Maple Chicken Bacon Sliders (Printable)
Sweet maple glazed chicken and crispy bacon stacked on toasted slider buns for an irresistible party bite.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 6 slices thick-cut bacon
→ Marinade & Glaze
03 - 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
04 - 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
05 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
06 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Buns & Toppings
10 - 6 slider buns
11 - 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
12 - 1 cup baby arugula or mixed greens
13 - 6 slices cheddar cheese (optional)
14 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - Butter for toasting buns
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create 6 small, even fillets.
03 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, olive oil, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt until well combined.
04 - Add the chicken fillets to the marinade, turning to coat evenly. Let rest for 10 minutes at room temperature.
05 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon slices until golden and crispy, about 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
06 - Remove the chicken from the marinade, reserving the liquid. In the same skillet or on a grill pan over medium-high heat, sear each fillet for 3 to 4 minutes per side until cooked through. Set aside on a plate.
07 - Pour the reserved marinade into the skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly thickened. Brush the reduced glaze generously over each cooked chicken fillet.
08 - If using cheddar, place a slice on each glazed chicken fillet and broil for about 1 minute until melted and bubbly.
09 - Lightly brush the cut sides of each slider bun with butter. Toast in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown.
10 - Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on each bottom bun. Layer with arugula, a glazed chicken fillet, crispy bacon, sliced red onion, and the top bun. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The maple glaze caramelizes on the chicken and creates this sticky, sweet crust that pairs beautifully with the smoky bacon.
- Everything comes together in about half an hour, which makes it doable even on nights when you are running low on energy.
- These sliders disappear fast at parties, so you might want to make a double batch if you are feeding a crowd.
02 -
- Do not skip reserving the marinade before cooking the chicken because reducing it is what creates the signature glaze that makes these sliders special.
- The chicken will release juices into the pan as it cooks, so drain excess liquid before adding the reserved marinade or your glaze will be watery instead of thick and sticky.
03 -
- Use a silicone brush to apply the reduced glaze because it gives you even coverage without tearing the chicken surface.
- Let the bacon drain completely on paper towels before adding it to the sliders, because excess grease will make the bottom bun soggy within minutes.