These BBQ Chicken Sliders are simple and easy to make, loaded with flavor, and the perfect quick dinner or game day recipe. Made with pulled chicken and your favorite barbecue sauce.
If you're craving more savory and delicious barbecue recipes, then be sure to try making a batch of Barbecue Cornbread Muffins or a BBQ French Bread Pizza.
There is nothing like a quick and easy recipe. Wouldn't you agree? And bonus points if it only requires a few basic ingredients and only 30 minutes to make. That is exactly what you get with this BBQ chicken slider recipe.
It contains shredded chicken, your favorite barbecue sauce, quickly sauteed red onions and a layer of smoked gouda cheese. It is saucy, cheesy, and amazingly packed with flavor. Plus it's also a perfect game day recipe! Be sure to save this recipe and give it a try soon, I promise you won't regret it.
Let's get started!
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Ingredients You'll Need
- Slider Buns - Use a 12-pack of slider rolls to make this recipe. I chose to use the savory rolls, but if you prefer to use the sweet version, then they will work as well.
- Chicken - For this recipe, you will need a pound of cooked and shredded chicken. A rotisserie chicken or any premade shredded chicken will work as well.
- BBQ Sauce - Use any that you prefer, but try to select an original flavored barbecue sauce.
- Red Onion - Adds additional flavor and pairs well with the flavor of barbecue sauce. Try using some Quick Pickled Red Onions instead.
- Cheese - For this recipe, I decided to go with some thinly sliced smoked gouda, for more of that smokey flavor, but you may use any that you prefer. Try using white cheddar or Monterey jack.
- Butter - This will help to make the sauce that will top the sliders and will bake into the bread for a nice buttery bite.
- Parsley - Use the fresh parsley that can be located in the produce section of the grocery store. Adds a bit of freshness to the sauce that will be drizzled on top of the sliders.
- Salt & Ground Black Pepper - Brings out the flavors of the recipe and adds some seasoning. If you need more, then feel free to add more.
See the recipe card for exact ingredient quantities.
Step By Step Instructions
Before beginning the recipe, cook the chicken and shred it to your desired texture. Next, thinly slice the red onion and sauté it using a small non-stick skillet until the onions are soft and translucent. The goal is to cook the onion until it no longer has the raw, hard texture. Once these steps are complete, set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the shredded chicken and barbecue sauce until the chicken is fully coated in the sauce.
Top a sheet pan with the bottom half of the slider buns. You can separate the slider buns or leave them connected together, either way, is fine. Spread the BBQ chicken evenly over each slider bun.
Drizzle some barbecue sauce over each bun. The sauce really gives this recipe all of the flavor, so don’t be afraid to use more if desired. The messier the better, it is BBQ after all. Evenly layer the red onion slices on top of the drizzled sauce.
Top the red onion with an even layer of smoked gouda.
Add the top of the slider buns, cover the sheet pan with aluminum foil, and bake in the oven at 350 degrees F. for 15 minutes. While the chicken BBQ sliders are cooking in the oven, whisk together the butter, salt, ground black pepper, and parsley.
Remove the sliders from the oven, remove the foil, and brush the top of each slider with the butter mixture. Place the sliders back into the oven to bake uncovered for 5 additional minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and serve warm. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- May substitute shredded rotisserie chicken instead for a quicker option.
- An easy way to shred the chicken is to add it to a stand mixer with the paddle attachment while still warm. Turn the mixer on level 2 and allow the mixer to do all of the work.
- May substitute a different cheese for the smoked gouda. Try Monterey or cheddar!
- If you prefer raw onions, skip the cooking step and add uncooked thinly sliced onion to the sliders instead.
- Serve the sliders with a side of additional barbecue sauce for dipping.
Variations
- Spicy: Make these sliders spicy by adding some pickled jalapenos or banana peppers to the layers on top of the red onion.
- Bacon: Add some bacon for some additional salty and smokey flavor.
- Cheese: Swap the gouda cheese for cheddar or Monterey, use shredded or sliced.
- Coleslaw: For some additional flavor and crunch, add some already made coleslaw to the layers after baking.
Storage Tips
If you have any leftovers, then be sure to store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to serve them again, reheat in the microwave or oven by wrapping them in aluminum foil and baking at 350 degrees F. for 5 to 10 minutes, until heated thoroughly.
Freezer - The cooked and completely cooled rolls may also be stored in the freezer in a freezer-safe container or plastic freezer bag for up to 30 days. Before serving, brush the top with melted butter and place into the oven at 350 degrees F. for 15 to 20 minutes.
Make Ahead Option
These chicken sliders can be made a day in advance all the way up until spreading the sauce on top before baking. Assemble the sliders, cover, and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Then prepare the butter sauce, top, and bake per the recipe instructions.
More Recipes You'll Love
- Cheesy Supreme Pizza Rolls
- Barbecue Cornbread Muffins
- Roast Beef & Swiss Cheese Sandwiches
- Philly Cheese Chicken Sandwich
- Toasted Steak Sandwich
Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to use this BBQ Chicken Sliders Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!
