Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

If there's one way to instantly elevate a game day spread or potluck table, it's by adding some sort of slider to the mix. Sliders really are the ultimate party food, offering handheld convenience and a savory quality that complements any other apps or sides in play. If there's one downside to sliders, it's that they can sometimes be more labor-intensive to make than your average sandwich since you're making so many at once (and it would be silly to make one slider at a time). That's precisely why it's a good idea to have go-to shortcuts when making sliders, and with this shortcut chicken Parm sliders recipe, you can whip up a batch of the beloved handhelds without (quite as much) hassle.

The key to making these "shortcut" chicken Parm sliders is the fact that they rely on frozen, breaded chicken strips — meaning you don't need to go through the tedious process of coating and frying 12 chicken tenderloins. Those crispy breaded chicken strips are then topped with mozzarella and Parmesan, along with your favorite marinara sauce, and everything fits snugly onto soft, slightly sweet slider buns. These sliders come together with minimal effort, but they still end up being savory, delicious, and perfectly suited for a good game day gathering.

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Julianne De Witt/Daily Meal

Although this recipe offers a welcome level of convenience thanks to its use of breaded chicken strips, it still requires the use of an oven. If you'd prefer to forgo the oven entirely and make the recipe even simpler, then using an air fryer is your best bet. To start, you'll need to heat up those frozen chicken strips, so follow the package's instructions for air fryer cooking. 

Next, you'll need to prepare the slider bases themselves, which can also be cooked in the air fryer. At this point, you may need to get creative since a baking sheet won't fit into the air fryer. But you can still prepare the chicken bases the same way, topping them with marinara sauce and the cheeses, and then carefully transfer to the air fryer and cook at 325 F for about 3 to 5 minutes. Since the chicken is already fully cooked and heated through, you're just looking for adequate cheese meltage at this point. Keep in mind that you may have to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. This method is particularly ideal for making a smaller batch of these sliders.

There are plenty of ways to change up these chicken Parmesan sliders depending on your preferences and what you have on hand. To start, you could of course make your own breaded chicken tenders to use on the sliders, or you can use just about any type of chicken that you'd like. You can even skip the fried tenders and opt for grilled chicken, or use up any leftovers you may have.

Another easy way to switch things up is by using a different type of cheese. Parmesan is pretty essential here (it is in the name, after all), and I paired the Parm with mozzarella to keep things melty and classic. That said, provolone would work well in place of the mozzarella. You could also upgrade the other topping that goes onto the sliders, the marinara sauce, by way of heat. Opt for a spicy marinara or stir dried chiles into the mix for an added kick. Alternatively, top the sliders with jalapeño slices for even more of a spicy enhancement. Other potential topping ideas include fresh basil, roasted red peppers, or even caramelized onions for a rich decadent twist.