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Whether you are planning a party or just need a simple dinner idea, these BBQ Chicken Sliders are a must make! Flavorful BBQ shredded chicken, made tender and juicy in the slow cooker, topped crunchy coleslaw and stuffed into soft slider buns is a favorite among kids and adults alike.
After you make these, you’ve got to try my Pizza Sliders next!
About This Recipe
These BBQ Chicken Sliders are just what you need to round out your party menu.
BBQ chicken is perfect for sliders, but you can also use it to fill a baked potato, top a salad, stuff in a tortilla, or top your nachos or pizza. Makes good weekly meal prep, too.
Cooking bbq chicken in the slow cooker is easy and just requires 3 ingredients. You can make the coleslaw topping the night before for a softer bite, or just before serving to keep it really crunchy.
For the buns, I love using Hawaiian rolls because the sweetness pairs so well with the bbq flavors, but regular slider buns work too.
How To Make BBQ Chicken Sliders
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
Cook the chicken. Add chicken to your slow cooker, then pour in BBQ sauce and broth. Cover and cook for a few hours or until chicken is cooked to at least 165℉.
Make the coleslaw. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the coleslaw by mixing coleslaw mix (shredded carrots and cabbage) with mayo, vinegar, lemon juice, and sugar. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Shred chicken. Once the chicken is fully cooked, use 2 forks to shred it in the slow cooker.
Assemble sliders. Place chicken on the bottom bun and top with coleslaw. Replace the top of the bun and arrange on a platter.
Recipe FAQs
Chicken cooks quickly, and only takes 2-3 hours on high. Depending on the size, it could be done even faster. I always recommend cooking on high and watching the temperature. Once it hits 165℉, it’s good.
I always recommend to cook chicken on high in a slow cooker. To keep it tender and juicy, chicken should be cooked faster at a high temperature. If you want to cook on low, you won’t need more than 4 hours cooking time.
Technically, no, you don’t have to make the BBQ chicken with a crockpot. You could simply use the meat from a rotisserie chicken and heat it with BBQ sauce on the stovetop for about 20 minutes or in the crockpot on LOW for about an hour. However, you won’t get the same flavor as if you cooked the chicken with the sauce.
Serving Suggestions
I usually serve these buffet style, with the BBQ chicken in the crockpot, buns and coleslaw on the side. That way everyone can make their own sliders, customizing the amount of toppings. I also include pickles, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and crispy onion straws.
If you have a large spread, you may want to assemble the sandwiches yourself. If you are making them ahead of time, I recommend toasting the inside of the bun to keep them from getting soggy.
Variations
Spicy: Add a teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a few dashes of hot sauce to the crockpot, either before or after cooking.
Deluxe: Pile sliders high with lettuce, tomato, and some crispy fried onions on a super soft brioche roll.
Kid Friendly: Leave off the coleslaw and serve with a side of ranch dressing.
Storage and Reheating
Storage: Cool chicken completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Freezing: Cool chicken completely. Store in a plastic freezer bag or freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating: For a small individual portion, you can microwave to reheat. If making several portions, I recommend heating in a saucepan on the stove top. If frozen, thaw completely before reheating.
Expert Tips
- Use chicken breast. Thighs and dark meat tend to be greasier.
- For more flavor, add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce to the chicken prior to cooking.
- Split buns in half and toast with the insides facing up. This will keep them from soaking up too much sauce and becoming soggy.
- The coleslaw is optional. For a super simple appetizer, just serve the chicken with the buns and maybe some pickles on the side.
- Add a little brown sugar for sweetness or Liquid Smoke for a smoky touch.
More Slider Recipes to Try
- Turkey Sliders
- Hot Italian Sliders
- Reuben Sandwich Sliders
- Hot Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders
- Easy Roast Beef Sliders
- Pesto Chicken Sliders
Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
Coleslaw
- 16 ounce bag coleslaw mix
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 10 slider buns
Instructions
Chicken
- Place chicken, barbecue sauce, and chicken broth in your slow cooker. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours or until chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Shred chicken with 2 forks, into the slow cooker.
Coleslaw
- In a medium sized bowl whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon juice, and sugar until combined. Add coleslaw mix and stir until coleslaw is coated with sauce. I recommend making this at least 30 minutes in advance.
Sliders
- Optional: Warm slider buns in the oven or microwave.
- Top buns with shredded chicken and coleslaw. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
