Easy BBQ chicken sliders made with chicken thighs and a simple homemade barbecue sauce. They are served with an easy coleslaw recipe for an ultimate crowd-pleasing summer meal!

bbq chicken sliders on a board.
Jump to:

You’ll Love these Pulled Chicken Sliders

These BBQ chicken sliders are my family’s favorite recipe for summer meals and game days! I’ve been making them for years, and they truly never get old. Plus, I love that I don’t have to stand over a hot grill.

Instead, I cook juicy chicken thighs on the stovetop and whip up a quick homemade BBQ sauce. Then, I serve the meat on sweet Hawaiian buns with creamy coleslaw for extra flavor and crunch. The combination of tastes and textures always leaves my guests begging for the recipe.

Giving these sliders a five-star rating, readers love them too! Take a look at what they’re saying:

“Wonderful recipe! Enjoy how easy it was to make and the sauce was so tasty too!!!” – Kat

“Thank you so much for a great idea and recipe. This dish took me literally a few minutes to prepare, thanks for sharing. It is easy and delicious.” -Zarina

BBQ Chicken Sliders Recipe Ingredients

To make the barbecue chicken sliders, you will need the following ingredients:

ingredients for bbq chicken sliders recipe.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

  • ketchup
  • honey
  • apple cider vinegar
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • soy sauce
  • chili powder
  • chicken thighs
  • kosher salt and black pepper

How to Make BBQ Chicken Sliders

It all starts with making the BBQ sauce. It’s a really basic homemade version made with mostly pantry staple ingredients that is slightly smoky, spicy, and sweet.

1. In a bowl or a large glass measuring cup, whisk together the ketchup, honey, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, chili powder, and salt. Set aside.

homemade bbq sauce in a bowl with a whisk.

2. Lightly pat dry the chicken thighs with a few sheets of paper towels to remove excess moisture. Lay flat on a platter or cutting board and season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.

raw chicken thighs on a platter.

3. Heat avocado oil in a large skillet or saute pan over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add the thighs and cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until lightly golden brown.

chicken thighs with BBQ sauce in a pan.

4. Pour the prepared BBQ sauce over the chicken. Reduce heat to a medium-low, and simmer covered for 20-25 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through.

shredded BBQ chicken with two forks.

5. Remove the pan off the heat and let stand for 5-10 minutes. Using two forks, shred the chicken inside the pan, and toss with the sauce.

pulled bbq chicken in a pan.

Assembling BBQ Chicken Sliders

To assemble the barbeque chicken sliders, you will need:

  • Slider rolls or Hawaiian sweet buns
  • Creamy coleslaw
  • Optional toppings, such as sliced pickles, thinly sliced red onions, or cheese

Break each roll in half and top with a generous amount of BBQ chicken, then the coleslaw, and any other additional toppings of choice.

BBQ Chicken Sliders Recipe Variations

  • Bake the sliders. Skip the coleslaw and bake the sliders in the oven at 350F for 15 minutes with toppings, such as red onions and cheese. Before baking, brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter for even more flavor!
  • Add spices. Try different spices in the melted butter, such as garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or paprika.
  • Use rotisserie chicken. If you’re in a crunch, skip the chicken thighs and use shredded rotisserie chicken with homemade BBQ sauce.
  • Try different BBQ sauce: Add more flavor with an Asian or a spicy flavored BBQ sauce or simply use our 3 ingredient bbq sauce with ketchup for an easy meal.. Serve the BBQ sauce on the side or top the shredded chicken with the sauce before baking.

Storing Pulled Chicken Sliders

Store leftover assembled sliders in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in foil in the fridge for up to 1-2 days. The sliders will become soggy the longer they sit in the fridge.

assembled barbecue chicken sliders on a wooden board.

What to Serve with Barbecue Sliders

Serve these BBQ sliders with fresh summer sides, such as:

Recipe FAQs

Can I make ahead the chicken sliders?

Yes, simply prepare the BBQ chicken and any other toppings of your choice. Refrigerate separately until ready to serve. Reheat the chicken on the stovetop with a splash of liquid, such as water or broth before assembling.

What other ways can you serve BBQ pulled chicken?

Make chicken enchiladas, chicken tacos, loaded nachos, or wraps, or add to a berry spinach salad as a protein.

You May Also Like

Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

Chicken Tenders on Grill

Old Bay Fries

Summer Squash Salad

If you try our BBQ chicken sliders, please leave a star rating and a comment letting us know how you liked the recipe.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
bbq chicken sliders

Shredded BBQ Chicken Sliders

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 40 mins
  • Yield: 12 sliders 1x
  • Category: Main
  • Method: Saute
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

Easy BBQ chicken sliders made with chicken thighs, simple homemade barbecue sauce, and refreshing coleslaw. It’s an ultimate crowd-pleasing summer meal that can be whipped up in no time! 

Ingredients

Units Scale

BBQ Sauce

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

Chicken

  • 3–4 Tbsp. avocado oil or other high heat oil
  • 2 lbs. boneless, skinless, chicken thighs, about 8, trimmed of excess fat
  • Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

To Serve

  • 1 recipe Easy Coleslaw Recipe
  • 12 Slider buns or Hawaiian sweet rolls
  • Optional: thinly sliced red onions, sliced pickles

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the BBQ sauce: ketchup, honey, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, chili powder, and salt. Set aside.
  2. Heat oil in a large sauté pan or skillet over medium/high heat. Lightly pat dry the chicken with few sheets of paper towels to remove excess moisture. Lay flat on a platter or cutting board and season both sides with salt and pepper. Add chicken to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until lightly golden brown. Do not overcrowd the chicken or it will not brown. If needed, cook in batches.
  3. Pour the prepared BBQ sauce over the chicken. Reduce heat to a medium/low and cook covered for 20-25 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through. The sauce will slightly reduce and thicken. 
  4. Remove the pan off heat and let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes.  Using two forks, shred the chicken inside the pan and toss to coat with the sauce. Serve inside a slider bun topped with coleslaw.

Notes

  • Leftovers: Store leftover BBQ chicken in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Nutritional information is only for the BBQ chicken and does not include the toppings and slider buns.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 176
  • Sugar: 11.6 g
  • Sodium: 409.4 mg
  • Fat: 6.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 13.7 g
  • Protein: 15 g
  • Cholesterol: 71 mg