Spicy Chicken Tikka Sliders

Zoha Malik

by Zoha Malik

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Rated 5.00 out of 5

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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!

12 chicken tikka sliders on a marble serving board. Beautiful golden color and cheese filling visible
2 chicken sliders stacked on top of each other. sliders look soft and fluffy filled with chicken and cheese

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.

hand holding a chicken slider with more visible in the background
hand holding a chicken slider with more visible in the background

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!

a pinch bowl with different colorful spices

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.

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!

chicken being tossed into tikka marinate in a glass bowl
chicken tikka being marinated in a glass bowl

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!

chicken marinated in tikka masala and threaded onto 4 skewers
grilled chicken tikka pieces on a cutting board with beautiful deep golden color and char

3. Make the spicy mayo

Simple – just mix all the ingredients. Done.

garlic mayo in a bowl

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.

overhead picture of all ingredients needed to make chicken tikka sliders: hawaiian rolls, garlic mayo, garlic butter, and chopped chicken and onion
process of assembling chicken tikka sliders

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.

12 chicken tikka sliders on a marble serving board
close up of a chicken tikka slider sliced into half revealing juice and cheesy filling inside

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

What is chicken tikka?

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.

I don’t have a broiler or grill in my oven. How can I make this chicken tikka?

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.

How should I store these chicken tikka sliders?

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!

I don’t have Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, what can I use?

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.

I don’t eat chicken. What is a vegetarian alternative?

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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12 chicken tikka sliders on a marble serving board

Chicken Tikka Sliders Recipe

by Zoha Malik

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 stars from 42 reviews

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!

Yield:12 sliders

Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Rest Time:
1 hr
Total Time:
1 hr, 50 mins

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 tsp salt according to your preference
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp chili powder (or cayenne)
  • 1/2 tsp Kashmiri red chili (or cayenne)
  • 1/2 tsp chaat masala
  • 1/4 tsp garam masala
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Optional: drop of yellow or orange food color

Spicy Garlic Mayo:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce (optional)
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne or red chili powder
  • 1/4 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
  • 1/4 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:

  1. 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)
  2. Turn your oven on the broiler setting and place the rack in the topmost shelf
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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:

  1.  Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Taste and adjust as needed

Garlic Butter:

  1. Melt the butter in the microwave and mix in the garlic powder and chopped parsley

Assembly:

  1. Pre-heat your oven to 350F (conventional)
  2. 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
  3. Spread the garlic mayo on both sides – you want to use it all up
  4. Spread the chopped chicken on the bottom half and press down lightly so it sticks together
  5. Sprinkle over thinly sliced onions and drizzle the tamarind chutney
  6. Cover with cheese slices, then close with the top half of the buns and lightly press down
  7. Brush on the garlic butter, and bake for 5-7 minutes until the cheese melts
  8. Serve & enjoy!

Video Tutorial

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.

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Comments

  1. Sairah

    These chicken sliders were next level!

    1. Zoha

      So happy to hear that <3

  2. Saba Baig

    These look amazing! What brand of chili garlic sauce do you use?

  3. Anam

    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 ??

  4. Rohma Zubair

    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.

    1. Zoha

      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 ❤️

  5. Fatima Haider

    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.

    1. Zoha

      Hi Fatima! I used Mitchell’s tamarind but honestly homemade is great too. Ideally something that is both sweet and tangy 🙂

  6. Maham

    I tried this for a brunch today and this was easily the most loved dish ! Very soft and delicious – this one’s a keeper

    1. Zoha

      YAY!!! You always bring the biggest smile to my face. Thank you!

  7. Saima Nasar

    This is my 3rd time i tried this recipe it was so yummy my kids loved thank you!

    1. Zoha

      THANK YOU!!!

  8. Mai

    Incredibly flavorful chicken with toppings that complement the chicken all in a beautiful sweet bread package. Sooo goood!

    1. Zoha

      THANK YOU! So happy to hear you liked this recipe. And yes this chicken tikka turns out so delish and juicy 🙂

  9. FP

    Hi Zoha, just wondering what chilli garlic sauce you used?

    1. Zoha

      Hi! I used Mitchell’s Chili Garlic Sauce

      1. Zo

        Hello. Can these be made non spicy?

      2. Fouzia M

        Awesome recipe!Turned out so good!Thank you!

  10. Shanzeh

    These were the perfect movie night in snack over pizza ever! Full of flavour yet not too heavy !! Must try

    1. Zoha

      Thanks so much, Shanzeh! Glad you enjoyed them!

  11. N Q

    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!

    1. Ayesha

      I’ve made these multiple times for gatherings and it’s always the first thing gone. They’re perfect!

      1. Zoha Malik

        Woo! Thank you!

    2. Zoha

      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.

      1. Noorafsha Khatri

        اسلام عليكم Zoha ,
        I made this for Iftar today, ماشاء الله they tasted yum! Glad I tried it <3. Thank you for sharing! 🙂

  12. Asma Naeem

    I tried this recipe it was soo yumm… Everyone at home liked this new item ❤️❤️

    1. Zoha

      Wuhu!!! Glad you and family enjoyed this!

  13. Asma

    Zoha, you make me so proud. These are so yummy and awesome. Can’t fault at all. Love your recipes

    1. Zoha

      Thank you Mama! <3

      1. Naz

        Thank you for sharing! Any chance there is a recipe for the tamarind chutney?

        1. Zoha

          I use storebought Tamarind chutney, unfortunately! But I am sure there are some good recipes on google!

  14. Arham

    There needs to be a crispy chicken, a Malai boti and a beef variant of this class item.

    1. Zoha

      Hahaha ok noted

  15. Maria

    Love your recioes

    1. Zoha

      Thank you so much!!! <3

      1. Chapa

        I took these to a party and they were devoured. Thank you so much for your foolproof recipes!

  16. Shahzeb

    I inhaled these

    1. Zoha

      I saw. :p

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