BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders (Print View)
Tender BBQ chicken on sweet Hawaiian rolls, ideal for parties and quick dinners.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
→ Sauce & Seasonings
02 - 1 cup BBQ sauce, plus more for serving
03 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
04 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
09 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
→ Slider Assembly
10 - 12 soft Hawaiian rolls, split
11 - 2 tbsp melted butter, for toasting rolls
12 - 1 cup coleslaw, store-bought or homemade
# Step-by-Step Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F for optional roll toasting.
02 - Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté 3-4 minutes until translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add chicken to skillet with broth, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour BBQ sauce over top, stirring to coat evenly.
04 - Cover and simmer on low heat 25-30 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F and shreds easily. Alternatively, cook in slow cooker on LOW for 3-4 hours.
05 - Transfer chicken to cutting board and shred using two forks. Return shredded chicken to skillet and stir thoroughly to coat with sauce.
06 - Arrange Hawaiian rolls on baking sheet. Brush with melted butter and toast in oven 4-5 minutes until lightly golden.
07 - Spoon BBQ chicken onto bottom half of each roll. Top with coleslaw if desired and cover with top bun.
08 - Serve warm with additional BBQ sauce on the side for dipping.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- These sliders strike that perfect balance between sweet and smoky that makes people instinctively reach for seconds
- The Hawaiian rolls get slightly soft from the BBQ sauce while still holding everything together beautifully
02 -
- Using chicken thighs instead of breasts will give you more flavorful and moister meat that stands up well to reheating
- Letting the chicken rest in the sauce for even 10 minutes after shredding helps it absorb more flavor
03 -
- A store-bought rotisserie chicken shreds in minutes and works beautifully when you are really pressed for time
- The butter-toasted buns make a huge difference so skip this step only if you absolutely must