These sweet-and-tangy crockpot BBQ chicken sliders are easy to make and packed with bold flavor. Pile them onto soft Hawaiian rolls and watch them disappear.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights
These sliders are the perfect set-it-and-forget-it snack for game day.
- Flavor: Smoky and savory, these sliders have crispy bacon and rich barbecue flavor in every bite.
- Recommended tools: A 4-quart slow cooker does the heavy lifting in this recipe.
- Serving Suggestions: Keep the buns from getting soggy by serving the BBQ chicken straight from the crockpot and letting everyone build their own sliders.
Essential Ingredients
- Meat: Swap chicken breasts to boneless thighs if desired. Use bacon bits for a shortcut.
- BBQ Sauce: I use Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce because it stays thick. Or try a homemade honey garlic sauce.
- Rolls: Honey Hawaiian rolls are perfect for sliders. Soft rolls soak up the sauce quickly, so toast for a little extra structure. Homemade biscuits, dinner rolls, or even hearty Texas toast will also work.
- Variations: Add pickles or coleslaw on top for a satisfying crunch, or stir in shredded cheddar at the end for cheesy BBQ chicken sliders. You can also kick up the heat with chipotle BBQ sauce or a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Sliders
- Fry bacon and onions (full recipe below).
- Place chicken, barbecue sauce, bacon, onions, and water in a crockpot and cover.
- Cool on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Shred chicken and serve on slider rolls.
Holly’s Slider Success Secrets
- Shred smarter with a hand mixer for fast, even chicken.
- Prevent soggy buns by serving rolls on the side or toasting cut sides 2–3 minutes before filling.
- Keep sauce under control by starting with a thick BBQ sauce, and lift the lid for the last 20 minutes on high if it thins.
- Add extra flavor by stirring a tablespoon of bacon drippings back in with the onions.
- Batch cook by doubling the filling and freezing half flat for quick thawing.
Leftovers That Stay Tasty
- Store the BBQ chicken filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep buns separate.
- To reheat, warm on the stovetop with a splash of water, or heat in the slow cooker on low until hot. Microwaving works for single servings.
- Freeze filling for up to 4 weeks. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat slowly so the chicken stays tender.
- Use extra filling on baked potatoes, in wraps, on nachos, or in quesadillas.
BBQ Potluck Pairings
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Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sliders
Tender slow-cooker BBQ chicken mixed with crispy bacon and sweet sautéed onions, piled onto soft slider rolls for an easy party favorite.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon cut into ½" pieces
- 1 large onion thinly sliced
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts approx. 3 large breasts
- 1 ½ cups barbecue sauce
- ¼ cup water
- 12 slider rolls such as Hawaiian Rolls
Instructions
- In a large skillet, fry the bacon until crispy. Remove to a paper-towel lined plate, reserving 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the skillet.
- Add the sliced onions to the skillet and sauté over medium-low heat until they are soft and golden brown, stirring frequently. This will take about 15 minutes.
- In a 4-quart Crockpot combine chicken, barbecue sauce, cooked bacon, onions, and water. Stir.
- Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Remove chicken from the slow cooker and shred. Add back to the barbecue sauce and stir. Serve on rolls.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken has reached 165°F.
- This mixture for these sliders will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep separate from the bun.
- They will also keep in the freezer for 4 weeks.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Trans Fat: 0.004g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 512mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 92IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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