BBQ Chicken Sliders

These BBQ Chicken Sliders aren’t your average slider sandwiches. Nope. They aren’t even your average BBQ chicken sandwich. They are the best little mini sandwiches you will ever sink your teeth into! 

 

Layered flavors create sophistication and intrigue in meals. One note tastes can be nice, like a buffalo chicken wing, but sometimes you want to really WOW your friends and family with something that they “just can’t put their finger on”.

Well, here you go. BBQ Chicken Sliders are that delish. Simple enough that even the picky eaters will take one, but complex enough that your foodie friends will beg you for the recipe and rave over your kitchen prowellness. 

And let’s face it, you can’t go wrong with sliders, especially when they are on light, fluffy King’s Hawaiian Rolls. A touch of sweet and so much yum, I eat them alone sometimes. I even put together a whole roundup of nothing but sliders made with hawaiian rolls! 

Why You’ll Love This BBQ Chicken Sliders Recipe

I’m always a sucker for a fun slider recipe, but here are a few reasons ours are different.

• Five layers of deliciousness – With five different layers, it’s hard for these sliders to not be bursting with flavor.
• Great for parties – When you want something a little more substantial than a dip, these sliders are great for filling the bellies of your guests.
• Throw together in 15 minutes – A party appetizer that can be thrown together that quickly is always a win in my book.
• No bake – When it’s the peak of summer and too hot to turn on the oven, these no bake sliders are perfect.

Ingredients

These bbq chicken sliders has a list of simple ingredients- some of which you might already have on hand.

• Hawaiian slider rolls – You can certainly use plain slider buns if you’d like to, but King’s Hawaiian Rolls are always my favorite. Sweet hawaiian rolls also add an element of sweet.
• Garlic aioli – Some folks just use mayonnaise, which I like to make from scratch or not use any mayo at all. I like to think sauces, even a basic BBQ or amped up ketchup, really takes food to the next level.
• BBQ chicken – I made this BBQ chicken in the crockpot, but you can also make it in the Instant Pot (learn how here) or buy it premade. The different between my homemade BBQ Chicken and store bought is that it isn’t already covered in BBQ sauce. 
• Oil and vinegar coleslaw – It’s flavorful and adds some zing with red wine vinegar, but also has a sweet afternote. It isn’t overwhelming like some creamy coleslaws can get and this also prevents the beautiful rainbow of colors from being whited out. 
• Butter – I like to use a good quality butter here. When melted and mixed with seasonings, it makes the perfect mixture to brush on the tops of the rolls.
• Dijon mustard – I love that dijon has a little bite to it, and when mixed with the melted butter makes the perfect glaze for the top buns.
• White pepper – As opposed to black pepper, white pepper has a milder flavor, but still enough spice to make things delicious.
• Dried parsley – Parsley adds both color and a little flavor to these sliders.

Variations

There are plenty of ways for you to make these pulled bbq chicken sliders your own. Here are a few ideas.

• Pulled pork sliders – Instead of using chicken, feel free to use pork. You can even use my super easy Instant Pot Pulled Pork or Honey Balsamic Pulled Pork recipes! 
• Cheese – Want to add cheese? Be my guest. I would think a nice cheddar or mozzarella cheese would pair nicely, but use whatever you’d like! 
• Toppings – The toppings for these sliders are endless. Pickles would be a great addition. Also add pickled red onion or raw red onion for another punch! 

How to Make BBQ Chicken Sliders

Because this is a no bake slider recipe, you can have them ready in only 15 minutes!

1. Prepare rolls. Using a serrated knife, cut Hawaiian rolls in half. Toast lightly under low broil.
2. Top with aioli. Slather garlic aioli on the bottom rolls in a thin layer.
3. Make bbq chicken. Stir shredded chicken with BBQ sauce. Add to rolls.
4. Add coleslaw. Top with oil and vinegar coleslaw.
5. Add top buns. Put the tops of the Hawaiian rolls back on.
6. Make butter mixture. Whisk together melted butter, Dijon mustard, white pepper and dried parsley flakes.
7. Baste sandwiches with butter mixture. Baste butter over the tops of your sandwiches.
8. Slice and serve. Cut into individual sandwiches and serve.

Barbecue Chicken

There are several ways you can make the bbq chicken for these sliders. The easiest way would be to use a rotisserie chicken. Then all you have to do is shred the chicken with forks, drizzle on some bbq sauce and toss.

You can also make your own in the slow cooker. I like to use breast meat from boneless skinless chicken breasts; but you can also use chicken thighs if you prefer.

Favorite BBQ Sauce Recipes

Not all bbq sauces are created equal! If you know me, you know how much I love a good homemade sauce.

Homemade BBQ sauce is another trick to make your BBQ Chicken Sliders really stand out. My basic BBQ Chicken Recipe uses some seasoning and liquid to help keep the chicken moist and fork-tender, but not so much that it can’t pair with any BBQ sauce, sweet or spicy, you want to smear on it. 

I would hesitate to use any barbecue sauce with a brown sugar base, they might be too sweet. Instead use something with a subtle heat. 

• Homemade BBQ Sauce
• Cola BBQ Sauce
• Chipotle Honey BBQ Sauce
• Cran Blueberry BBQ Sauce

For parties, I keep my BBQ Chicken Sliders bare from sauce and serve BBQ sauce on the side. 

What to Serve with Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders

You can serve these sliders with just about anything you’d like! If serving as a main dish, I like to serve mine with some sort of potatoes like fries or potato salad.

If serving as an appetizer, these sliders are great to serve alongside different types of slider sandwiches. You can also serve with other finger foods like pinwheels, chex mix or pretzels.

Storage and Freezing

How to Store Leftover BBQ Chicken Sliders

You can make all of the elements ahead of time, but I would wait to assemble them until you are ready to serve so the bread doesn’t get mushy. I wouldn’t leave them out for more than 2 hours. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Can I Freeze BBQ Chicken Sliders?

Not assembled, but you can freeze the BBQ Chicken and bread separately. Mayo-based items and cabbage don’t freeze well, so the aioli and slaw will need to be made fresh. 

Frequently Asked Questions

More Easy Party Appetizers

I could make an entire meal out of appetizer recipes! They’re so versatile and fun. Here are some of our favorites.