Ingredients
Scale
- 12 Hawaiian sweet rolls (1 package, connected)
- 12 frozen breaded chicken tenders or 4-6 breaded chicken cutlets (enough to cover all sliders)
- 1½ cups marinara sauce or pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). If your frozen chicken tenders need to be cooked first according to package directions, bake or air fry them now until crispy and cooked through, then set aside. If using pre-cooked chicken, proceed to the next step. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Slice the Rolls: Without separating the individual rolls, use a large sharp serrated knife to carefully slice the entire block of Hawaiian rolls horizontally in half, creating a top slab and a bottom slab. Keep each half intact. Place the bottom half of the rolls in your prepared baking dish, cut side up.
- Build the Bottom Layer: Spread about ¾ cup of marinara sauce evenly over the bottom layer of rolls, making sure to cover them completely. This creates a moisture barrier and ensures every bite has sauce. Sprinkle ¾ cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce layer.
- Add the Chicken: Arrange your cooked chicken tenders or cutlets over the cheese layer in a single layer. You may need to trim or break them to fit perfectly so there’s chicken in every slider. If your chicken pieces are large, cut them to fit the individual slider sections. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Add More Sauce and Cheese: Spoon the remaining ¾ cup marinara sauce over the chicken layer, distributing it evenly. Don’t worry if it looks like a lot of sauce – the buns will soak it up beautifully. Sprinkle the remaining 1¼ cups mozzarella cheese over the sauce, followed by all of the Parmesan cheese. The double cheese layer creates that irresistible gooey, stretchy pull.
- Top with the Buns: Carefully place the top half of the slider rolls over the cheese layer, matching up the rolls with their bottoms as closely as possible to maintain the shape. Press down very gently to help everything connect.
- Make the Garlic Butter: In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter (about 30 seconds in the microwave). Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir well to combine all the flavors.
- Brush with Butter Mixture: Using a pastry brush or the back of a spoon, generously brush the garlic butter mixture all over the top of the rolls, making sure to get into all the cracks between rolls. This creates that golden, flavorful crust. Don’t skip this step – it’s what makes these sliders truly special!
- Cover and Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil (this prevents the tops from browning too quickly while the insides heat through). Place in the preheated oven and bake covered for 15 minutes.
- Uncover and Finish Baking: After 15 minutes, carefully remove the foil and return the dish to the oven. Bake uncovered for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown, the cheese is fully melted and bubbly, and everything is heated through. Watch carefully during this final stage to prevent over-browning.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the sliders rest for 3-5 minutes. This allows the cheese to set slightly and makes them easier to cut and serve. Garnish with fresh torn basil leaves if desired. Use a sharp knife to cut between the rolls to separate into individual sliders. Serve immediately while hot and melty!
Notes
- Chicken Options: Pre-cooked frozen breaded chicken tenders are the easiest option. You can also use rotisserie chicken (though you’ll miss the breaded texture), fresh breaded chicken cutlets you make yourself, or even breaded chicken patties. Just ensure whatever chicken you use is fully cooked before assembling.
- Bread Alternatives: While Hawaiian rolls are traditional and provide that signature slight sweetness, you can use regular slider buns, potato rolls, dinner rolls, or even sub rolls cut into slider-sized pieces. The texture and flavor will vary slightly.
- Cheese Variations: Feel free to experiment with cheese blends. Provolone, Italian cheese blend, or even a bit of fontina all work wonderfully. Some people add a layer of ricotta for extra creaminess.
- Sauce Control: If you prefer less saucy sliders, reduce the marinara to 1 cup total. For extra saucy versions (which I love), go up to 2 cups. Just ensure the buns can absorb it without becoming completely soggy.
- Make-Ahead Assembly: You can assemble these sliders completely (through step 8), cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 6 hours before baking. Add 5 extra minutes to the covered baking time if baking straight from the refrigerator.
- Crispy Top Preference: If you like an extra crispy top, broil for 1-2 minutes at the very end of baking, watching constantly to prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 sliders
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 920mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg