Welcome to the BEST chicken slider recipe you will ever try! These sliders are a burst of flavor in every bite: authentic tasting juicy, spicy chicken tikka (grilled chicken), a spicy garlic mayo, and lots of cheese. It truly does not get better than them, and the added bonus is that they are really easy to make!
The inspiration for this recipe came from how much you guys loved my Tandoori Chicken Naan Buns (seriously - they have 5 stars with >30 reviews and over 4M views!). I never expected a fusion recipe incorporating my Pakistani roots to be so popular, and the response was truly heart-warming.
So I started thinking.. what other recipe can I share that also stars Pakistani flavors, is absolutely delightful, and even easier to make than the Tandoori Chicken Naan Buns? Inspiration struck at midnight (literally) and I got cooking.
WHY YOU NEED TO TRY THIS RECIPE
I am not kidding when I say you need, NEED, to try this recipe, especially if you enjoyed my Tandoori Chicken Naan Buns, because, dare I say, these sliders are even better! Here are a few reasons why:
- This recipe is EASY. The chicken tikka is made using the broiler setting in the oven, making it extremely hands-off. The naan buns are replaced with Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, which, we all know, are soft and fluffy and delicious. And the sauce takes no time. This makes them the perfect recipe to try, whether you want to enjoy it yourself, or increase the quantity for a dinner or party you're hosting
- The chicken tikka is INCREDIBLE. Seriously! You just marinate the chicken in all the spices, and then grill it using the broiler in your oven. It creates a very similar result as actually grilling chicken, with a lovely char and smoky flavor. This chicken tikka recipe can be used in many ways
- The sliders have the perfect combination of flavors and textures. They are spicy, smoky, sweet, cheesy, and tangy all in one. The chicken is juicy, the onions add a lovely crisp, and the buns are soft. It's like a beautiful melody in your mouth.
A question I get asked often is who eats all the food I make. Well, I will tell you that my husband and I ate all 12 of these sliders in one and a half days. I ate three of them while still filming. They are THAT good.
INGREDIENTS
Here's what you will need for this recipe (exact quantities are listed in the recipe card below):
Chicken Tikka (grilled chicken)
- Chicken tenders - or use any boneless chicken of choice
- Yogurt - this adds richness and fresh flavor to the chicken while making it tender and juicy
- Ginger & garlic paste
- Salt
- Cumin
- Coriander
- Red chili powder - you can also use cayenne
- Kashmiri red chili powder - you can add more cayenne if you don't have this
- Chaat masala
- Garam masala
- Turmeric powder
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil
Optionally, I like to add a small drop of yellow or orange food color to give the chicken a yummy red color!
Spicy Garlic Mayo
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Garlic powder
- Cayenne or red chili powder
- Paprika to add a lovely sweet and smoky flavor
- Chili garlic sauce - this is optional but I love the flavor it adds!
Assembly
- King's Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls - these are my personal favorite as they're widely available and reliably sweet and fluffy. But you can use any kind of rolls or buns that you want!
- Thinly sliced onion
- Tamarind chutney - this is optional, but it adds a lovely sweet and tangy flavor so I strongly recommend it!
- Cheese - I used sliced cheddar cheese, but you can use any cheese you like
- Garlic butter made using butter, garlic powder, and freshly chopped cilantro or parsley. I like to use salted butter for this!
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN TIKKA SLIDERS
As I promised, this recipe is quite simple, with only 30 minutes of active work required. This quick video is for the visual learners:
Here's what you need to do:
1. Marinate the chicken
Simply mix all the ingredients for the chicken tikka in one bowl, mix to ensure the chicken is properly coated, cover and rest for at least one hour to ensure the chicken is properly marinated.
Tip: Marinating for 4-12 hours will allow the chicken to really soak up all the flavors and give you the best result!
2. Grill the chicken
If you have an actual grill and skewers, you can grill the marinated chicken on it. But if you don't, we are going to put your oven's broiler / grill function to good use! This is the little fire grill on the top of your oven.
Place your oven rack in the top most shelf, turn on the broil setting and pre-heat for at least 10 minutes.
First, thread the chicken onto skewers. If you have wooden skewers, you can use them too. Just wet them in water first so they don't burn. Place the skewers on a baking dish such that the chicken is suspended in the air and not touching the bottom of the pan. Now place the pan in the top rack of the oven, and broil the chicken for 7-8 minutes per side, flipping over midway.
The fire from the broiler will grill and char the chicken very similarly to an actual grill! I was inspired by Mehreen Karim from Reenie's to use this technique and it works like a charm.
Tip: If you don't have a broiler in your oven, you can also just cook the chicken in a cast iron skillet on high heat!
3. Make the spicy mayo
Simple - just mix all the ingredients. Done.
4. Assemble the sliders
Turn your oven to 350F on the baking setting (conventional, bottom heating only).
First, take the Hawaiian Sweet Rolls out of the packaging in one piece, and then slice them into half horizontally. Keeping them as one piece makes assembly a breeze.
Then remove your chicken from the skewers and chop into small chunks on a cutting board. Make sure to toss the chicken on the cutting board to soak up all the juices.
Place the sliders onto a tray and coat them generously with the garlic mayo on both halves. Then on the bottom half, layer on the chicken tikka generously, and press gently to make it stick together. Add finely sliced onions, a drizzle of tamarind chutney, and, finally, cheese. Cover with the top half of the sliders.
Make a quick garlic butter by melting butter and adding in garlic powder and freshly chopped parsley. Brush the butter onto the rolls generously.
5. Bake the sliders
and then whack them into the oven for just 5-7 minutes. We want the buns to become toasty and the cheese to melt.
6. Serve and enjoy!
And enjoy you will, because these are SCRUMPTIOUS. Promise they are not going to last.
VARIATIONS
The beauty of this recipe is that you can make many different variations with it! Here are a few ideas:
- Replace the slider buns with parathas or naans and turn these into chicken tikka paratha rolls or chicken tikka wraps
- Substitute the garlic mayo with a more Pakistani chutney such as green chutney for a more Pakistani flavor
- Use the chicken tikka as a filling for my naan buns recipe in place of the tandoori chicken (at least I prefer this!)
- Use the chicken tikka recipe to make tikka with bone-in chicken and enjoy it as a standalone dish with chutney
- Replace the chicken with paneer for a delicious vegetarian paneer tikka version!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Chicken tikka is a dish originated in the Mughal Empire of the Indian subcontinent and is popularly enjoyed in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. It is made with chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, threaded onto skewers, and grilled so it is charred but juicy inside. It is often served with chutneys, salad and naan.
If you don't have a broiler oven or an actual grill, don't worry - thread the chicken onto skewers and cook them in a cast iron grill pan on the stove! Use high heat to achieve a similar charred effect.
You can keep these chicken tikka sliders in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for 5-7 days. Heat them up in a toaster oven for a few minutes before eating to make them nice and toasty again!
You can use any slider buns you have access to - preferably ones that are slightly sweet! You can also make your own buns using my garlic bun recipe.
You can follow the same recipe but used cubed paneer instead of chicken to make paneer tikka sliders!
Now, without further ado, let's get into this recipe! If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a rating below and tag me in your recreations on Instagram!
Also, if you found me through this recipe, definitely check out my ultra popular Tandoori Chicken Naan Buns and Chicken Alfredo Lasagna!
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CHICKEN TIKKA SLIDERS RECIPE
- Total Time: 2 hours+ including marination time
- Yield: 12 sliders
Description
The most scrumptious sliders made with delicious chicken tikka filling, a spicy garlic mayo, and lots of cheese. It doesn't get any better than these!
