Fluffy Hawaiian Chicken Salad Sliders

Here’s my take on Hawaiian chicken salad sliders – a fresh twist on the classic sandwich that combines sweet pineapple, tender chicken, and a creamy dressing, all tucked into soft Hawaiian rolls.

These sliders have become my go-to for summer picnics and casual get-togethers. I usually make a double batch because they disappear so quickly, and honestly, they taste even better the next day straight from the fridge. Perfect for an easy lunch, wouldn’t you agree?

What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?

For chicken salad, you’ve got quite a few options that’ll work great. Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store is a super convenient choice and adds nice flavor, or you can quickly poach some chicken breasts at home if you prefer. If you’re cooking the chicken yourself, boneless skinless chicken breasts are your best bet since they’re lean and easy to dice into even pieces. Just make sure whatever chicken you use has cooled completely before mixing it into your salad – warm chicken will make the mayonnaise too runny. For the best texture, try to dice your chicken into small, uniform pieces about 1/4-inch in size.

Options for Substitutions

This tropical chicken salad recipe is pretty flexible and you can make several swaps based on what you have in your kitchen:

• Cooked chicken: You can use leftover rotisserie chicken, canned chicken, or even turkey as a substitute. Just make sure it’s well-drained and diced into small, even pieces.
• Macadamia nuts: These can be pricey or hard to find – feel free to swap them with cashews, almonds, or even chopped water chestnuts for that nice crunch.
• Mayonnaise: Greek yogurt works great as a healthier option – use half mayo and half yogurt, or go all yogurt if you prefer. Just know the taste will be a bit tangier.
• Sriracha sauce: Any hot sauce will work here – try sambal oelek, sweet chili sauce, or even a dash of cayenne pepper. Skip it altogether if you’re not into heat.
• King’s Hawaiian rolls: While these sweet rolls make the sliders extra special, you can use any small dinner rolls or even regular sandwich bread cut into smaller portions.
• Crushed pineapple: If you only have pineapple chunks or rings, just chop them up finely. In a pinch, you could use mandarin oranges, but drain them very well first.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge when making chicken salad is using warm chicken, which causes the mayonnaise to break down and become oily – always let your cooked chicken cool completely before mixing. Another common mistake is not draining the pineapple thoroughly, as excess juice will make your filling too wet and cause your sliders to become soggy – press the crushed pineapple in a fine-mesh strainer to remove as much liquid as possible. For the best texture, avoid over-mixing the ingredients which can turn your chicken into mush – instead, fold everything together gently until just combined. To keep your sliders fresh, wait to assemble them until just before serving, and if you’re making them ahead, store the chicken salad mixture separately from the rolls in the refrigerator.

What to Serve With Hawaiian Chicken Salad Sliders?

These sweet and savory sliders pair really well with simple sides that balance out their tropical flavors. A crisp coleslaw made with fresh cabbage and carrots adds a nice crunch and works perfectly with the Hawaiian theme. Since these sliders are on the richer side, I like to serve them with fresh fruit like pineapple spears, mango slices, or a mixed tropical fruit salad. For something more substantial, a scoop of macaroni salad or a handful of kettle-cooked potato chips on the side gives you that classic sandwich-and-chips combo that everyone loves.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Once you’ve mixed up your Hawaiian chicken salad, pop it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend storing the chicken salad mixture separate from the rolls to keep everything fresh – nobody likes a soggy slider!

Make Ahead: This chicken salad is perfect for meal prep! You can mix everything except the macadamia nuts a day ahead. Just stir in the nuts right before serving to keep their nice crunch. The rolls should be kept in their original bag at room temperature until you’re ready to assemble.

Pack for Lunch: These sliders make great packed lunches! Keep the chicken salad in a separate container and pack the rolls separately. This way you can assemble your sliders fresh when you’re ready to eat – they’ll taste just as good as when you first made them!

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	0-5 minutes
Total Time	45-60 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1500-1700
• Protein: 50-60 g
• Fat: 90-100 g
• Carbohydrates: 150-160 g

Ingredients

• 1 cup diced cooked chicken
• 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained
• 1/3 cup diced celery
• 1/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 8 original sweet dinner rolls from king’s hawaiian

Step 1: Prepare the Hawaiian Chicken Salad Mixture

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the following ingredients: 1 cup of chopped cooked chicken, 1/2 cup of drained crushed pineapple, 1/3 cup of chopped celery, 1/4 cup of chopped macadamia nuts, 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley, 2 teaspoons of Sriracha hot sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper.

Mix well to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Step 2: Chill the Mixture

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the chicken salad mixture for at least 30 minutes.

This chilling time helps enhance the flavor by allowing the ingredients to blend well.

Step 3: Prepare the Rolls

While the chicken salad is chilling, take KING’S HAWAIIAN Savory Butter Rolls and slice them horizontally to separate the tops from the bottoms.

If desired, toast the insides of the rolls in a toaster or oven to add an extra layer of crunch and texture to your sliders.

Step 4: Assemble the Sliders

After the chicken salad has sufficiently chilled, remove it from the refrigerator.

Spoon a generous portion of the Hawaiian Chicken Salad onto the bottom piece of each roll.

Ensure the salad is evenly distributed to make each bite flavorful.

Step 5: Complete and Serve

Place the top half of the roll on each slider to complete the assembly.

Arrange your Hawaiian Chicken Salad Sliders on a serving platter.

Serve immediately and enjoy the delightful combination of flavors and textures.