We Made Chicken Parm Sliders Over-The-Top With Gooey Mozzarella...

We Made Chicken Parm Sliders Over-The-Top With Gooey Mozzarella Sticks Inside

chicken sliders with cheese and tomato sauce

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Chicken Parmesan may not be a true Italian dish, but it's an extremely popular Italian-American dish. You know what makes it even better, though? Taking it over the top by combining it with two bar food classics: sliders and mozzarella sticks. Recipe developer Patterson Watkins tells us, "For a while there, in my early 20s college days, I sort of lived off chicken Parms and mozzarella sticks." While she has cut down her consumption to some extent in recent years, she still says it's a favorite combo of hers, and one which gave her the inspiration to combine the two in this over-the-top chicken Parmesan sliders recipe.

Full-size chicken Parmesan sandwiches are pretty hefty, so the addition of mozzarella sticks might make for something that Watkins says she "would've had to unhinge my jaw to successfully nosh." With smaller-sized buns, however, the sliders become much more manageable. As Watkins describes her recipe, "Chicken Parm and mozz sticks become one ooey-gooey, cheesy, crispy, melty, saucy mass of absolute yum." We can't guarantee that you won't still make a big old mess when you bite into one of these sliders, but we can (almost) guarantee that it will be well worth the sauciness.

Gather the ingredients for the over the top chicken Parmesan sliders

pizza sauce, chicken, mozzarella sticks, and other ingredients

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

To make the chicken Parmesan, you'll need boneless, skinless chicken breasts, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, Italian breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, flour, eggs, and olive oil. Other ingredients for the sliders include frozen mozzarella sticks, slider rolls, pizza sauce, provolone, basil, and butter.

For the mozzarella sticks, Patterson Watkins' brand of choice is TGI Fridays. The reason, she explains, is that these sticks are wide and flat, making the sandwich more stable. If you do find yourself using a rounder stick, she advises using two for better balance. Sure, that will make your sandwich even cheesier, but why would that be a problem?

Step 1: Cut up the chicken

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Slice the chicken breasts into quarters.

Step 2: Wrap the chicken

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Working in batches if necessary, sandwich the sliced chicken breast pieces between sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap.

Step 3: Flatten the chicken

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Pound the chicken pieces into thinner cutlets.

Step 4: Season the chicken

seasoned flattened chicken pieces on brown paper

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Thoroughly season the cutlets with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.

Step 5: Season the breadcrumbs

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Place the breadcrumbs in a shallow dish, add ¾ cup of Parmesan to the bowl, and stir to combine.

Step 6: Prepare the eggs and flour

eggs, flour, and breadcrumbs in white bowls

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Set up the breading station by placing flour in a shallow dish and the beaten eggs in another shallow dish.

Step 7: Turn on the oven

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Preheat the oven to 425 F.

Step 8: Flour the chicken

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Coat the seasoned cutlets in the flour, shaking off any excess.

Step 9: Dunk the chicken in egg

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Dip the floured cutlets in the egg, letting any excess egg drip off.

Step 10: Cover the chicken in crumbs

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Coat the cutlets in the breadcrumbs, gently pressing with your hands to adhere.

Step 11: Put the chicken in a pan

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Transfer the breaded cutlets to a wire rack-lined baking sheet.

Step 12: Cook the chicken

cooked breaded chicken on a wire rack in a pan

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Brush the breaded cutlets with olive oil and place in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes.

Step 13: Put the mozzarella sticks in a pan

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Place mozzarella sticks on a separate parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step 14: Turn up the oven

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

After the initial 10 minute chicken bake has finished, increase the oven temperature to 450 F. Keep the chicken in the oven.

Step 15: Cook the mozzarella sticks with the chicken

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Place the mozzarella sticks in the oven with the chicken and bake for another 10 minutes or until both items (chicken and mozzarella sticks) are golden brown and crisp. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Step 16: Put the buns in a pan

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Place the bottom buns on another baking sheet (lined with parchment).

Step 17: Add pizza sauce

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Dollop each bottom bun with approximately 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce.

Step 18: Put the chicken on the buns

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Top the buns with the cooked breaded cutlets.

Step 19: Add some provolone

slider buns with chicken and cheese in a pan

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Sprinkle the cutlets with grated provolone cheese.

Step 20: Put a mozzarella stick on each slider

slider buns with chicken and mozzarella sticks in a pan

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Top with the cooked mozzarella sticks (1 per slider).

Step 21: Spoon on some pizza sauce

slider buns with chicken and tomato sauce in a pan

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Top the mozzarella sticks with 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce.

Step 22: Garnish with basil

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Sprinkle with chopped basil.

Step 23: Put the tops on the buns

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Cap the sliders with the top buns and brush each with melted butter.

Step 24: Top the buns with parmesan

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Sprinkle the buttered top buns with the remaining grated Parmesan (2 tablespoons) and place in the oven.

Step 25: Bake the sliders before serving

Patterson Watkins/Mashed

Bake for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the buns are lightly toasted and the provolone cheese has melted. Remove the sliders from the oven and serve right away.

What to serve with over the top chicken Parmesan sliders

The only thing better than a chicken Parmesan slider? A chicken Parmesan slider with a melty, gooey mozzarella stick sandwiched in-between.

chicken sliders with cheese and tomato sauce

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 cups fine Italian breadcrumbs
¾ cup + 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 eggs, beaten
⅓ cup olive oil
12 frozen mozzarella sticks
12 slider rolls
1 (14-ounce) jar pizza sauce
1 cup grated provolone cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
4 tablespoons melted salted butter

Slice the chicken breasts into quarters.
Working in batches if necessary, sandwich the sliced chicken breast pieces between sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap.
Pound the chicken pieces into thinner cutlets.
Thoroughly season the cutlets with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
Place the breadcrumbs in a shallow dish, add ¾ cup of Parmesan to the bowl, and stir to combine.
Set up the breading station by placing flour in a shallow dish and the beaten eggs in another shallow dish.
Preheat the oven to 425 F.
Coat the seasoned cutlets in the flour, shaking off any excess.
Dip the floured cutlets in the egg, letting any excess egg drip off.
Coat the cutlets in the breadcrumbs, gently pressing with your hands to adhere.
Transfer the breaded cutlets to a wire rack-lined baking sheet.
Brush the breaded cutlets with olive oil and place in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes.
Place mozzarella sticks on a separate parchment-lined baking sheet.
After the initial 10 minute chicken bake has finished, increase the oven temperature to 450 F. Keep the chicken in the oven.
Place the mozzarella sticks in the oven with the chicken and bake for another 10 minutes or until both items (chicken and mozzarella sticks) are golden brown and crisp. Remove from the oven and set aside.
Place the bottom buns on another baking sheet (lined with parchment).
Dollop each bottom bun with approximately 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce.
Top the buns with the cooked breaded cutlets.
Sprinkle the cutlets with grated provolone cheese.
Top with the cooked mozzarella sticks (1 per slider).
Top the mozzarella sticks with 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce.
Sprinkle with chopped basil.
Cap the sliders with the top buns and brush each with melted butter.
Sprinkle the buttered top buns with the remaining grated Parmesan (2 tablespoons) and place in the oven.
Bake for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the buns are lightly toasted and the provolone cheese has melted. Remove the sliders from the oven and serve right away.