BBQ Chicken Sliders Recipe (Made In Just 5 Easy Steps)

These BBQ Chicken Sliders are my favorite appetizer to serve before a casual family dinner or as a game day snack. Juicy, shredded BBQ chicken topped with tangy coleslaw, all packed into soft dinner rolls, you just can't beat my chicken slider recipe! Plus, it's incredibly easy to make. With just a few steps, you can have a platter of BBQ sliders that everyone will love!

Easy Chicken Sliders Recipe

These pulled chicken sliders with BBQ sauce have always been a go-to in the Cunningham household, especially when we’re hosting a gathering with friends or family. I orginally made these sliders when we had people over for the first football Sunday of the year, and they were an instant hit.

I mean, the combination of sweet and smoky BBQ chicken with the crunch of tangy coleslaw all piled on soft rolls is just unmatched. I'll go as far as saying my homemade chicken sliders are better than anything you'd get at a restaurant, and everyone who's tried them would agree.

Anyway, what I love most about this recipe is the versatility. You can easily adjust the flavors to suit your taste preferences, whether you like your BBQ sauce sweeter, spicier, or with a bit more tang. And let’s be honest, sliders are just fun to eat! They’re the perfect bite size meal for both kids and adults, and trust me when I tell you as soon as you put the plate of sliders out, they'll be gone in seconds! 

Ingredients

Something else I love about this BBQ chicken sliders recipe is that it's made with a handful of flavorful ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need for the chicken:

• 1 ½ lbs chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoon brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoon neutral oil
• 6 dinner rolls

For the sauce:

• ½ cup BBQ sauce
• 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 3 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

And for the homemade coleslaw:

• 2 cups coleslaw mix
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoon white vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon salt

How to Make BBQ Chicken Sliders

Five simple steps are all you have to follow to make these shredded chicken sliders, and the entire recipe takes well under an hour. So let's not waste another second and get right to it! 

Step One: Season and Sear the Chicken

First before you get rolling, preheat your oven to 350°F.

Start by creating a dry rub by mixing brown sugar, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Coat the chicken breasts evenly with the seasoning and make sure it's really covered on all sides.

Next, heat oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat, and sear the chicken on both sides until golden brown. They don’t need to be fully cooked at this stage since they will finish cooking in the oven later on. You just want to get a little crispy crust.

Step Two: Bake the Chicken

Then transfer the seared chicken breasts to a baking dish. In a bowl, mix together the BBQ sauce, mustard, apple cider vinegar, water, and Worcestershire sauce.

Pour the sauce over the chicken, then cover the dish with a lid or aluminum foil, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and fall apart tender.

Step Three: Prepare the Coleslaw

While the chicken is baking, prepare the coleslaw. In a large bowl, combine the coleslaw mix, mayonnaise, sugar, white vinegar, and salt. Toss well until the coleslaw is evenly coated in the dressing. Then set it aside to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step Four: Shred the Chicken

Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes. Using two forks, shred the chicken in the baking dish, mixing it in all of the BBQ sauce until all the shredded chicken is well coated.

Step Five: Assemble the Sliders

Now that everything is ready, slice the dinner rolls open and fill each one with a generous portion of the shredded BBQ chicken. Top with a spoonful of coleslaw, place the top of the bun on, and serve immediately. Enjoy these flavorful pulled chicken sliders while they’re still warm and fresh!

Expert Tips

How to Store Leftover Chicken Sliders

If you have any leftovers, store the chicken and coleslaw separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You'll want to store them without the rolls, since the rolls will get soggy in the fridge.

Then to reheat the chicken, put it on the stovetop over medium heat for a few minutes or zap it in the microwave. Once it's hot, you can assemble the sliders. For what it's worth, I think the chicken tastes delicious cold.

FAQs About This BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders Recipe

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Yes, chicken thighs work well in this recipe and can add even more flavor due to their higher fat content. Just follow the same cooking instructions.

What other toppings can I add to these sliders?

You can customize these sliders by adding sliced pickles, red onions, shredded lettuce. Another delicious option is to add a slice of cheese to make cheesy BBQ chicken siders for an extra layer of flavor.

More Chicken Recipes To Make

If you’re looking for more tasty and easy chicken dinner recipes, I've got you covered.

Give one of these a shot next:

• Chicken Philly cheesesteak
• Mississippi chicken
• Mexican street corn pasta
• Breaded chicken wings
• Pan fried chicken wings
• One pan chicken and rice