With a five-star rating, these chicken lime sliders are always a hit at summer cookouts and family gatherings! Their shareable size and customizable toppings make them a crowd-pleasing option for both casual cookouts and outdoor parties.

grilled chicken sliders this recipe
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The chicken is similar to our grilled chicken tenders and grilled chicken drumsticks but offers unique, savory, refreshing flavors thanks to the cilantro lime marinade.

Served on buns and topped with guacamole, every bite leaves guests coming back for more. They love the bold flavors, and I love that the recipe comes together and cooks quickly! Plus, one batch makes twelve sliders and can easily be doubled to serve even more.

The only problem is that I never have any leftovers for myself! Try this recipe out for yourself, and it’s guaranteed to be a staple at all your cookouts.

What you’ll Need for Grilled Chicken Thigh Sliders

  • cilantro
  • fresh lime juice
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • salt
  • chicken thighs
  • tomatoes
  • avocado
  • white onion
  • slider buns, for serving
ingredients for chicken sliders

How to Make Grilled Chicken Sliders 

Prepare the chicken marinade by whisking the cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, and salt. Add black pepper to taste.

cilantro lime marinade for chicken

Add chicken thighs to the marinade and toss to coat all over. Cover the bowl and let it rest in the fridge. 

Grill the chicken on each side, transfer it to a plate, and loosely cover it with aluminum foil. 

grilled chicken thighs

Prepare the guacamole by adding all ingredients into a bowl and mash everything together until it’s chunky. 

prepared guacamole in a bowl

To assemble: place grilled chicken on the bottom bun, top with a good heaping of guacamole, and close with the top bun. Serve immediately. 

Tips to Keep Sliders from Getting Soggy

  • When you remove the chicken from the grill, allow them to rest on a plate for five minutes before putting them on the buns.
  • Grill the buns before placing the chicken on top. The grilling creates a protective layer so that the buns don’t get mushy. 
  • Be sure your guacamole isn’t liquidy but rather thick before putting it on top of the chicken. This will prevent the top bun from absorbing moisture. 
  • Add a layer of cheese between the chicken or guacamole and the bun.

Grilled Chicken Slider Variations

Try these other grilled chicken slider variations:

  • Teriyaki: Pour some teriyaki sauce over the chicken after grilling for that sweet and savory flavor.  
  • Cajun: Spicy cajun chicken rub is a delicious substitute for guacamole. 
  • Buffalo: Buffalo sauce is spicy, tangy, and perfect for these little chicken sliders. 
  • Barbecue: Add some barbecue sauce after grilling or in with the chicken in a pressure cooker or crockpot. 
  • Pesto: Slather some homemade basil pesto over the chicken and top with a freshly grilled bun. 
  • Hawaiian: Lay fresh pineapple slices on the chicken to make a Hawaiian version of this recipe.   

Can I Use Chicken Breasts? 

Yes, you can use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs in this recipe. To get the best result, slice the breast in half horizontally and pound it between two sheets of plastic wrap to make the chicken the same thickness all the way across.  

Other Ways to Cook the Chicken for Sliders

Besides grilling, you can also fry, saute, or bake the chicken thighs for these sandwiches.

Use an instant pot or slow cooker to make the chicken shreddable. Add some liquid or sauce to give the chicken flavor, and top it with guacamole or coleslaw on the slider buns. 

You can also make these sliders with ground chicken, rotisserie chicken, or pulled chicken and pile tender meat between two buns. 

Make a crispy sandwich by frying the chicken before adding bacon or ranch dressing to the top.  

Serving this Chicken Sliders Recipe

These chicken sliders are perfect as a main dish and go well with many different side dishes:

chicken slider recipe

How to Store Chicken Slider Leftovers

You can store assembled sliders in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day. However, for the best results, I recommend storing all the components separately to prevent the sliders from becoming soggy. The grilled chicken will keep fresh for up to 3 days, and the guacamole will keep for up to 1 day before it begins to brown.

You can also freeze the chicken for up to 6 months! Thaw it in the fridge overnight, and warm it in the microwave or in a skillet over medium heat on the stove. Or, simply eat it cold.

FAQs for this Grilled Chicken Sliders Recipe

Can I add cheese to grilled chicken sliders?  

You can add cheese to these sliders. Some great options are crumbled feta cheese, fresh mozzarella, or a slice of cheddar cheese. 

What kinds of buns can I use for this slider recipe?  

You can make your own buns, use sweet Hawaiian rolls, or some soft slider buns from the grocery store. Any of these would work perfectly.    

Do I need to marinate the chicken for this recipe?   

This recipe calls for the chicken to be marinated before cooking it, and this is so that all those good flavors soak into the chicken. Marinate for at least 15 minutes but no more than 30 minutes.

grilled cilantro lime chicken sliders

You May Also Like…

Barbecue Sliders

Grilled Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

Grilled Salmon Burgers

Jalapeño Turkey Burgers

If you try our grilled chicken sliders, please leave a star rating and a comment letting us know how you liked the recipe.

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grilled chicken sliders

Grilled Chicken Sliders Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 20 min
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x
  • Category: Main
  • Method: Grilled
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

These grilled chicken sliders are made with chicken thighs that are quickly marinated in cilantro, lime, and garlic. Then grilled until juicy tender and served topped with delicious guacamole. 

Ingredients

Units Scale

Chicken

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 6 chicken thighs, skinless, boneless, sliced in half, about 2 lbs. total
  • Black pepper, to taste

Guacamole

  • 2 plum tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 large ripe avocados
  • 1 Tbsp. finely chopped white onion
  • 2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2–3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Kosher salt, to taste

To Serve

  • 12 slider buns

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken marinade by whisking together cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, and salt. Add black pepper to taste.
  2. Add chicken thighs to the marinade and toss to coat all over. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator for no more than 30 minutes.
  3. While the chicken is marinating, prepare the guacamole by adding all of the ingredients into a bowl and   with a fork, mash everything together until chunky consistency. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  4. Preheat the grill on medium-high and grill the chicken for about 3 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and loosely cover with aluminum foil until ready to serve.
  5. To assemble: place grilled chicken on the bottom bun, top with a good heaping of guacamole, and close with top bun. Serve immediately. Makes 12 sliders.

Notes

  • Leftovers: Store grilled chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Leftover guacamole can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for no more than 1 day before it begins to brown.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slider
  • Calories: 298
  • Sugar: 4.1 g
  • Sodium: 550 mg
  • Fat: 13 g
  • Carbohydrates: 25.9 g
  • Protein: 19.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 70 mg

Recipe originally published June 2015.