Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Sharing is caring!

Whether you’re hungry for a speedy weeknight meal or a tasty game-day bite, these Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Sliders are easy to make and take only a few ingredients.

They’re packed with flavor, ready in less than twenty minutes, and they can even be made using frozen chicken breasts.

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Sliders Recipe

We have been crazy for Buffalo chicken lately – this slightly-spicy chicken is so delicious when paired with creamy ranch dressing, shredded cheddar cheese, and sliced scallions.

These sliders will be a hit at your next watch party or game day event – just you wait and see.

I loving cooking chicken breasts in my Instant Pot. Especially since I can cook FROZEN chicken breasts in only 20 minutes, having this meal on the table in less than 30 minutes – no joke!

I’m always on the look out for 30 minute meals and this one is definitely a winner.

What to love about this slider recipe

1. So easy to make! Once you make the buffalo chicken filling, all you have to do is assemble the sliders and bake.
2. Loads of flavor. Spicy buffalo chicken with shredded cheddar cheese and cool Ranch dressing on top – yum.
3. Talk about perfect party food. These sliders are always a hit and gone in a flash. There’s no better compliment than an empty pan. 🙂

Ingredients for buffalo chicken sliders

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: May substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs. I do this often since chicken thighs are usually less expensive and I like how much more flavorful the dark meat is.
  
• Slider buns: Use your favorite or substitute Hawaiian rolls, if preferred.
  
• Chicken or vegetable broth, for cooking the chicken breasts: This adds flavor to the chicken as it cooks. If you don’t have broth on hand, you can use water to cook the chicken breasts in the Instant Pot.
  
• Buffalo sauce: I like Frank’s Red Hot Original sauce, but use your favorite brand.
  
• Minced garlic: May substitute 1/2 tsp. garlic powder or granulated garlic.
  
• Dry Ranch Dressing Mix: This adds more flavor to the sliders.
  
• Cornstarch: This ingredient thickens the buffalo sauce when you simmer it before adding the shredded, cooked chicken back to the Instant Pot.
  
• Melted butter: Brushing melted butter over the top slider buns makes them get golden brown as they bake.
  
• Optional toppings: Top the baked buffalo chicken sliders with additional seasame seeds, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced scallions, and Ranch dressing, as desired.

Easy Recipe Tips

• If desired, pair bleu cheese with the Buffalo chicken instead of cheddar cheese. It’s a delicious combination.  I’ve found that adults like the blue cheese over cheddar, but kids tend to like the more mild flavor of the cheddar cheese.

• For a low carb option, serve the cooked buffalo chicken in a bowl (without buns), then add your favorite toppings and dig in.

• If your family enjoys nachos, use the buffalo chicken meat to make a nacho platter. Spread tortilla chips over a sheet pan, then top them with the warm buffalo chicken meat and cheese, then pop the pan into a 375 F. degree oven for 10 minutes to melt the cheese. Lastly, add your favorite toppings, such as chopped cilantro and avocado, salsa, and sour cream, etc. Serve at once.

How to make buffalo chicken sliders

In a small bowl, combine the chicken broth with the hot sauce and minced garlic.

Pour this mixture into the Instant Pot.

Now place the chicken breasts into the Instant Pot. Sprinkle the dry ranch dressing mix over the chicken breasts.

Lock the Instant Pot lid into place.

Using the manual button, choose the high pressure setting for 10 minutes, bringing the Instant Pot to full pressure.

If you are cooking frozen chicken breasts for this recipe, you will need to double the Instant Pot cooking time to 20 minutes.

When the timer sounds, use a full natural release for 5 minutes, then a quick release if any remaining pressure from the Instant Pot remains at this point.

Carefully unlock and remove the Instant Pot lid.

Remove the cooked chicken breasts to a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the chicken meat apart.

Remove a small portion of the liquids remaining in the pot to a small bowl; whisk in the cornstarch until smooth; return this mixture to the Instant Pot.

Using the sauté setting on the Instant Pot, simmer until the sauce is thickened, whisking until smooth.

Return the shredded chicken to the pot; combine with the thickened Buffalo sauce.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the slider bun bottoms in a greased 9×13 baking dish.

Top the buns with the buffalo chicken and shredded cheddar.

Add the slider bun tops, then brush with melted butter using a silicone basting brush.

Sprinkle the buns with sesame seeds, if desired, then cover the baking dish tightly with foil.

Bake the covered pan of sliders in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until hot throughout.

Serve at once with additional shredded cheddar cheese, chopped scallions, and Ranch dressing, as desired.

Can you make sliders ahead of time?

You can assemble the sliders 3-4 hours ahead of time, then refrigerate and bake when ready.

Since the sliders will be chilled from refrigeration, you may need to add 5-10 minutes to the baking time to be sure they are hot at the center.

If preferred, you can make the buffalo chicken filling up to 3 days ahead and store in the fridge.

Or, make the buffalo chicken filling ahead and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

What to serve with buffalo chicken sliders

My guys especially enjoy pasta side dishes with sliders. Cheesy orzo pasta is a favorite at our house and so is skillet-style mac and cheese or simple homemade french fries.

I like salads with my sliders because they are so refreshing.

Summer corn salad is delicious served with buffalo chicken sliders, and I also enjoy spinach salad with poppyseed dressing.

Easy slider recipes

These Easy Barbecue Chicken Sliders are perfect for easy dinners or parties and only require chicken, bbq sauce, cheese, and Hawaiian rolls or slider buns.

Bacon cheeseburger sliders are loaded with all the big bacon cheeseburger flavors….right down to the pickles.

Beef patty melt sliders with secret sauce are oven-baked and full of ground beef, caramelized onions, and melted cheese.

Kings Hawaiian ham and cheese sliders have sliced ham and smoked Gouda cheese nestled into soft slider buns, drizzled with a warm butter mixture and sprinkled with a poppy seed topping.

Beef tenderloin sliders are mouth-watering on sweet Hawaiian slider buns with tender caramelized red onions, zesty horseradish sauce, and melted cheese.

Meatball sub sliders to the rescue! Slider recipes made with hamburger (ground beef) are always a big hit with my family and at gatherings with friends. 

.