BBQ Chicken Sliders

BBQ chicken sliders are the ultimate comfort food that brings everyone to the table! These warm, cheesy little sandwiches are loaded with tender shredded chicken, smoky gouda, melty mozzarella, and your favorite BBQ sauce, all nestled in buttery toasted buns. They’re perfect for busy weeknights, game day gatherings, or any time you need an easy crowd-pleaser.

Love More Sliders? Try My Big Mac Sliders or this Philly Cheese Steak Sliders next.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Super easy and quick — Ready in about 30 minutes from start to finish, perfect for busy schedules
• Incredibly cheesy and flavorful — The combo of mozzarella and smoked gouda creates the perfect melty, smoky goodness
• Perfect for feeding a crowd — Makes 12 sliders, ideal for parties, potlucks, or family dinners
• Customizable — Use your favorite BBQ sauce and add your own toppings for a personalized twist
• Budget-friendly — Uses rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken, so nothing goes to waste

Print

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Sliders:

• 12 slider buns, split (Hawaiian rolls work beautifully here!)
• 4 cups cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie chicken is your best friend)
• 1 cup BBQ sauce (sweet, smoky, or spicy — whatever your heart desires)
• ¼ red onion, thinly sliced (adds a nice little bite)
• 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup grated smoked gouda cheese (this is the secret weapon!)
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped (divided)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Why These Ingredients Work

The beauty of these BBQ chicken sliders is how each ingredient plays its part in creating something truly special. The shredded chicken soaks up all that tangy BBQ sauce, making every bite juicy and flavorful.

Mozzarella brings that classic stretchy, melty texture we all crave, while the smoked gouda adds a rich, sophisticated smokiness that takes these sliders from good to absolutely irresistible.

Those soft slider buns get brushed with cilantro butter, creating a golden, glossy top that’s slightly crispy on the outside but still tender inside. The red onion adds just the right amount of sharpness to cut through all that cheese and sauce, and the fresh cilantro brings a bright, herby note that ties everything together beautifully.

Essential Tools and Equipment

• 9×13 inch baking dish
• Parchment paper
• Non-stick cooking spray
• Mixing bowl
• Aluminum foil
• Small microwave-safe bowl or saucepan (for melting butter)
• Pastry brush
• Sharp knife (for slicing onions)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preheat and Prep Your Dish

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper and give it a light coating of non-stick spray. This makes cleanup a breeze and keeps your sliders from sticking.

Step 2: Arrange the Bottom Buns

Place the bottom halves of your slider buns in the prepared baking dish, arranging them snugly together. They should fit perfectly in a nice little grid — think of it like a cozy slider neighborhood!

Step 3: Mix the BBQ Chicken

In a mixing bowl, combine your shredded chicken with half of the BBQ sauce (that’s ½ cup). Toss everything together until the chicken is nicely coated and looking saucy. Spread this mixture evenly over the bottom buns, making sure each slider gets a generous portion.

Step 4: Add More Sauce

Spoon the remaining ½ cup of BBQ sauce on top of the chicken layer. Don’t be shy here — the extra sauce keeps everything moist and adds another layer of flavor.

Step 5: Pile on the Toppings

Now comes the fun part! Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the chicken, followed by those thinly sliced red onions, then the smoked gouda. Scatter 1 tablespoon of the chopped cilantro on top and finish with a few grinds of fresh black pepper. Your sliders are looking amazing already!

Step 6: Top and Cover

Place the top buns on your sliders, creating little sandwich stacks. Cover the entire dish with aluminum foil — this traps the heat and helps everything get nice and melty.

Step 7: First Bake

Pop the covered dish in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. During this time, the cheese will start melting and all those flavors will mingle together beautifully.

Step 8: Make the Cilantro Butter

While your sliders are baking, melt the butter in a small bowl or saucepan. Stir in the remaining tablespoon of cilantro. This herb-infused butter is going to make those bun tops absolutely golden and delicious!

Step 9: Brush and Finish Baking

Remove the foil from your sliders and brush the tops of the buns generously with that cilantro butter. Pop them back in the oven, uncovered, for another 10 minutes. Watch as the tops turn golden brown and slightly crispy — that’s when you know they’re perfect!

Step 10: Serve and Enjoy

Remove from the oven and let them cool for just a minute or two. Then slice between the buns if they’re still connected, serve hot.

You Must Know

The key to perfect BBQ chicken sliders is not rushing the process. Make sure your oven is fully preheated before you start baking — this ensures even cooking and proper cheese melting.

Don’t skip the foil-covered baking step, as this creates steam that helps melt the cheese beautifully and keeps the chicken moist. When you brush on that cilantro butter, be generous but not so heavy that it drips down and makes the buns soggy. The butter should coat the tops evenly for that gorgeous golden finish.

Personal Secret: I always let my shredded chicken sit in half the BBQ sauce for about 10 minutes before assembling. This gives the chicken time to really absorb all those flavors, making every bite even more delicious.

