Get ready to transform your ordinary dinner into an extraordinary culinary experience with these mouthwatering Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders! Imagine tender, juicy shredded chicken infused with zesty ranch seasoning, mixed with crispy bacon and melted cheese, all nestled between soft slider buns. This recipe is the perfect crowd-pleaser that requires minimal effort but delivers maximum flavor - making it ideal for busy weeknights, game day parties, or any time you want to impress your family and friends with minimal cooking skills.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 4 hrs
Total Time: 4 hrs 15 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 12 sliders
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1/2 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 12 slider buns
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Place whole chicken breasts in the bottom of a slow cooker, ensuring they are not overlapping.
- Sprinkle the entire packet of ranch seasoning mix evenly over the chicken breasts, coating them thoroughly.
- Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on LOW heat for 4 hours, or until the chicken is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- Once chicken is cooked, use two forks to shred the meat directly in the slow cooker, allowing it to mix with the cooking juices.
- Add softened cream cheese to the shredded chicken and stir until well combined and creamy.
- Mix in the cooked, crumbled bacon pieces and shredded cheddar cheese into the chicken mixture.
- Slice slider buns in half and lightly toast them if desired for extra texture.
- Spoon the chicken bacon ranch mixture onto the bottom halves of the slider buns.
- Top with the upper halves of the buns and serve warm.
- Optional: For a golden finish, you can briefly broil the assembled sliders in the oven for 2-3 minutes before serving.
Tips
- Choose the right chicken: Use fresh, boneless chicken breasts for the most tender results. Avoid frozen chicken to prevent excess moisture.
- Don't overcrowd the slow cooker: Ensure chicken breasts are not overlapping to promote even cooking.
- For extra flavor, consider using thick-cut bacon and crumbling it finely for maximum taste distribution.
- If you prefer a bit more moisture, reserve some of the cooking liquid when shredding the chicken.
- To prevent soggy buns, toast them lightly before assembling the sliders.
- For a golden, crispy top, use the optional broiling step to give your sliders a restaurant-quality finish.
- These sliders can be prepared ahead of time and kept warm in the slow cooker for up to 30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 250kcal
Carbohydrates: 18g
Protein: 22g
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 75mg
