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Home / Beginner-Friendly / Appetizers

Cheesy Garlic Pesto Chicken Sliders

4.95
/5
30 minutes minutes
29 Comments
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By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 10/18/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

These Cheesy Garlic Pesto Chicken Sliders are gooey, hot, and so easy to make. Made with just 7 simple ingredients, with make ahead and freezer directions, they're the ultimate delicious party food! #sliders #pesto #chicken
These Cheesy Garlic Pesto Chicken Sliders are gooey, hot, and so easy to make. Made with just 7 simple ingredients, with make ahead and freezer directions, they're the ultimate delicious party food! #sliders #pesto #chicken
These Cheesy Garlic Pesto Chicken Sliders are gooey, hot, and so easy to make. Made with just 7 simple ingredients, with make ahead and freezer directions, they're the ultimate delicious party food! #sliders #pesto #chicken

These Cheesy Garlic Pesto Chicken Sliders are gooey, hot, and so easy to make. Made with just 7 simple ingredients, with make ahead and freezer directions, they’re the ultimate delicious party food!

This is one of my Appetizer recipes I know you’ll want to keep on hand!

pesto chicken slider on white plate
Pin this recipe for later!

We’re coming up on prime party food season, which is one of my favorites! Between game day parties and holiday gatherings, you’ll want to have some easy appetizer recipes in your back pocket.

This slider recipe is definitely an easy recipe! Just 7 common ingredients (plus salt and pepper to taste), and they’re loaded with flavor.

The main protein in this recipe is shredded chicken, so it’s perfect for leftovers or a rotisserie chicken.

You can also make these sliders ahead of time, and even freeze them!

So whether you’re hosting the party, or just attending, you can serve/bring the party food everyone will be talking about.

How to make pesto chicken sliders?

This is just an overview; the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card toward the bottom of this post.

step by step how to make pesto chicken sliders
  1. Slice rolls.  More than likely, your package of Hawaiian rolls won’t come sliced.  Slice the rolls in half horizontally, keeping them connected to each other if possible.  Transfer to baking pan.
  2. Combine topping. Stir together melted butter, garlic and parsley. Set that aside for now.
  3. Spread the pesto. Spread half the pesto on the bottom half of the rolls.
  4. Layer.  Add shredded chicken and cheese.
  5. More pesto.  Spread remaining half of the pesto on the cut side of the top half of the rolls. Add the top half of the rolls on top of the cheese.
  6. Top and bake.  Pour or brush butter mixture on top of the rolls, sprinkle with salt and pepper (if using), then bake covered for half of the baking time, then uncover and finish baking.

Helpful Tip!

If you have to substitute the baking pan, just make sure you use one that has sides. This is pretty buttery and you don’t want melted butter all over your oven!

sliders in baking pan with buttered tops

Variations of this recipe

  • Pesto – I love using my homemade pesto recipe for these sliders, but a quality store-bought variety will also work just fine. Buitoni, Dellalo, Rao’s, or Classico are a few of my favorite brands.
  • Rolls – any slider buns/rolls will work for this recipe. Hawaiian, potato, or butter slider rolls are my favorites.
  • Chicken – I like to use any leftover chicken I have on hand (provided it isn’t covered in bbq sauce or something), but rotisserie chicken is a great alternative. I like to pick up one from the store when they’re on sale, remove the meat, shred it, and freeze it. That way I always have some rotisserie shredded chicken on hand.
  • Cream sauce – to make these sliders even more gooey and delicious, spread some roasted garlic cream sauce, or store-bought Alfredo sauce over the bottom bun layer.
  • Topping – try adding some everything bagel seasoning, a little more pesto, or some finely minced shallots to the garlic butter topping.
serving a pesto chicken slider with melted cheese

FAQ’s

What type of slider buns do you use for pesto chicken sliders?

I like to use Kings Hawaiian rolls, but any slider-style bun will work. Potato rolls, or butter rolls are great substitutes.

What type of chicken is best for pesto chicken sliders?

Leftover chicken is one of my favorite types to use, or a store-bought rotisserie chicken (or make your own!). But in reality, any chicken you have on hand will work, even sliced deli chicken.

Making chicken sliders ahead of time

The great thing about sliders like this pesto chicken variety, is that you can make them completely ahead of time!

Just make the recipe right up until the baking part, and cover tightly with foil.

Refrigerate for up to 1 day, then bake as directed.

brushing tops of rolls with garlic butter

Storage

Any leftovers should be refrigerated in an airtight container and eaten within 3-4 days.

Freezing

To freeze, make the recipe right up until baking, then cover tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake as directed.

Other Slider Recipes:

serving a cuban slider sandwich
Cuban Sliders
italian beef sliders
Cheesy Italian Beef Sliders
ham and cheese sliders
Garlicky Ham and Cheese Sliders
cranberry ham sliders
Ham and Cranberry Sliders (great for leftover holiday ham)
9x13 pan with lid

My Favorite 9×13 Pan!

You can use any 9×13″ pan, but I like that this one comes with a tight fitting lid.

Get on amazon

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

pesto chicken slider on white plate

Cheesy Garlic Pesto Chicken Sliders

4.95 from 20 votes
Author: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Calories: 379
Servings: 6 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
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These Cheesy Garlic Pesto Chicken Sliders are gooey, hot, and so easy to make. Made with just 7 simple ingredients, with make ahead and freezer directions, they're the ultimate delicious party food!

