Pool day calls for easy food, and these deli buffalo chicken sliders are it. Grab a pack (or two) and let’s go. Here’s how they come together:
Ingredients:
1/2 small to medium red onion, sliced thin
2 ribs celery, sliced thin (use 3 if they’re small)
2 tbsp ranch dressing, I love @Bolthouse Farms
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 (8 oz) bag pre-shredded lettuce (from the produce section)
Salt and pepper to taste
2 packs @KING’S HAWAIIAN pretzel slider buns (9-count each)
1 lb deli buffalo chicken, sliced
1 lb deli white American cheese, sliced
Add your thinly sliced onion to a bowl and sprinkle generously with salt. Give it a massage and let it sit for a minute while you slice your celery. Add the celery to the bowl, give everything another massage, then add the ranch and red wine vinegar. Toss until fully incorporated.
Add your shredded lettuce and toss again. You don’t want the topping too wet, so start slow if you need to. One tablespoon of ranch and one tablespoon of red wine vinegar at a time works great. I do tend to use the full two tablespoons of each, but adjust to your taste. Once everything is tossed together, taste for salt and pepper. I usually just add pepper to mine.
Open your slider buns and layer cheese on both sides. Add a layer of buffalo chicken to the bottom halves. Top the chicken with about half of the lettuce topping per pack of sliders, using roughly half the chicken and cheese per pack as well. Top with the other half of the buns, cut, and enjoy as-is or wrap in foil for later.
If you're looking to elevate your deli buffalo chicken sliders experience, I highly recommend paying special attention to the preparation of the slaw topping. Massaging the thinly sliced red onions with salt is a game changer; it softens the onions and draws out their natural sweetness, reducing the sharp bite and enhancing the overall balance of flavors. The key to the perfect slaw is starting with small amounts of ranch dressing and red wine vinegar, as they add creaminess and tang without making the mixture soggy. Adjust these to your taste for a customized crunch. Using pre-shredded lettuce from the produce section is a great time saver, but if you have the time, shredding fresh iceberg lettuce yourself can improve texture and freshness noticeably. Also, slicing celery on a diagonal gives a nicer crunch that contrasts well with the softness of the buffalo chicken. When assembling your sliders, layering white American cheese on both halves of the bun melts beautifully around the warm chicken, creating a gooey, satisfying bite. I find that using King's Hawaiian pretzel slider buns adds a slightly sweet and salty note that complements the buffalo flavor perfectly. For an added twist, consider warming the assembled sliders briefly in the oven or a toaster oven wrapped in foil to slightly melt the cheese and meld the flavors before serving. These sliders are not only great for pool parties but also perfect to pack for picnics or casual gatherings. Wrapping leftover sliders in foil keeps them fresh and makes them easy to transport. Finally, these buffalo chicken sliders are incredibly versatile. Feel free to swap out the white American cheese for pepper jack if you prefer a spicy kick or add sliced pickles for some tangy crunch. Whatever your preference, these sliders offer an easy, flavorful finger food option that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