Pro Tips & Cooking Hacks

• Use rotisserie chicken — It’s already seasoned and saves you tons of time. Just grab one from the grocery store!
• Keep sliders from getting soggy — Don’t over-sauce the chicken. Too much BBQ sauce can make the bottom buns mushy.
• Cut clean slices — Use a sharp serrated knife to cut through the sliders if they’re connected. A gentle sawing motion works best.
• Make them spicier — Add sliced jalapeños or use a spicy BBQ sauce if your crew likes heat.
• Cheese substitutions — No smoked gouda? Try sharp cheddar, pepper jack, or provolone instead.
• Toast the buns first — For extra-crispy bottoms, lightly toast the slider buns before assembling.
• Room temperature cheese melts better — Take your cheese out of the fridge 15 minutes before assembling for easier melting.

Flavor Variations & Suggestions

These sliders are incredibly versatile and love to be customized! For a Hawaiian twist, add pineapple chunks and use teriyaki BBQ sauce. If you’re craving something tangy, top with a quick coleslaw or bread-and-butter pickles right before serving.

Want to make them smokier? Use all smoked gouda instead of the mozzarella-gouda blend, or add a dash of liquid smoke to your BBQ sauce. You can also swap the cilantro for fresh parsley or chives if cilantro isn’t your thing.

For a Southern-style version, add a drizzle of ranch dressing before topping with the bun tops. Buffalo chicken slider fans can replace the BBQ sauce with buffalo sauce and add a sprinkle of blue cheese crumbles. The possibilities are truly endless!

Make-Ahead Options

These sliders are perfect for meal prep and planning ahead! You can assemble the entire dish up to the point of baking, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

When you’re ready to serve, let the dish sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, then bake as directed (you might need to add 5 extra minutes to the covered baking time since it’s starting cold). The cilantro butter can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator.

You can also prep all your components separately — shred the chicken and mix with sauce, slice the onions, grate the cheese — and store everything in separate containers for up to 2 days. When it’s time to cook, just assemble and bake.

For longer storage, you can freeze the assembled (unbaked) sliders for up to 2 months. Wrap the entire dish tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.

What to Serve With BBQ Chicken Sliders

These sliders are hearty on their own, but they really shine when paired with classic comfort sides. A creamy coleslaw adds cool crunch and helps balance the rich, cheesy sliders. Crispy potato chips or homemade french fries are always a hit and perfect for dunking in extra BBQ sauce.

Baked beans bring that sweet, smoky flavor that complements the BBQ theme beautifully. For something lighter, try a simple green salad with ranch dressing or a refreshing cucumber salad. Corn on the cob brushed with butter or a tangy potato salad rounds out the meal perfectly.

For drinks, ice-cold lemonade, sweet tea, or your favorite beer pairs wonderfully. If you’re serving these at a party, set out some pickle spears, extra BBQ sauce, and hot sauce so everyone can customize their sliders just the way they like them.

Allergy Information

These BBQ chicken sliders contain several common allergens to be aware of. The slider buns typically contain wheat (gluten) and may contain dairy, eggs, and soy depending on the brand. The cheese contains dairy.

If you need to make these gluten-free, use certified gluten-free slider buns or rolls. For dairy-free sliders, substitute the butter with dairy-free butter or olive oil, and use dairy-free cheese alternatives (though the texture won’t be quite as stretchy and melty).

The recipe is naturally nut-free. Always check your BBQ sauce label, as some brands may contain unexpected allergens or be processed in facilities that handle allergens. If you’re serving someone with celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity, make sure to check that your BBQ sauce is certified gluten-free, as some brands use wheat-based thickeners.

Storage & Reheating

Store leftover sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They’re actually delicious cold the next day, but if you want to reheat them, here’s the best way to do it.

For oven reheating, preheat to 325°F, place sliders in a baking dish, cover with foil, and warm for about 10-12 minutes until heated through. For the microwave, place individual sliders on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat for 30-45 seconds. The microwave method is faster but won’t give you that crispy top.

If you want to freeze these sliders after baking, wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the oven for best results.

Kitchen Secret: The trick to keeping reheated sliders from drying out is adding a tiny drizzle of water or extra BBQ sauce before covering and reheating. That little bit of moisture works wonders!

Questions I Get Asked A Lot

What if I don’t like cilantro?

No problem at all! You can easily swap the cilantro for fresh parsley, chives, or even leave the herbs out entirely and just use plain melted butter on top. The sliders will still be absolutely delicious.

Can I make these with leftover turkey instead of chicken?

Yes! These sliders are perfect for using up leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or any other time. Just shred it the same way you would chicken, and follow the recipe exactly as written.

My slider buns got a little soggy on the bottom — what happened?

This usually means there was too much sauce or moisture. Next time, use a bit less BBQ sauce in the chicken mixture, make sure your chicken isn’t too wet before mixing with sauce, and definitely use the parchment paper and non-stick spray for a barrier between the buns and the pan.

Can I make these on the grill instead of the oven?

You can! Assemble the sliders in a disposable aluminum pan, cover tightly with foil, and place on indirect heat on a preheated grill (medium heat, around 350°F). Cook covered for about 15 minutes, then remove the foil, brush with butter, and cook another 5-10 minutes with the lid closed until the tops are golden.

💬 Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and rating below! I’d love to hear how your BBQ chicken sliders turned out and what toppings your family loved best.