This article presents an adaptive sliding mode control (SMC) scheme for the stabilization problem of uncertain time-delay chaotic systems with input dead-zone nonlinearity. The algorithm is based on SMC, adaptive control, and linear matrix inequality technique. Using Lyapunov stability theorem, the proposed control scheme guarantees the stability of overall closed-loop uncertain time-delay chaotic system with input dead-zone nonlinearity. It is shown that the state trajectories converge to zero asymptotically in the presence of input dead-zone nonlinearity, time-delays, nonlinear real-valued functions, parameter uncertainties, and external disturbances simultaneously. The selection of sliding surface and the design of control law are two important issues, which have been addressed. Moreover, the knowledge of upper bound of uncertainties is not required. The reaching phase and chattering phenomenon are eliminated. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed scheme.