Chili Lime Chicken Sliders with Grilled Granny Smith Apples

Yield: About 14 sliders

Skill level: Moderate

These grilled chicken apple sliders are a creative and flavorful twist on a classic sandwich. Juicy marinated chicken is paired with smoky bacon and grilled apples, then layered between roasted sweet potato slices for a wholesome, bun-free option. Packed with protein and balanced with sweet and savory flavors, this recipe is perfect for a satisfying dinner or a fun, elevated take on sliders.

Ingredients

For The Marinade

• ½ cup garlic-infused olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh-squeezed lime juice
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tablespoon ginger, chopped
• ½ teaspoon red chili flakes

For The Sliders

• 3 Large sweet potatoes, 28 slices cut at ¼” each
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into slider-size cubes
• 14 slices of bacon
• 2 Large Granny Smith Apples, cored, cut into 14 thinly cut slices
• Olive oil, sea salt & pepper for potato slices

Directions

1. Mix marinade ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Place chicken cubes into a bowl and mix so they are well-coated
3. Transfer the chicken and all marinade liquid to a covered container, or cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 3 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 400ᵒF.
5. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper
6. Cut sweet potatoes into ¼” thick slices; you’ll need 28 of them.
7. Toss in a bowl with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. (Make sure both sides of each potato slice are coated well with oil and seasoning).
8. Lay potato buns in a single layer on a baking sheet.
9. Bake for 10 minutes on each side.
10. Once done baking, set aside.
11. Cook bacon to your desired level of crispiness.
12. Reserve a small section of your grill to keep clean and chicken-free (this is for the apples later).
13. On medium-high heat, grill your chicken for 5-6 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
14. Once you flip your chicken halfway through cooking, place oiled and buttered apples on the grill.
15. Remove chicken and apples from the grill once they are done

Assembly 

1. Lay out 14 sweet potato slices on a flat surface
2. Top each sweet potato slice with 1 piece of grilled chicken
3. Top each piece of grilled chicken with 1 piece of bacon, snapped in half to fit comfortably on the slider
4. Place 1 grilled apple slice on top of bacon
5. Top the whole thing with a second sweet potato bun. Serve immediately

**Chef’s Note: Sweet potatoes come in all different shapes and sizes. It is important to cut your sweet potato buns before you cut your chicken, so you can gauge how large your chicken pieces should be. This will determine how many sliders your recipe yields.