Description
These easy BBQ chicken sliders are loaded with tender shredded chicken, smoky gouda, mozzarella cheese, and tangy BBQ sauce, all baked together on soft slider buns with cilantro butter. Perfect for parties, game day, or busy weeknight dinners!
Ingredients
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
Instructions
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
Notes
- 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.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American