Grilled Chicken Sliders with a Classic Marinade

It is so gorgeous out today I can't stand it! Today, we have softball on the agenda and a family Sunday dinner later tonight. I absolutely love playing on days like today. Upper 70's with a cool breeze...it really doesn't get much better than that.

Not only is it the perfect day to get outside and play, but also to get outside and GRILL! I have a fun and versatile recipe to share with you today. Fire up the grill and invite some friends over! Don't forget to stock up on some refreshing summer beer's before the pumpkin flavors knock them off the shelf!  

Grilled Chicken Sliders

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4 boneless, skinless chicken breast 

potato slider buns

olive oil

garlic powder

onion powder

Italian seasoning

red pepper flakes

1 lemon

salt

pepper

Toppings

-lettuce

-tomato

-pickles

-bacon

-jalapeno

-cheeses

-mayo

-mustard

-ketchup

First, we are going to marinate the chicken breast. Now, the key here is to use the amount you prefer. Some people like it spicier, or with more garlic, so do it as you prefer. Personally, I sprinkle in about a 1/2 t. of each ingredient. But really, use more if you like more, or less if you prefer less! It is very forgiving! This is a classic marinade I use whenever I make chicken. It is perfect as is, on buns, in wraps, on salads or however you like to eat chicken! If I am making bbq chicken I would start with this and add my favorite bbq sauce, or teriyaki or hot sauce. For this recipe add about a 1/4 c. of olive oil to coat the chicken. Add more if you have large chicken breast or less if they are smaller. Next, add the garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and a big squeeze of your lemon. I usually use about half. 

Mix the chicken around to coat each piece with the marinade. Your hands usually work best for this! Once all of the chicken is coated, thoroughly wash your hands and cover the chicken with plastic wrap. If you plan to use this soon, let it marinate for at least 30 minutes. If you have more time, let it marinate for a few hours or over night.

When you are ready to grill the chicken let it sit on the counter for about 10 minutes before grilling. We want to take the chill off before throwing it on the fire. While the chicken is resting, fire up the grill! Grill your chicken for about 8 minutes for the first side and 6-7 on the second. Times could vary based on the thickness of your chicken, just make sure the center is no longer pink. After the chicken has grilled, let it rest again for 5 or so minutes. This will keep them nice and juicy!

For the sliders prepare all of your toppings you would like. I chose lettuce, tomato, Colby cheese, mozzarella cheese, bleu cheese, jalapenos and of course, bacon! To cook the bacon I placed 8 slices on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil and set it in a cold oven. Turn the oven to 400 degrees and cook for 10-12 minutes flipping halfway through.

Slice the chicken in half and serve with your toppings and buns. Have fun creating your perfect slider! They are small after all, so have a few of them!

Enjoy your Sunday and get outside and get grillin' while we still can! 

Later, friends!