Ingredients
Chicken Tikka:
- 1 lb chicken tenders cut into cubes (about 5-6 tenders)
- 4 tbsp plain yogurt
- 2 tsp ginger & garlic paste
- 1 to 1.5 teaspoon salt according to your preference
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp chili powder (or cayenne)
- ½ tsp Kashmiri red chili (or cayenne)
- ½ tsp chaat masala
- ¼ tsp garam masala
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Optional: drop of yellow or orange food color
Spicy Garlic Mayo:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce (optional)
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne or red chili powder
- ¼ tsp paprika
Garlic butter:
- 2 tbsp salted butter
- 1 tsp freshly chopped parsley
- Pinch of garlic powder
Assembly:
- 1 pack of King's Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (12 count) - or use any slider rolls of choice
- ¼ onion thinly sliced (or as much or little as you like)
- 2 tbsp tamarind chutney (optional)
- 6 slices of cheese (I used mild cheddar)
Instructions
Chicken Tikka:
- Cut the chicken into 1-2" cubes and mix with all ingredients in a bowl thoroughly. Cover and rest for at least 1 hour but ideally 4-12 hours (overnight)
- Turn your oven on the broiler setting and place the rack in the topmost shelf
- Thread the chicken onto 4-5 skewers (if using wooden skewers, first soak them in water so they don't burn). Place the skewers onto a baking dish such that the chicken is suspended in the air. Spray with oil
- Place the pan in the oven and broil for 7-8 minutes. Flip the skewers to the other side and broil for another 7-8 minutes until the chicken is nicely charred
- Remove from the oven and rest for 10 minutes. Then remove the chicken from the skewers and chop into smaller pieces. Toss the chicken in its juices on the chopping board to soak up all the flavor
Spicy Garlic Mayo:
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Taste and adjust as needed
Garlic Butter:
- Melt the butter in the microwave and mix in the garlic powder and chopped parsley
Assembly:
- Pre-heat your oven to 350F (conventional)
- Remove the Hawaiian Rolls from their packaging in 1 piece and slice into half horizontally. Place on a baking sheet with the cut side facing up
- Spread the garlic mayo on both sides - you want to use it all up
- Spread the chopped chicken on the bottom half and press down lightly so it sticks together
- Sprinkle over thinly sliced onions and drizzle the tamarind chutney
- Cover with cheese slices, then close with the top half of the buns and lightly press down
- Brush on the garlic butter, and bake for 5-7 minutes until the cheese melts
- Serve & enjoy!
Notes
These sliders can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for 5-7 days. Reheat in a toaster oven before eating.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Cuisine: Pakistani
Shahzeb says
I inhaled these
Zoha says
I saw. :p
Maria says
Love your recioes
Zoha says
Thank you so much!!! <3
Arham says
There needs to be a crispy chicken, a Malai boti and a beef variant of this class item.
Zoha says
Hahaha ok noted
Asma says
Zoha, you make me so proud. These are so yummy and awesome. Can’t fault at all. Love your recipes
Zoha says
Thank you Mama! <3
Naz says
Thank you for sharing! Any chance there is a recipe for the tamarind chutney?
Zoha says
I use storebought Tamarind chutney, unfortunately! But I am sure there are some good recipes on google!
Asma Naeem says
I tried this recipe it was soo yumm... Everyone at home liked this new item ❤️❤️
Zoha says
Wuhu!!! Glad you and family enjoyed this!
N Q says
I made these on Eid and they were devoured in minutes. I was skeptical about the tamarind chutney in the recipe but it definitely elevated the taste. Absolutely delicious and easy recipe that I will be making again and again!
Zoha says
So happy you enjoyed these! The tamarind adds so much freshness to these sliders. I'm also obsessed with them because they're so easy and yummmy.
Noorafsha Khatri says
اسلام عليكم Zoha ,
I made this for Iftar today, ماشاء الله they tasted yum! Glad I tried it <3. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Shanzeh says
These were the perfect movie night in snack over pizza ever! Full of flavour yet not too heavy !! Must try
Zoha says
Thanks so much, Shanzeh! Glad you enjoyed them!
FP says
Hi Zoha, just wondering what chilli garlic sauce you used?
Zoha says
Hi! I used Mitchell's Chili Garlic Sauce
Mai says
Incredibly flavorful chicken with toppings that complement the chicken all in a beautiful sweet bread package. Sooo goood!
Zoha says
THANK YOU! So happy to hear you liked this recipe. And yes this chicken tikka turns out so delish and juicy 🙂
Saima Nasar says
This is my 3rd time i tried this recipe it was so yummy my kids loved thank you!
Zoha says
THANK YOU!!!
Maham says
I tried this for a brunch today and this was easily the most loved dish ! Very soft and delicious - this one’s a keeper
Zoha says
YAY!!! You always bring the biggest smile to my face. Thank you!
Fatima Haider says
Hello Zoha! Can you tell me what tamarind chutney you used. I usually have tamarind chutney at home that I make with onion paste and tamarind pulp. But I don't add anything sweet in it. Will it work or is there a particular brand that you can recommend.
Zoha says
Hi Fatima! I used Mitchell's tamarind but honestly homemade is great too. Ideally something that is both sweet and tangy 🙂
Rohma Zubair says
If you're on the hunt for an unforgettable slider recipe, look no further because these Spicy Chicken Tikka Sliders are an absolute game-changer! They are a mouthwatering explosion of flavours in every bite.
What makes these sliders even more special is their versatility. You can easily customize the spice level to suit your preferences, making them accessible to a wide range of taste buds. Whether you like it mild or extra hot, these sliders can accommodate your cravings.
