If you're looking for an easy recipe for game day, a family get-together, or your next backyard BBQ, these Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders are going to be hard to beat. We're taking shredded rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, and homemade ranch dressing, piling everything onto Hawaiian rolls, and finishing them with a garlic herb butter topping.

I'm also adding my Heath Riles BBQ Garlic Jalapeño Rub and Chicken Rub to give that filling some extra flavor. We'll get these on the pellet grill at 325°F until the cheese is melted, the filling is hot, and the tops of those rolls are golden brown. Y'all, these are good!

Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders on the Pellet Grill | Heath Riles BBQ

I love a recipe that doesn't take a lot of work but still turns out great, and that's exactly what we've got here. Using a rotisserie chicken saves us a bunch of prep time, and everything comes together in one pan.

For this cook, I'm using my recteq Flagship Pellet Grill at 325°F. We'll start by cooking the sliders covered with foil to get everything heated through, then remove the foil to let those Hawaiian rolls brown up. After about 45 minutes, you've got a pan full of cheesy chicken bacon ranch sliders ready to serve.

Let's get started!

Why This Recipe Works

• Easy to prepare. Using a rotisserie chicken saves time without sacrificing flavor. All you've got to do is shred the chicken, cook the bacon, and mix everything together.
• Loaded with flavor. Chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing are a combination that's hard to beat. My Garlic Jalapeño Rub and Chicken Rub add another layer of seasoning.
• Perfect for feeding a crowd. Hawaiian rolls make it easy to prepare a whole pan of sliders at once, whether you're cooking for game day or a family gathering.
• Buttery, golden-brown rolls. The garlic herb butter adds plenty of flavor to the tops of the rolls and helps them brown up as they cook.
• Great for the pellet grill. Cooking the sliders covered first and uncovered toward the end gives the filling time to heat through without browning the rolls too quickly.

The Ingredients

You don't need anything complicated to make these Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders. Here's what I'm using.

• Rotisserie Chicken. Four cups of shredded, roughly diced rotisserie chicken make up the base of our filling. Using a rotisserie chicken keeps the prep work simple.
• Bacon. One 12-ounce package of thin-cut bacon, cooked and chopped, adds plenty of smoky, salty flavor to the sliders.
• Cheddar Cheese. Two cups of shredded cheddar cheese give these sliders plenty of cheesy flavor. We're mixing some into the chicken filling and using the rest when assembling the rolls.
• Hawaiian Rolls. These soft, slightly sweet rolls are perfect for sliders. We'll cut them in half horizontally, keeping the rolls connected so everything is easy to assemble.
• Homemade Ranch Dressing. I'm using about 1–1½ cups of my homemade ranch dressing to bring the chicken, bacon, and cheese together. You can check out my recipe if you want to make your own.
• Heath Riles BBQ Garlic Jalapeño Rub. I'm adding a little of my Garlic Jalapeño Rub for some extra garlic flavor and a touch of heat.
• Heath Riles BBQ Chicken Rub. A little Chicken Rub gives the filling another layer of seasoning that goes great with the chicken and bacon.
• Butter. Four tablespoons of melted butter make the base for our garlic herb topping.
• Onion Powder. One teaspoon adds savory onion flavor to the melted butter.
• Garlic Powder. One teaspoon gives the butter topping plenty of garlic flavor.
• Parsley. One teaspoon adds a little herb flavor to the tops of the rolls.
• Dried Minced Onion. One teaspoon brings some extra onion flavor and texture to the butter mixture.

Cooking Setup

For this recipe, I've got my recteq Flagship Pellet Grill fired up to 325°F.

I'm using an aluminum pan to assemble the sliders so everything stays together while it cooks. We'll cover the pan with foil for the first 20 minutes or so, then remove it to let the tops of the rolls brown up.

The total cooking time is approximately 45 minutes. We're looking for melted cheese, a hot chicken filling, and golden-brown Hawaiian rolls.

The Process

Prepare the Chicken and Bacon

Start with four cups of shredded rotisserie chicken. I've already shredded mine and given it a rough dice so the pieces aren't too big for the sliders.

Next, take one 12-ounce package of thin-cut bacon that's been cooked and chopped. Add that right in with the chicken.

I'm using a YETI Rambler Bowl to mix everything together. Give the chicken and bacon a good stir so you've got bacon distributed throughout the filling.

Add the Cheddar Cheese

Now we're going to take two cups of shredded cheddar cheese and add about half of it to our chicken and bacon mixture.

Save the remaining cheese because we're going to use some of it when we assemble the sliders.

Give everything a quick mix to get that cheese distributed throughout the chicken and bacon.

Prepare the Hawaiian Rolls

Take your Hawaiian rolls and slice them in half horizontally, keeping the rolls connected so you've got one bottom layer and one top layer.

Place the bottom half of the rolls into your aluminum pan.

I'm going to take a little of that reserved cheddar cheese and spread it right over the bottom layer of rolls. This gives us some cheese underneath the chicken filling.

Set the tops of the rolls aside for now. We'll come back to those once we've got everything layered together.

Mix in the Homemade Ranch Dressing

Now let's get some ranch dressing added to our chicken mixture.

I'm using my Homemade Ranch Dressing for this recipe. We're going to use about 1–1½ cups, depending on how much you need to get everything mixed together.

Start with about a cup and stir it into the chicken, bacon, and cheese. You can add a little more if needed.

You want everything coated with that ranch dressing without making the filling too runny.

Season the Chicken Filling

Once you've got the ranch mixed in, let's give everything a little seasoning.

I'm going in with my Heath Riles BBQ Garlic Jalapeño Rub first. This adds some garlic flavor and a little kick to the chicken.

Next, I'm coming back with a little Heath Riles BBQ Chicken Rub for some extra flavor.

Use a spatula to mix everything together until the ranch dressing and seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the filling.

Make the Garlic Herb Butter

In a separate bowl, add four tablespoons of melted butter.

Now we're going to season that butter with:

• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried minced onion

Use a measuring cup to portion your ingredients, then stir everything together until the seasonings are mixed into the melted butter.

Set that aside for now. We're going to spoon it over the tops of our sliders before they go on the smoker.

Assemble the Sliders

Now that our filling is ready, let's get these sliders put together.

Take the chicken bacon ranch mixture and spread it evenly over the bottom layer of Hawaiian rolls.

Make sure you're getting the filling all the way to the edges so every slider has plenty of chicken, bacon, and cheese.

Once you've got everything layered on, gently press the filling down to help keep it together.

Now take the top half of your Hawaiian rolls and place it right over the chicken mixture.

Add the Garlic Herb Butter

We're going to take that garlic herb butter we mixed up earlier and spoon it right over the tops of the Hawaiian rolls.

Make sure you get some of that butter and seasoning mixture on every roll.

This is going to add plenty of flavor and help give us those golden-brown tops we're looking for.

Cover and Cook on the Smoker

Once the sliders are assembled, cover the aluminum pan with foil.

With our recteq Flagship Pellet Grill running at 325°F, place the pan on the smoker and close the lid.

We're going to let these cook covered for approximately 20 minutes.

This gives the chicken filling time to heat up and the cheese a chance to start melting while keeping the tops of the rolls from browning too quickly.

Remove the Foil and Finish Cooking

After a little over 20 minutes, carefully remove the foil from the pan.

At this point, everything is heating up nicely, but we're going to let those sliders keep cooking uncovered.

This is when the tops of the Hawaiian rolls will start to brown and that garlic herb butter will really do its job.

Let them continue cooking until the rolls are golden brown, the cheese is melted, and the filling is hot throughout.

Remove and Serve

After approximately 45 minutes total, our Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders are ready to come off the smoker.

The tops of those Hawaiian rolls have browned up, the cheese is melted, and everything is looking good.

Carefully remove the pan from the grill and let the sliders rest for a few minutes before cutting between the rolls.

Now all that's left to do is grab one and give it a try. These are going to be a hit at your next game day party or backyard BBQ!

The Results

Y'all, these Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders turned out great! After about 45 minutes on the smoker, the Hawaiian rolls were golden brown, the cheese was melted, and everything was looking good.

What I really like about this recipe is how all those flavors come together. You've got tender rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, and homemade ranch dressing, all seasoned with my Garlic Jalapeño Rub and Chicken Rub. Then you've got that garlic herb butter on top of the Hawaiian rolls that adds even more flavor.

