Butter Paneer Sliders with Garlic Naan Topping: The Ultimate InVegetarian Snack

These Butter Paneer Sliders are the ultimate Indian Fusion vegetarian crowd-pleaser, perfect for Diwali or any festive gathering. Picture this: savory slider buns layered with coriander chutney, crunchy slaw, and a deliciously spiced butter paneer filling. The butter paneer mixture strikes the perfect balance—it’s not too thick or too liquid, making it an ideal filling that brings all those classic butter paneer flavors in every bite. To add a touch of indulgence, these sliders are loaded with pepper jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, and thinly sliced raw onions for that extra crunch.

But the real showstopper is the topping—each slider is brushed with a buttery, chili-garlic mixture infused with minced garlic, green chilies, and kalonji, reminiscent of a garlicky naan. As they bake, the buns soak up the buttery goodness, creating a golden, aromatic crust that’ll transport you straight to your favorite Indian restaurant. These Butter Paneer Sliders are not just delicious; they’re also the perfect party appetizer or main dish, sure to impress your guests with their fusion flavors. Whether you’re hosting a Diwali celebration, a festive dinner, or any get-together, these sliders are easy to make, packed with flavor, and guaranteed to be a hit!

Happy Cooking!

Servings: 12 sliders

Prep Time: 15-20 mins

Cooking Time: 1-1.5 hours

Rest Time: 30-40 mins

Total Time: 2-3 hours

Ingredients: 

Butter Paneer:

• 250-300g paneer cut into cubes

• 1.5 tsp coriander seeds

• 1 tsp cumin seeds

• 1 bay leaf

• 1-2 red chilis

• 1 cardamom

• 1 medium red onion cut into cubes, about 2/3 cups

• 3-4 cloves of garlic chopped

• 1 tbsp ginger paste

• 1 green chili sliced

• 1 tomatoes cut into cubes

• 2 tbsp tomato paste 

• 1-1.5 tsp Kashmiri Red chili powder

• 1 tsp Deggi Mirch

• 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

• 1 tsp Cumin powder

• 1/2 tsp Coriander powder

• 1/4 tsp Ajwain powder

• 1/4 tsp Garam masala

• 1-1.5 tsp Salt as per taste

• 1/4 tsp Pepper 

• 1/2-1 tsp Sugar as per taste

• 6-8 cashews

• 1/3-1/2 cup water

• 2-4 tbsp heavy cream

• 1/2 tbsp Kasuri methi crushed

• 1-2 tbsp Butter to cook

Assembly:

• 12 Savory butter slider buns

• 3/4 cup shredded slaw (cabbage with carrots) mix 

• 4-5 pepperjack cheese slices

• 4-5 slices of mozzarella cheese

• 1/2 medium red Onions thinly sliced into rounds and cut into halves

• 1/3-1/2 cup coriander chutney 

• 2-3 tbsp mayonnasie

Butter Mixture:

• 1/2 stick of salted butter

• 1-1.5 tsp Chaat masala 

• 1/2-3/4 tbsp kalonji (nigella seeds)

• 2-4 green chilis chopped finely

• 2 cloves of garlic minced

• 1 tsp brown sugar 

Directions: 

1. Butter Paneer: Put a pan on low-medium heat and add butter.

2. Once melted, add cumin seeds, coriander seeds, bay leaf, dried red chilis, and cardamom. Cook for 1-2 minutes till fragrant.

3. Add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes till they become translucent.

4. Add ginger, garlic and green chilis and cook for 3-4 minutes till they are cooked well and fragrant.

5. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, and all the spice powders and seasonings- red chili powders, turmeric, coriander, cumin, ajwain, garam masala, salt, pepper, and sugar. Cook till the tomatoes are broken down and the tomato paste is cooked well, it should take about 6-8 minutes.

6. Once the tomatoes are cooked well, add the cashews and 1/3 cup water and mix well. Cook it for 2-3 minutes until it thickens. Add more water if needed to deglaze.

7. Let the mixture cool and then grind till smooth.

8. Once ground, put the gravy back into the pan on low heat. Add heavy cream, crushed kasuri methi, and mix. Let it simmer on low till it thickens. You don’t want a liquidy gravy.

9. Once it thickens, add the paneer cubes and mix. Let it cook for 3-4 minutes until the gravy thickens and coats the paneer well.

10. Let the Butter paneer cool before assembling.

11. Preheat the oven to 350F.

12. Assembly: Assemble the buns on a parchment-lined baking tray to make it easier.

    1. Slice slider buns horizontally in half.

    2. On the bottom half of the buns spread coriander chutney.

    3. Top it with shredded slaw mixture.

    4. Layer with the pepperjack cheese slices over.

    5. Then spread the cooled butter paneer over it.

    6. Top a layer of sliced onions over each slider.

    7. Top it with the mozzarella cheese slices.

    8. Spread mayo on the top part of the slider buns.

    9. Sandwich the slider buns close.

    10. Using a toothpick poke holes in the slider buns. be sure to get all the buns all over.

    11. Butter mixture- Melt butter and mix chaat masala, kajoni, chili powder, minced garlic, green chilis, and brown sugar.

    12. Pour the butter mixture over the buns and spread it all over.

13. Cover the buns with foil and bake for 30 mins at 350F. Uncover and broil on low for 1-2 minutes.

14. Let it rest for 3-5 mins once out of the oven.

15. Remove the foil, cut, and serve.

16. You can serve these with any condiments you like, but it’s not needed as these are saucy themselves.

Notes/Tips:

• Use savory slider buns. Sweet buns can make this recipe too sweet. I use Kings Hawaiian Savory slider buns

• Ideally, use two different kinds of cheeses. I like the combination of mozzarella cheese and pepper jack slices.

• Do NOT forget to poke the holes in the slider buns.

• Covering with foil is a must so the cheese melts well.

• For a coriander chutney recipe click here for the recipe.

• Don’t skip the kasundi, black salt, or kalonji while assembling. they are quintessential when cooking Bengali food like the mustard oil while making the chop mixture.