Ultimate Homemade BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders: Easy Recipe & Perfect for Parties
Craving the smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors of barbecue but prefer chicken over pork? You’ve come to the right place! These BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders are an absolute game-changer, offering all the classic comfort of pulled sandwiches in a delightful, bite-sized form. They’re incredibly satisfying, bursting with flavor, and surprisingly easy to make. Whether you’re hosting a casual gathering, looking for a quick weeknight dinner, or need a crowd-pleasing appetizer, these chicken sliders will quickly become a favorite in your recipe rotation.
While you can certainly take shortcuts with store-bought ingredients, this recipe truly shines when you opt for a homemade BBQ sauce. It’s remarkably simple to whip up with common pantry staples and delivers a depth of flavor that store-bought options simply can’t match. Paired with perfectly tender, shredded chicken and served on soft potato slider buns with a generous dollop of sweet coleslaw, these sliders are a symphony of textures and tastes.
Why These BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders Are a Must-Try
What makes these easy chicken sliders so special? It’s a combination of factors that creates a truly irresistible dish:
- Perfect Pork Alternative: For those who don’t eat or simply dislike pork, these pulled chicken sliders offer a fantastic, flavorful substitute without compromising on that beloved BBQ experience.
- Unmatched Flavor with Homemade Sauce: Our simple homemade BBQ sauce recipe is the star here. It’s sweet, tangy, and subtly spiced, clinging beautifully to the shredded chicken. Once you try homemade, you’ll understand the difference!
- Crowd-Pleaser: Sliders are inherently fun and easy to eat, making them perfect for parties, game days, or family meals. Everyone loves a mini sandwich!
- Customizable: Adjust the spice level of your BBQ sauce, add different toppings, or experiment with various chicken cuts. This recipe is wonderfully versatile.
- Surprisingly Easy: Don’t let the “homemade” aspect intimidate you. Both the chicken and the sauce come together with minimal effort, making this a great recipe for cooks of all skill levels.
The Secret to Incredible Pulled Chicken
The foundation of any great pulled sandwich is, of course, the meat. For these BBQ pulled chicken sliders, we start with bone-in chicken. Why bone-in? The bones add extra flavor and help keep the chicken exceptionally moist during cooking. We season the chicken simply with granulated garlic, chili powder, salt, and pepper, then roast it until it’s perfectly cooked and tender enough to shred with ease.
Tips for Perfect Pulled Chicken:
- Choosing Your Chicken: While the recipe calls for bone-in chicken (thighs or a mix of thighs and drumsticks work wonderfully), you can also use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Just adjust the cooking time as boneless chicken will cook faster.
- Rotisserie Chicken Shortcut: In a pinch, a store-bought rotisserie chicken is your best friend. Simply remove the skin and bones, then shred the meat. This is an excellent way to cut down on prep and cook time, making these sliders a super quick weeknight meal.
- Shredding Made Easy: Once cooked, let the chicken cool slightly before shredding. Two forks are your best tool for this, allowing you to easily pull the meat apart into perfect, succulent strands.
Crafting the Irresistible Homemade BBQ Sauce
While convenience can be tempting, taking a few extra minutes to make your homemade BBQ sauce from scratch is truly worth it. The difference in taste is monumental, allowing you to control the sweetness, tang, and spice profile to your exact liking. Our recipe uses a blend of ketchup, brown sugar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, fresh garlic, orange juice, and zest, all simmered together to create a rich, glossy sauce that perfectly complements the chicken.
The Power of Our Homemade Sauce Ingredients:
- Ketchup Base: Provides the classic tomato foundation for a rich, savory flavor.
- Sweeteners (Brown Sugar & Honey): Balances the acidity and adds a beautiful caramelized depth.
- Acids (Worcestershire Sauce & Apple Cider Vinegar): Deliver that essential tangy kick that cuts through the richness of the chicken.
- Aromatics (Garlic, