown too quickly, loosely tent a piece of foil or parchment paper over the top to prevent over-browning.
Notes
- Use the longest serrated knife you have and take your time cutting the rolls in half. If needed, cut from one side, then rotate the rolls and finish from the other side to keep the cut even across the entire slab.
- Be sure to dice the chicken because small, bite-sized pieces distribute more evenly throughout the filling and make the sliders much easier to cut and serve.
- The fresher the rolls, the softer and fluffier the finished sliders will be.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
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