Zoha says
Rohma - you just made my day! Thank you so much for the thorough review, I am so happy to hear you loved this recipe as much as I do ❤️
Anam says
Made this twice so far only without the cheese and my fam doesn’t love cheese and it’s been a complete winner! We alll love it ??
Saba Baig says
These look amazing! What brand of chili garlic sauce do you use?
Sairah says
These chicken sliders were next level!
Zoha says
So happy to hear that <3
Summer says
Can i assemble these a day ahead and bake them at iftar time? Will they still taste fresh?
Zoha says
Yes they should be totally fine! Just keep them in an airtight container
Saman Imtiaz says
I have lost count on the number of times I have made this and tandoori sliders. Everyone loves it and always ask for the recipe ♥️🤤
Zoha says
you've made my whole day, truly. :') <3
Zarnoosh says
These are the best sliders ever!!! My whole family loved them including my picky four year old son!!!!
Zoha says
YAYYY!!!!
Durriya says
This sounds amazing! Will def be trying. What temperature should the broil be set to?
Zoha says
On my oven, broil goes to 500F automatically. It's not technically a temperature setting, it turns on the grill / fire on top of the oven.
Maham says
I made this recipe again for a community iftar potluck at my kids’ school! Tripled the recipe and it was a super hit dish. It was wiped clean!
I’m so glad I chose this recipe again, I can easily trust your recipes
Zoha says
I am so honored and grateful <3
Noorafsha Khatri says
اسلام عليكم Zoha ,
I made this for Iftar today, ماشاء الله they tasted yum! Glad I tried it <3. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Zoha says
Thank you so very much!
faiza kiani says
Hi Zoha,
how to make these ahead of Iftaar party without sauces getting dry out or making the bun soggy? can you give tips.
thanks
Zoha says
That shouldnt happen, to be honest! You can make them and then reheat in the oven
zainab says
hi zoha! wanted to try making these cause they look so so good but where i live, the slider buns aren’t available to buy. so if i wanted to make them from scratch, could i use your tandoori nan buns recipe? for the buns
or the garlic dinner rolls recipe?
Zoha says
Use the garlic dinner rolls recipe!
Zainub Mohamed says
Tried theses Tikka buns 2 nights ago... was absolutely 💯...delicious filling and yummy... kids and hubby loved it..will definitely be making again.
Zoha says
I am so glad you all loved them!
Maham Tahir says
Hi.. I tried your recipe this ramadan for my guests.. I love it.. It turned out so delicious.. It's my first time I ever review on any site. Keep it up👍
Zoha says
Aww, thank you so so much. Your support means the world!
Risham says
this was your first recipe that I tried. my family and I loved the chicken sliders so fun. I have made these couple of times now. love the special kick of turmarind sauce in the recipe. thank you for sharing the recipe.
Zoha says
Ah yes the tamarind adds a great little kick! Glad you like the recipe <3
Nazia Khan says
Just made these two nights in a row! My kids loved them! The only thing I changed was instead of cheddar I added shredded mozzarella cheese.
Zoha says
So happy to hear that 🙂
Shaheen Altaf says
Tried this for iftar during Ramadan and they were gone in minutes. Everyone was asking for the recipe…thank you Zoha! Your recipes are so easy yet super delicious!
Zoha says
This makes me SO incredibly happy. thank you
Rabbia Farrukh says
I made these for iftar, and they turned out AMAZING! everyone loved them, so light, and oh so yum!
most of all the recipe is not time consuming and assembly is oh so easy - perfect for iftar.
Zoha says
Woop woop! Thank you so much, Rabbia!
Afsana says
Made these sliders for iftar party and everyone lovedddd it… super yummy 🤤
Zoha says
Aww thanks Afsana!
Hina says
Made it today for iftar was delicious
Zoha says
Yay thank you!
F says
Loved these and so did my family! I added some onions and bell peppers to the mixture as we all love veggies & some pickles to the sauce. Thanks Zoha! ❤️
Zoha says
Yay! Thank you so much!
Sadia says
I’m tried this recipe for my daughter’s birthday party . Must say it was Crowd pleaser everyone loved it ❤️
Zoha says
So glad to hear that and happy birthday to your daughter!
Anjum Nadeem says
My favorite 😍
Zoha says
<3
Sidrah says
I am going to try this today and am very excited because your recipes are fool proof! Love this food blog! It is sooooo easy to use and so easy to search for recipes here. Thanks!
Zoha says
Aww thank you so much Sidra! means the world to me!