Description
Small chicken bacon ranch sliders pack big flavor for game day crowds. Savory layers of tender chicken, crispy bacon, and creamy ranch dressing create an irresistible handheld bite you cannot resist trying.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 0.5 lbs bacon
Dairy and Sauce:
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 0.5 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Bread and Base:
- 12 slider buns
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or non-stick spray.
- Cook bacon in a skillet until crisp and golden, then drain on paper towels and crumble into bite-sized pieces.
- Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then bake for 22-25 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Shred the cooked chicken using two forks, creating tender, pulled meat pieces.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ranch dressing, sour cream, and half of the crumbled bacon, stirring until well incorporated.
- Slice slider buns horizontally, creating a top and bottom layer, and arrange the bottom halves on the prepared baking sheet.
- Spread the shredded chicken evenly across the bottom bun layer, creating a uniform meat base.
- Drizzle the ranch-bacon mixture over the chicken, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously across the chicken layer.
- Garnish with remaining bacon crumbles and dried parsley.
- Melt butter and brush over the top bun halves, then sprinkle with garlic powder.
- Place top bun halves onto the cheese-covered chicken layer.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until cheese melts and buns turn golden brown.
- Remove from oven, let cool for 2-3 minutes, then slice into individual sliders and serve warm.
Notes
- Bacon Swap: Use turkey bacon for a lighter option that still delivers crispy, smoky flavor without excess fat.
- Dairy-Free Adaptation: Replace cheese and sour cream with vegan alternatives like nutritional yeast and cashew cream for lactose-intolerant guests.
- Meal Prep Magic: Prepare chicken and bacon in advance, storing separately in refrigerator to reduce day-of cooking time and streamline assembly.
- Spice Level Boost: Add red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños to ranch mixture for those craving extra heat and zesty complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 32-37 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 352
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 676 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 66 mg