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A close-up of delicious buffalo chicken sliders on a wooden board, topped with blue cheese and served with a side of celery slaw.

Spicy Air-Fried Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Quick and easy, these spicy air-fried buffalo chicken sliders are bursting with tangy flavor and offer a satisfying crunch, perfect for game day snacks or a fun weeknight meal.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 12 sliders
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Air-Fried Chicken
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp paprika
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
For the Classic Buffalo Sauce
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 0.75 cup Frank's RedHot Original Hot Sauce
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 0.5 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 0.25 tsp garlic powder
For Assembly
  • 12 slider buns split
  • 0.5 cup ranch or blue cheese dressing
  • 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce or coleslaw mix
  • 0.5 cup blue cheese crumbles optional
  • 1 tbsp melted butter for brushing buns, optional

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Small saucepan
  • Tongs

Method
 

Prepare the Chicken
  1. Pat the chicken cubes dry with paper towels. In a large mixing bowl, toss the chicken with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
  2. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Arrange the seasoned chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
  3. Air fry for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until the chicken is cooked through and lightly golden brown. Internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). Remove cooked chicken and set aside.
Make the Buffalo Sauce
  1. While the chicken cooks, melt the unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
  2. Remove from heat and stir in the Frank's RedHot sauce, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. Whisk until well combined and smooth.
Assemble the Sliders
  1. In the large mixing bowl, combine the cooked air-fried chicken with the prepared buffalo sauce. Toss gently until all chicken pieces are thoroughly coated.
  2. (Optional) Lightly brush the cut sides of the slider buns with melted butter and toast them lightly in a pan or under a broiler for 1-2 minutes until golden.
  3. Spread a spoonful of ranch or blue cheese dressing on the bottom half of each slider bun.
  4. Top with a small handful of shredded lettuce or coleslaw mix.
  5. Place a generous portion of buffalo chicken onto the lettuce.
  6. Sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles, if using.
  7. Cap with the top half of the slider bun and serve immediately.

Notes

For extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the buffalo sauce. If you don't have an air fryer, you can bake the chicken at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, or pan-fry until cooked through. Leftover buffalo chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently before assembling sliders.