📖 Recipe
BBQ Chicken Sliders
Equipment
- 1 sheetpan
Ingredients
- 12 slider buns
- 1 pound cooked chicken, shredded
- 1 ½ cup barbecue sauce, divided
- ½ cup cooked red onion, thinly sliced
- 7 ounces thinly sliced smoked gouda
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Before beginning the recipe, cook the 1 pound of chicken and shred it to your desired texture. Next, thinly slice the ½ cup red onion and sauté it using a small non-stick skillet until the onions are soft and translucent. The goal is to cook the onion until it no longer has the raw, hard texture. Once these steps are complete, set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the prepared shredded chicken and 1 cup barbecue sauce until the chicken is fully coated in the sauce.
- Top a sheet pan with the bottom half of the 12 slider buns. You can separate the slider buns or leave them connected together, either is fine. Spread the BBQ chicken evenly over each slider bun.
- Drizzle ½ cup barbecue sauce over each bun. The sauce really gives this recipe all of the flavor, so don’t be afraid to use more if desired. The messier the better, it is BBQ after all.
- Evenly layer the prepared red onion slices on top of the drizzled sauce.
- Top the red onion with an even layer of the 7 ounces of thinly sliced smoked gouda cheese.
- Add the top of the slider buns, cover the sheet pan with aluminum foil, and bake in the oven at 350 degrees F. for 15 minutes. While the chicken BBQ sliders are cooking in the oven, whisk together the 1 tablespoon butter, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, and 1 tablesoon parsley.
- Remove the sliders from the oven, remove the foil, and brush the top of each slider with the butter mixture. Place the sliders back into the oven to bake uncovered for 5 additional minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and serve warm. Enjoy!
Notes
- May substitute shredded rotisserie chicken instead for a quicker option.
- An easy way to shred the chicken is to add it to a stand mixer with the paddle attachment while still warm. Turn the mixer on level 2 and allow the mixer to do all of the work.
- May substitute a different cheese for the smoked gouda. Try Monterey or cheddar!
- If you prefer raw onions, skip the cooking step and add uncooked thinly sliced onion to the sliders instead.
- Serve the sliders with a side of additional barbecue sauce for dipping.
Nutrition
*All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands used, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
Original post date 08/28/2019. Updated 08/17/2022.
Moop Brown
These sliders look incredibly tasty and flavorful. Gouda is one of my favorite cheeses so I love that it is used here as well.
LaKita
Thank you Moop, it pairs so well with gouda 🙂
Amy
I gave these sliders a test run this weekend as I'll be making them for one of my personal chef clients. They were delicious! I especially loved the smokiness of the gouda cheese. I know my clients will love them!
LaKita
Thank you Amy, they pair really well with the smoked gouda cheese!
Colleen
I had leftover chicken, and these sliders were perfect for that. So easy and so yummy for a quick dinner with a salad.
LaKita
Thank you Colleen, these are a great way to use leftover chicken!!
Dennis
I made your sliders yesterday and they were gone in minutes! Everyone wanted me to make more. Thanks for a delicious and easy recipe!
LaKita
Thank you Chef Dennis, so happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
Chandice
These barbecue chicken sliders are so great for a party or just a fantastic Sunday dinner. Love health flavorful and easy they are!
LaKita
Thank you so much Chandice, I agree 🙂
Anna
We made these for our BBQ with friends yesterday and they were an instant hit!!! Quick and easy to prepare, but most of all they were finger licking good!!!
LaKita
Thank you Anna, they're so easy to prepare!
veenaazmanov
Perfect for my kids Birthday Party. Definitely a Happy Meal option. yummy
LaKita
Thank you so much, happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
Kate
These are incredible, super easy to make and really delicious. The red onions added a nice touch.
LaKita
Thank you Kate, the red onion really does add a nice touch!
Linda
This is the perfect recipe come football season! I always have hungry people over for our favorite team's games and this will be the perfect finger food. I tried them last night for dinner to get the OK from the man and he gave it a big thumbs up. 🙂
LaKita
Thank you Linda, I agree it's a great way to feed a football crowd!
Aline
Is a party even a party without sliders??? These look bomb!!
LaKita
Thank you! I don't think it is.
Kenya Rae
These look so good! The only thing that could make them better is if you came to my house and cooked them!
LaKita
Thank you! If I was in your area I certainly would.
Katrina Adams
Yes, I love sliders and KC Masterpiece sauce!!
LaKita
Thank you! They definitely go well together.
Jazz
Sliders are perfect for most any gathering--love these!
LaKita
Thank you! I agree!
Tamara J.
I love a good slider! That chicken looks like it pairs perfectly with the BBQ sauce. Awesome recipe to take to the upcoming Labor Day cookouts!
LaKita
Thank you! I agree!!
Saidah
These look so yum Lakita.
LaKita
Thank you Saidah!!
Amy
These are my husbands favorite football snack! So great for having company over too!
LaKita
Thank you Amy, such a great football snack to share with friends!
Marta
I can smell these now! They look so tasty and perfect for this coming weekend, Lakita!
LaKita
Thank you Marta! They are perfect for this weekend!