With crispy chicken tenders inside a soft bun, these Chicken Tenders Sliders are unbelievably good! Melty Colby Jack cheese, juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, plus a generous brush of honey Dijon butter seal the deal.
By now you probably know that I’m a slider fanatic! They’re truly an easy family recipe–everyone loves them and they’re so simple to make. I have well over a dozen slider recipes in my collection and growing. Shredded Chicken Sliders, Big Mac Sliders, Italian Grinder Sliders … so many sliders!
For my next slider recipe, I was pretty set on using chicken tenders. I absolutely love chicken tender subs–the proportion of crispy breading to tender chicken is just SO good! So it was only natural that I merged the two concepts into one delicious recipe, and these Hawaiian Roll Chicken Tender Sliders were born!
This one was an instant hit with my family. But really, what’s not to love about crispy chicken tenders, smothered in melty cheese, covered in crisp lettuce and juicy tomatoes, all served up inside soft Hawaiian rolls?!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- 10 minutes prep – I love how fast these are to whip up. Just a few minutes of prep time and 20 minutes in the oven!
- Perfect for game day or any day – Sliders are a natural choice for game day, but these easy chicken tender sliders are also a favorite around here for lunches and dinners.
- Super family friendly – This one is particularly kid-friendly. It’s got every kid’s fave, chicken tenders, after all! Plus, the small size makes them just right for little hands.
- Tiny size, big flavor – These simple chicken tender sliders with Hawaiian rolls are small in size, making them fun to eat, but they’re also full of flavor! Crisp bites of chicken, Colby Jack cheese, fresh veggies, soft rolls, and a brush of buttery honey mustard over the top. What could be better?!
Recipe Notes
This Chicken Tenders Sliders recipe is as simple as promised! Just eight ingredients and 30 minutes for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Chicken Tenders Sliders to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Hawaiian rolls – Nothing better than sweet and soft Hawaiian rolls for sliders! I like King’s Hawaiian brand. A slab of dinner rolls will work, too.
- Chicken tenders – Make my crispy-baked chicken tenders or, for a shortcut, grab some from the freezer section at the grocery store for frozen chicken tender sliders.
- Colby Jack cheese – Made with a mix of Colby and Monterey Jack cheese, I love the flavor and ooey-gooey factor that slices of Colby Jack bring. Other cheeses that work well: Mild cheddar, provolone, or American.
- Lettuce – Thin shreds of iceberg lettuce create a cool, crisp texture contrast in these fried chicken tender sliders. Romaine lettuce is a good choice, too.
- Tomatoes – Juicy and sweet, I love tomatoes in these Chicken Tenders Sliders! If you have a tomato hater in the crowd, you can easily leave them off of a portion of your sliders.
- Honey mustard glaze – Melted butter, Dijon mustard, and honey mixed together and brushed over the top add the most amazing buttery sweet and savory flavor to these sliders.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Buffalo Chicken Tender Sliders– Warm 1/4 cup buffalo sauce with 2 tablespoons butter and toss the chopped chicken tenders in the mixture then proceed with the recipe as directed. Serve with blue cheese dressing or ranch for dipping.
- Grilled Chicken Tender Sliders– Swap grilled chicken tenders for classic chicken tenders, or if you’re looking for another breading-free chicken tender option, try my oven-baked chicken tenders with no breading.
- BBQ Chicken Tender Sliders– Drizzle 1/2 cup bbq sauce over the top of the chicken tenders before baking. Trade thinly sliced red onion for the lettuce and tomato.
- Hot Honey Chicken Tender Sliders– In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup honey, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce. After topping the rolls with the chopped chicken tenders, drizzle the hot honey over the top. Add thick sliced pickles with the veggies.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Chicken Tenders Sliders.
Place the bottom layer of the rolls in a baking dish. Layer the cheese on top of the rolls.
Chop the chicken tenders into bite-size pieces then spread them evenly over the top.
Whisk together the melted butter, Dijon mustard, and honey until combined.
Place the top layer of rolls over the cheese and chicken. Brush with the honey-mustard glaze and bake until heated through.
After baking, remove the top layer of buns and spread the lettuce evenly over the top. Add tomatoes.
Place the top layer of buns back on top, cut or tear apart, and serve!
Recipe Tips
- Add the cheese before the chicken – The cheese creates a barrier that helps prevent any moisture from the chicken from leaking into the rolls. No soggy sliders here!
- Cover (or not) based on preference – If you like your sliders on the softer side, I suggest covering them with foil before baking. On the other hand, if you like more toasty tops, bake them uncovered and add an extra couple of minutes of baking time.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Use pre-shredded lettuce – You can often find lettuce that’s already shredded in the salad section of the grocery store, saving you washing and chopping time.
- Use frozen chicken tenders – Find chicken tenders in the frozen section at your grocery store, then just bake them as directed and add them to your sliders.
- Or grab fried chicken tenders from the deli! – Deli chicken tenders make these sliders extra fast and easy.
- Plan ahead – If you’re making crispy chicken tenders for another meal, double the batch so that you have enough for these sliders later on. Just refrigerate the leftover chicken tenders for up to 3 days.
What to Serve with Chicken Tenders Sliders
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of tasty breaded chicken, it will pair well with many of your favorite classic side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Broccoli Crunch Salad
- Cowboy Baked Beans with Ground Beef
- Million Dollar Deviled Eggs
- Deviled Egg Potato Salad
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Chicken Tenders Sliders Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe…
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
Recipe FAQ’s
How many sliders per person for dinner?
As an appetizer, I like to plan on one or two per person, but for dinner, I like go up to three per person. This Chicken Tender Sliders recipe is just enough to feed a family of four for dinner.
What part of the chicken is the chicken tender?
A chicken tender is the thin strip located on the underside of the chicken breast.
More EASY Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy chicken recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Jalapeno Popper Chicken Sliders
- Shredded Chicken Sliders
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels
- Garlic Chicken Bites
Chicken Tender Sliders
Ingredients
- 12 Hawaiian rolls
- 9 chicken tenders, prepared
- 6 slices colby jack cheese
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- 2 roma tomatoes, sliced
For the Honey Mustard Glaze
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- To make the glaze, whisk together the melted butter, mustard, and honey until combined.
- Place the chicken tenders on a cutting board and chop them into bite sized pieces.
- Cut the Hawaiian rolls in half. Place the bottom of the rolls in a baking dish. Layer the cheese on top of the rolls then top evenly with chopped chicken tenders. Place the roll tops on then brush with the honey mustard glaze.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until heated through and melty. *see note
- Once done, use a spatula to lift the tops off and add shredded lettuce and roma tomato slices, then place the tops back on and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- If you like a slightly toasty top, bake uncovered. If you like the sandwiches to remain super soft, bake covered and add a couple extra minutes.
- Hawaiian rolls: A slab of dinner rolls or slider rolls can be substituted.
- Cheese: Cheddar, American, Provolone, or Monterey Jack are all delicious substitutes.
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