Some describe sliders as mini-burgers, and they seem like so, as they’re bread slices packed with fillings. However, they cover a wider range of flavors than burgers, like ham & cheese, cheeseburger, buffalo chicken, Cuban, pulled pork, Asian, and more! The versatility of sliders doesn’t just include flavors, though.
Sliders are also flexible in terms of purpose, as you can have them as entrees, snacks, or appetizers. If you have them as appetizers, they aren’t often served alone. They go well with many other starter treats, so read this article to explore delicious sides for sliders!
1. Cheesy Pizza Dip
Dips are a great partner for sliders as they add moisture, creaminess, or flavor. But it’s not just sliders you can dunk into them – you can also pair them with other appetizers, like chips or crackers. One highly recommended recipe is this doughless, cheesy pizza dip, which has a creamy, cheesy, and savory base. That cream cheese foundation is topped with pizza sauce and toppings for authentic looks and flavors.
2. Spinach Artichoke Dip
Are you leaning towards more sophisticated flavors? If you are, swap that pizza dip for this spinach artichoke dip. Like the former, it’s creamy and cheesy because there is mozzarella, parmesan, and cream cheese. However, you also get tanginess from the sour cream and mayo, and subtle nuttiness and sweetness from the artichokes and spinach, respectively. Besides those elements, you’ll also need garlic and pepper.
3. Easy Vegetable Dip
A platter of sliders, fresh veggies, and a vegetable dip is a delicious and healthy way to start a party. You might find these veggie slices and dip especially good with buffalo chicken sliders! The selection of vegetables is up to you, but some classic choices are celery, carrots, and tomatoes. As for the dip, you’ll only need a vegetable seasoning mix, mayo, sour cream, spinach, and pepper.
4. Chex Mix
A chex mix is a bowl that is usually filled with cereals, crackers, nuts, and pretzels and serves as a snack or starter treat. You can also add popcorn, Cheetos, and other fave snacks. Along with these sliders, you provide guests with a great range of textures, as the chex mix is full of crunch and crispiness. Moreover, you can pair this appetizer with many dips or hot sauce.
5. Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
Although some recipes combine chicken wings and sliders – like buffalo chicken sliders – some prefer having the two separately. If you’re one of those people, you’ll benefit from this crispy baked chicken wings recipe. They’re flavorful, juicy, and crispy, like any other wing, but much less oily as you’ll be baking them instead of frying them. Make this for game day!
6. Air Fryer Apple Chips
Potato chips and fries are a classic side to sliders, but if you want a healthier alternative, try these air fryer apple chips. Not only are apples less dense and have fewer calories, but air frying makes them less oily. Like traditional chips, they’re light and crispy but have a unique sweet apple taste. Each chip is dusted with cinnamon, ginger powder, and salt for more delicious flavors.
7. Crispy Onion Rings with Dipping Sauce
Onion rings are a classic appetizer and a favorite tandem with sliders. They’re the perfect balance of tender and crisp tenders, and the cheesy flavors are the bomb! You can serve them with a wide range of dips and sauces, like ketchup, mayo, sour cream, creamy horseradish, and more. Thus, you can choose a condiment that is excellent with both the onion rings and sliders!
8. Pigs in a Blanket
Pigs in a blanket is a starter dish that sounds fun, looks cute, and tastes great! People of all ages will surely love these pastry-wrapped hotdogs. Like sliders and onion rings, you can dunk them into dips like mustard, bbq sauce, or ketchup. This pigs in a blanket recipe needs only five ingredients: crescent rolls, hot dogs, an egg, water, and sesame seeds.
9. Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels
Pinwheels are rolled-up appetizers with a great range of flavors, just like sliders. This recipe, in particular, makes savory, sweet, and creamy turkey cranberry pinwheels, which you’ll find exceptional for Thanksgiving alongside turkey-filled sliders! But make no mistake – they are still delicious, even for any other occasion. Besides the turkey slices and dried cranberries, there are tortillas, cream cheese, chives, Havarti cheese, and romaine lettuce.
10. Crack Chicken Crescent Bites
Are you making sliders for game day? Here’s another appetizer you should prepare: crack chicken crescent bites. As the name promises, they’re addictingly delicious yet simple: crescent rolls filled with a mixture of chicken, bacon, cheddar, cheese, and ranch. If you think about it, it’s all your favorite American treats rolled one. When you have these with sliders and soda, what else could get better?
11. Jalapeño Popper Bites
Bring some heat to your sliders by pairing them with these jalapeno popper bites. Popper bites look like delicate tartlets because of their cute, bite-sized phyllo shells; however, the filling is anything but sweet. It’s a blend of creaminess, spiciness, savoriness, and tanginess because there’s cream cheese, mayo, jalapenos, garlic powder, salt, and bacon bits in one!
12. Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites
Bacon-wrapped treats are a classic and godsent appetizer or finger food. There are many types, like bacon-wrapped pineapples, asparagus, and more, but this recipe has chicken at its core. It’s even fondly called chicken candy! There are many layers of flavor, specifically salty, savory, spicy, and sweet. That’s because the chicken candies are rolled in a mixture of brown sugar, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.
13. Mini Goat Cheese Balls
Complement your sliders with a platter of these sophisticated, creamy mini goat cheese balls. They’re made from goat cheese, cream cheese, and Italian seasoning rolled into soft balls. Then, the cheese balls are rolled into either pistachios, dill, or cranberries for additional flavors or textures. A pretzel stick is pierced into each, so guests can easily pick up one and eat it without much of a mess!