These sliders are perfect for game day, a family gathering, or anytime you need something that'll feed a crowd without a bunch of work. Serve them right out of the pan while they're warm, and I don't think they'll last long!

Perfect Pairings

If you're making these Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders for game day or your next backyard BBQ, you'll want a few good sides to go with them. Here are some of my favorite recipes that would make a great addition to the spread.

• Smoked Bacon Mac and Cheese. You can't go wrong with a good pan of mac and cheese, especially when you've got bacon involved. This Smoked Bacon Mac and Cheese is rich, creamy, and loaded with flavor. It goes great alongside these Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders and is a good option when you're feeding a bunch of folks at a cookout or family gathering.
• Smoked Brisket Baked Beans. If you're looking for a hearty BBQ side, give these Smoked Brisket Baked Beans a try. They've got plenty of smoky flavor from the brisket and make a great addition to just about any BBQ spread. Serve them alongside these sliders for a meal that'll keep everybody coming back for seconds.
• Crispy Weber Kettle Potato Wedges. These Crispy Potato Wedges are a great side for just about any sandwich or slider. They're golden brown on the outside, tender on the inside, and perfect for dipping in a little extra Homemade Ranch Dressing. If you're making these sliders for supper, this is one pairing I'd definitely recommend.
• Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip. If you're putting together a game day spread, you've got to have a good dip. This Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip brings plenty of cheesy, spicy flavor and is great served with tortilla chips or crackers. Put it out alongside these Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders, and you've got two crowd-pleasing appetizers that are easy to share.

Storing Leftovers

If you've got any Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders left over, you can save them to enjoy over the next few days.

Refrigerating. Let the sliders cool slightly before transferring them to an airtight container. Refrigerate within two hours of cooking and store for up to 3–4 days.

Reheating. I recommend reheating these sliders in the oven or on your pellet grill at 300°F. Place them in an oven-safe pan, cover loosely with foil, and heat until the chicken filling reaches 165°F. You can remove the foil toward the end if you want to crisp up the tops of the rolls again.

Freezing. You can freeze leftover sliders in a freezer-safe container for up to 2–3 months for the best quality. Wrap them individually or separate them into smaller portions so they're easier to reheat. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before warming them up. Keep in mind that the ranch dressing may change texture slightly after freezing.

Tips for the Best Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders

This recipe is pretty simple, but I've got a few tips that'll help you get the best results every time.

• Use rotisserie chicken to save time. There's no need to cook chicken from scratch for this recipe. A store-bought rotisserie chicken works great and makes preparation a whole lot easier.
• Cook the bacon before adding it. Make sure your bacon is fully cooked and chopped before mixing it with the chicken. I like getting it nice and crispy so you've got plenty of bacon flavor throughout the filling.
• Don't add too much ranch dressing. Start with about one cup of Homemade Ranch Dressing and add more as needed. You want the chicken coated without making the filling too wet.
• Season to your liking. My Garlic Jalapeño Rub and Chicken Rub add plenty of flavor. Start with a little of each and adjust to your preference.
• Keep the Hawaiian rolls connected. When you slice the rolls in half, try to keep the bottom and top layers together. This makes it much easier to assemble the sliders and spread the filling evenly.
• Spread the garlic herb butter evenly. Make sure every roll gets some of that melted butter and seasoning mixture. This helps the tops brown up and gives every slider plenty of flavor.
• Don't skip the foil. Covering the sliders for the first 20 minutes helps everything heat through without getting the tops too dark. Once you remove the foil, the rolls can finish browning.
• Let them rest before cutting. Give the sliders a few minutes to cool after taking them off the smoker. This makes them easier to cut and helps keep the filling from falling out.

Final Thoughts

If you're looking for something easy to throw together for game day or your next cookout, give these Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders a try. You don't need a bunch of prep work, and using a rotisserie chicken makes the whole process even easier.

I really like the combination of chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese, and homemade ranch dressing. Add a little of my Garlic Jalapeño Rub and Chicken Rub, finish everything with that garlic herb butter, and you've got one flavorful slider.

These are great for feeding a crowd, and you can have a whole pan ready in about 45 minutes once they hit the smoker.

Give them a try, and let me know what y'all think!

Equipment & Tools

recteq Flagship Pellet Grill, Aluminum Pan, YETI Rambler Bowl, Measuring Cup, Spatula