If you’re looking for the ultimate game-day bite, Hot Honey Ranch Sliders are here for the win. Juicy grilled chicken thighs, crispy bacon, gooey mozzarella, and a drizzle of homemade ranch sauce with a nice little spicy twist are flavor bombs you won’t want to miss.
These hot honey ranch sliders made with grilled chicken bring the heat, the crunch, and the creamy kick you crave. Whether you’re making them for the Super Bowl, poker night, or the fam, these little chicken sandwiches are so freakin’ delicious they are guaranteed to disappear fast!
Why You’ll Love Hot Honey Ranch Sliders
The hot honey ranch sliders check all the boxes for an epic bite. The ranch sauce brings a tangy, creamy heat, while the grilled chicken thighs stay juicy thanks to a chili oil baste. It doesn’t get any better than layering melted mozzarella and crispy bacon taking over the top. These flavor-packed sliders are simple to throw together, too.
If you can’t get enough of the chicken and ranch combo, check out these recipes next! Chicken Bacon Ranch Taquitos, Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos, and BBQ Ranch Chicken Recipes.
Viral Ranch Sliders on IG
Ranch sliders are all over YouTube, TikTok, and IG, with everyone putting their own twist on them. If you want to check some popular ones out, Tom Judkins’ backyard-style sliders use a smoky grilled ranch drizzle, while Christopher Smith’s take features a spicy jalapeño-infused ranch that gives the perfect kick. To make your version go viral, get creative with toppings, add a crunchy element, and don’t forget to film that golden brown cheese pull!
Hot Honey Chicken Sliders Ingredients Round-Up
- Chicken – Pick up some chicken thighs (or cooked rotisserie chicken for a shortcut). For seasoning, I used my Cowboy Butter rub! However, you could sub it with some kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder if you’d like. You’ll also need some chili oil for basting.
- Hot Honey Ranch – This tasty hot honey sauce is easy to make with sour cream, mayonnaise, chili crisp, local honey, fresh cilantro, garlic powder, black pepper, buttermilk, and salt.
- Sliders – Grab some soft but firm slider rolls, crispy bacon slices, and high-quality mozzarella cheese.
Now that we have all of our main ingredients rounded up, let’s get grilling. Trust me, these hot honey ranch sliders are about to be your new favorite comfort food! Follow along with me while I walk you through the steps, or skip ahead to the recipe card.
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How to Make Hot Honey Ranch Sliders
Sauce & Chicken Prep
Let’s kick off this hot honey ranch sliders recipe with the sauce. Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, chili crisp, honey, chopped cilantro, garlic powder, and black pepper in a bowl or mason jar. Stir in buttermilk until it’s the perfect drizzle consistency. Season with salt to taste. Pop it in an airtight container in the fridge until it’s go-time.
Now, prep the chicken for the ranch sliders. Coat the thighs in canola oil, then hit them with a generous layer of Cowboy Butter (or your favorite chicken seasoning or kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder). If you’re using rotisserie chicken, just shred it and then set it aside. Let the seasoned chicken chill while you fire up the grill.
Grilling Time
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, about 375F. Toss a cold cast iron skillet on there and lay in your bacon slices. Let them crisp up, then pull them off and chop them up.
Next up, the chicken. Throw it straight on the grill and cook for 6-8 minutes per side, basting with chili oil for that extra heat and moisture. The chicken is done once it hits an internal temperature of 165-170F. Pull the chicken off the grill and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into thin strips.
Slider Assembly & Baking Time
While the chicken rests, slice your slider rolls in half, keeping them connected. Place the bottom half in an aluminum foil-lined baking dish or a cooking-safe skillet. Layer on mozzarella, then the sliced chicken, crispy bacon, a drizzle of hot honey ranch, and another layer of mozzarella. Cap it off with the top half of the rolls and brush the tops with more chili oil.
Bake the sliders at 350-375F for 10-12 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Let them cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving with extra hot honey ranch for dipping. Now, all that’s left to do is dive in and enjoy. Cheers!
What to Serve with Hot Honey Ranch Sliders
For a full spread, pair these hot honey ranch sliders with fried chicken, sweet potato fries, and plenty of dipping sauces. They also go great with a side of pasta salad or maybe some crunchy onion rings. The best way to enjoy them? Hot off the grill with a cold drink in hand while watching your team win the game!
More Sliders
Or, for a full comprehensive list, check out all The Best Slider Recipes here!
Leftovers & Reheating Instructions
Store leftover hot honey ranch sliders in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, toss them in a 350F oven for about 10 minutes until the cheese is melty and the bread is crispy again.
FAQs for Hot Honey Ranch Sliders
Absolutely! Chicken breasts will work for the hot honey ranch sliders, but they tend to be leaner and can dry out quicker. For best results, pound them to an even thickness and baste with extra chili oil to keep them tender.
If you want extra spice, add more chili oil, toss in some diced jalapeños, or sprinkle cayenne into the ranch. If you need to cool things down, use less chili crisp or add more sour cream to balance the heat.
Yes, and it’s easier than you think! Just mix together sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, fresh chopped dill, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Add salt and black pepper to taste, then adjust the consistency with more buttermilk if needed. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for no more than a week.
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Hot Honey Ranch Sliders
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 8-10 Chicken Thighs
- Cowboy Butter or favorite Chicken seasoning
- Chili Oil as needed
- Canola Oil as needed
Hot Honey Ranch:
- 2.5 tbsp Sour Cream
- 2 tbsp Mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Chili Crisp
- 1.5 tbsp Local Honey
- 1.5 tbsp Chopped Cilantro
- 1.5 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- Buttermilk to desired consistency
- Salt to taste
Sliders:
- 1 pack Slider Rolls
- 8-10 Cooked Bacon Slices
- 8-12 Sliced Mozzarella Cheese
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients for your ranch to a bowl and mix. Set to the side until ready to use.
- Slather your chicken thighs with oil and generously season with Cowboy Butter Seasoning (or you can sub with salt, pepper and garlic powder or your favorite chicken rub). Set in the fridge until ready to cook.
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (about 375F).
- Add a cold cast iron skillet to the heat and add your bacon slices to cook until nice and crispy. Once done, pull off to cool then chop up.
- Next, add your chicken to the grill and cook for 6-8 minutes per side, basting with chili oil as needed.
- Continue to cook chicken until it hits an internal temp between 165-170F.
- Once the chicken is done, pull off to let it rest for 5 minutes. Once rested, slice into thin strips.
- Pull out your slider rolls. While keeping the slider rolls together, slice your slider rolls in half so there is a top side and bottom side.
- Add the bottom side into a foil bin or cooking safe skillet. Add a layer of cheese, sliced chicken, bacon, drizzle of ranch and finish with a layer of more sliced cheese plus the top part of the buns. Brush some chili oil over the top of the slider buns.
- Add the sliders to the oven at medium high heat (around 350-375F). Cook until they are golden brown & crispy (about 10-12 minutes). Once done, pull the sliders off and let cool for 2-3 minutes.
- Slice up your sliders and serve with the homemade ranch for dipping. Enjoy!
Chicken and bacon BOOM. The sauce is by far the best tasting. What a delicious recipe – thank you so much for sharing your passion.
Just made these…wow they were amazing. I literally can’t stop tasting the hot honey ranch. Great flavor.