Craving that fiery, tangy crunch from your favorite fast food slider? The Arby’s Buffalo Chicken Slider has won hearts nationwide with its perfectly crispy chicken, spicy buffalo sauce, and a cooling layer of creamy ranch. But what if you could enjoy this game-day classic at home, made fresh in your kitchen?
This copycat recipe breaks down every element: tender breaded chicken, buttery slider buns, zesty sauce, and that unmistakable ranch finish. If you love comfort food classics, don’t miss our fried-dish collection or explore more savory options in our meat recipes. Ready to build the best slider ever? Let’s get saucy!
Table of Contents
How to make Buffalo Chicken Slider
Making your own Copycat Arby’s Buffalo Chicken Slider at home is surprisingly easy, and the taste is spot-on! We’ll walk you step-by-step, from seasoning the chicken to assembling the ultimate slider stack. Grab your favorite buffalo sauce and slider buns – it’s time for a homemade treat that rivals the drive-thru!
Nutrition facts
Each Buffalo Chicken Slider is bursting with flavor yet clocks in at a reasonable amount of calories, making it perfect for a snack, lunch, party tray, or game-day feast. On average, each slider packs about 300 calories, 15g fat, 23g carbs, and 16g protein. Want to see more nutritional details? Browse options in the baked-dishes section for lighter alternatives.
Ingredients
- 12 slider buns or Hawaiian rolls — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- 1 pound boneless chicken tenders or breasts, sliced — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- 1 cup all-purpose flour — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- 1 teaspoon salt — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- 3/4 cup buttermilk — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- 1 1/2 cups buffalo wing sauce — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- 1/2 cup peppercorn ranch dressing — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- Shredded lettuce (optional) — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- Sliced provolone or pepper jack cheese (optional) — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
- Vegetable oil for frying (if frying) — 🛒 Buy on Amazon
Tools you’ll need
- Shallow bowls for breading
- Sheet pan with wire rack (for baking or resting fried chicken)
- Medium saucepan (if frying)
- Slotted spoon or tongs
- Basting brush (for buffalo sauce)
- Baking sheet (for toasting rolls)
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Slice boneless chicken tenders or breasts into slider-sized portions. Pat dry.
- Bread the Chicken: Dip chicken pieces into seasoned flour, then buttermilk, then back into the flour. Ensure an even coating.
- Fry or Bake: Fry chicken in 350°F oil until golden (about 4-5 minutes per side), or bake at 425°F on a rack until cooked through and crispy (about 18-22 minutes).
- Toss in Buffalo Sauce: Mix melted butter with buffalo sauce. Toss cooked chicken until fully coated.
- Assemble Sliders: Lay slider buns on a tray. Place a coated chicken piece on each bottom bun. Drizzle peppercorn ranch on top.
- Add Finishing Touches: Optional – sprinkle with lettuce or cheese, place top bun on each slider, and serve immediately.
What to serve with
Drinks: Cool down the heat with classic lemonade, iced sweet tea, or a creamy vanilla milkshake. For grown-up gatherings, light lagers or hard seltzers complement the spice perfectly.
Sides: Serve with crispy curly fries, classic coleslaw, or crunchy pickle chips for that true fast-food experience. For game days, pair with celery sticks and extra ranch or blue cheese dressing to dip.
Variations
- Spicier Kick: Add a dash of cayenne pepper or hot honey to your buffalo sauce.
- Baked Instead of Fried: Use panko bread crumbs for a super crunchy oven-baked version.
- Cheese Lover’s: Place a slice of pepper jack or provolone cheese on the chicken after saucing, then broil until melted before assembling sliders.
- Mini Wraps: Swap slider buns for mini tortillas and make spicy buffalo chicken wraps for a party tray.
Ingredient Substitutes
- Chicken Tenders
- Substitute: Boneless chicken breasts (sliced small), rotisserie chicken (shredded), or pre-cooked plant-based tenders.
- Buttermilk
- Substitute: Milk mixed with 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar, or plain yogurt thinned with water.
- Flour
- Substitute: Gluten-free baking blend or finely ground panko bread crumbs.
- Buffalo Sauce
- Substitute: Hot sauce mixed with melted butter, or sriracha blended with a splash of honey for sweet heat.
- Peppercorn Ranch
- Substitute: Classic ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or Greek yogurt with ranch seasoning.
- Slider Buns
- Substitute: Hawaiian rolls, mini burger buns, or cut dinner rolls.
Ingredients
12 slider buns or Hawaiian rolls
1 pound boneless chicken tenders or breasts, sliced
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups buffalo wing sauce
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup peppercorn ranch dressing
Shredded lettuce (optional)
Sliced provolone or pepper jack cheese (optional)
Vegetable oil for frying (if frying)
Instructions
Slice chicken into slider-size pieces and pat dry.
Combine flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a shallow bowl.
Pour buttermilk into a second bowl.
Dredge chicken in flour mix, dip in buttermilk, then coat again in flour.
Fry in hot oil (350°F) or bake on a rack at 425°F until golden and cooked through.
Mix buffalo sauce and melted butter. Toss cooked chicken pieces to coat.
Lightly toast slider buns.
Spread peppercorn ranch on bottom buns, add buffalo chicken, top with lettuce and cheese (if desired). Cover with top bun and serve.