Ingredients

  • 12 count package slider rolls
  • 6 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • 4 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 2 tsp minced fresh parsley
  • 2/3 cup basil pesto homemade or store-bought (divided)
  • 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken a rotisserie chicken is great for this
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13" baking pan. Set aside.
  • Add unwrapped package of rolls to your cutting board and using a serrated knife (like a bread knife), carefully slice across the rolls, horizontally, keeping one hand on top of the rolls to steady them. 
  • Once sliced, keep the rolls connected to each other and lift the entire top section off of the bottom section. Add the bottom section of the rolls to the prepared baking pan.
  • In a small mixing bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, and parsley. Set aside.
  • Spread half of the pesto over the bottom half of the rolls in the baking pan.
  • Add shredded chicken on top of the pesto, then top that with the shredded cheese.
  • Spread remaining pesto over the cut side of the top half of the rolls, then add top half of rolls, cut side down, on top of the cheese.
  • Brush garlic butter mixture over the top of the rolls, then sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired.
  • Cover loosely with foil and bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Uncover and bake another 5-10 minutes, or until hot and cheese is fully melted.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

  1. Recipe makes 12 sliders, but can easily be doubled.
  2. For doubling, use a rimmed baking sheet that’s big enough to hold two 12 count packages of rolls.  Bake time would remain the same.
     
  3. This recipe serves approximately 6 people, with 2 sliders each being the serving size.  Of course, you’re free to divide your sliders up however you’d like though.

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

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4.95 from 20 votes

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Recipe Rating




  1. Jennifer Barnhart says

    Posted on 6/9 at 2:33 pm

    Hi! What side do you serve with these pesto chicken sliders?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 6/9 at 8:02 pm

      Typically we have these at a party, where there aren’t any sides, but a nice caesar salad would be a good choice 🙂

      Reply
  2. Georgetta Busler says

    Posted on 10/29 at 3:08 pm

    The only thing I did differently was put the BOTTOM parts of the buns into the oven, directly on the rack, for 2 minutes. This crisps up the bun and keeps too much of the pesto from soaking in and making a sloppy sandwich- you can do the top too if you want, which I do if I am using a sauce type filling. I used a 5 Italian cheese blend and the sliders turned out great. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  3. Aubrie says

    Posted on 9/14 at 5:13 pm

    Amazing! I make it all the time everyone loves it!

    Reply
  4. Emily says

    Posted on 6/22 at 10:03 pm

    Wayyy too much butter but delish

    Reply
  5. Lisa says

    Posted on 5/17 at 8:23 pm

    Delicious and easy to make. I’ve made it a few times already! Thank you for sharing this recipe with us

    Reply
  6. Sally says

    Posted on 5/15 at 7:45 am

    Easy to follow recipe …. Tastes great!

    Reply
  7. Caitlyn says

    Posted on 10/23 at 1:53 pm

    Made these for game day today and they turned out fantastic! Only change I made was only using 2 tbsp. butter vs the 6 tbsp. it calls for. I also homemade my pesto and used a thicker mozzarella. Will def make again!

    Reply
  8. Iwonka says

    Posted on 9/22 at 6:48 pm

    Absolutely Delicious!
    Once a week must be in my house! Thank you so much for sharing this delicious recipe and I highly recommend To you all!

    Reply
  9. Annabelle says

    Posted on 8/22 at 8:28 pm

    I’m making this for a staff meeting tomorrow! Can’t wait! I will need to transport them for a quick drive, do you recommend covering well in tin foil? Im worries they will get soggy!

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 8/22 at 8:51 pm

      It depends on how quick of a drive… I would probably cover with foil to retain the heat, but loosely, so any steam can escape and not make the bread soggy 🙂

      Reply
      • Annabelle says

        Posted on 8/23 at 8:18 pm

        Thank you, it was only a 15 min drive so they stayed warm & didn’t get soggy at all! I doubled the recipe and my co workers DEVOURED them. Omg such a yummy recipe!

        Reply
  10. Samantha says

    Posted on 7/26 at 12:29 pm

    Delicious and easy!!!

    Reply
  11. Janet says

    Posted on 2/13 at 8:14 pm

    Just made the chicken sliders for Super Bowl halftime dinner!! Total success! I used rotisserie chicken that I pulled apart it was great. Fancy looking too😎

    Thanks for the recipe.

    Janet

    Reply
  12. Catalina says

    Posted on 10/21 at 5:27 am

    I love pesto so much and this is a new lunch recipe that will try! It looks so tasty!

    Reply
  13. Krystle says

    Posted on 10/20 at 2:57 pm

    This might be my favorite slider recipe yet. I can’t stop at just one.

    Reply
  14. Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert says

    Posted on 10/20 at 1:20 pm

    These Cheesy Garlic Pesto Chicken Sliders are on my must-make list!

    Reply
  15. Tisha says

    Posted on 10/20 at 1:02 pm

    Going on my must make this weekend!

    Reply
    • Mary says

      Posted on 3/31 at 3:30 pm

      These came out sooo good, thank you for sharing!

      Reply
  16. Beti | easyweeknightrecipes says

    Posted on 10/20 at 12:04 pm

    I am so excited to try these over the weekend! They sound incredible and I know they will be a HUGE hit!!

    Reply
  17. katerina @ diethood.com says

    Posted on 10/20 at 12:02 pm

    These would not last long at our house! They are incredible!! A must try!

    Reply
  18. Erin says

    Posted on 10/20 at 3:09 am

    Wow! They look just perfect. I never would have thought to use pesto on sliders!

    Reply
  19. Erik says

    Posted on 10/19 at 6:04 pm

    Such a great way to feed a big number of people. So easy!

    Reply
  20. Kara Brocious says

    Posted on 10/19 at 8:22 am

    Sounds delish! I would add sliced roma tomatoes and maybe a splash of balsamic vinegar also 🙂

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 10/19 at 8:53 am

      Great additions!

      Reply
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