Wichita Chicken Sliders
A cheesy chicken slider filled with jalapenos and fried onions that belongs to the home of the original slider.
This slider recipe is completely inspired by the home of the White Castle slider, Wichita Kansas. Chicken sliders don’t get enough love and I’m here to put an end to this madness. These cheese-filled sandwiches are stuffed with juicy shredded chicken, caramelized onions, fresh tomato, pickled jalapenos, and French’s fried onions then baked until gooey perfection. Brush the buns with butter and top with black pepper to give it a homey touch. The sliders taste the best fresh and warm out of the oven, but reheat the rest of the week for a wonderful homemade lunch.
White Castles sliders started selling their mini burgers in 1921 and cost only five cents. We have come a long way since five cent sliders, but I guarantee you can make these with ingredients you already have in the house.
Now is the time to use up that rotisserie chicken that’s been sitting in the fridge.
I used to make a salad at this bar & grill for my lunch that is the main inspiration for this cheesy chicken filling. I used leftover chicken that I shredded up tossed together with ingredients on the line like diced tomato, caramelized onions, and pickled jalapeños. I mixed it all with a dollop of mayo and the combination just works. The jalapeño brine and the caramelized onions really come through. Not many people know about the magic of mayo in these purposes.
These chicken sliders totally change the game for Hawaiian roll sliders. Soft and sweet buns with a cheesy jalapeño chicken filling. They hold well covered in a tray with aluminum foil for a big party or even a potluck.
Wichita Chicken Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 lb. chicken breast, pounded even
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 white onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3/4 cup diced tomato
- 1/2 cup mild pickled jalapenos slices, chopped, plus 12 jalapenos slices
- 3 tablespoons jalapeno brine
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 3/4 cups Monterrey jack cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup green onion, green parts sliced thin
- 6 slices cheddar cheese
- 3/4 cup French’s fried onions
- 1 package King's Hawaiian slider buns, sliced in half
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Preparation
- Preheat a saute pan over medium heat with olive oil.
- Add seasoned chicken breast to the pan. Cook chicken for 3 - 4 minutes on the first side, then reduce heat and continue cooking on the opposite side until you reach 165° F internal temp. Set chicken aside to rest then shred.
- Add onion and garlic to pan, cook for 4 - 6 minutes on medium-low heat until onions are softened. Remove from the heat.
- Add diced tomato, jalapenos, the brine, mayo, shredded chicken breast and Monterrey jack cheese until combined. Taste for seasoning.
- Preheat a 350° F oven and prepare a 9x13 tray with the bottom half of the buns. Layer with cheddar cheese slices, chicken mixture, jalapeno slices, and fried onions.
- Top sliders with their buns and brush the sliders with melted butter, then sprinkle with ground black pepper.
- Bake in the oven for 18 - 20 minutes or until cheese is gooey.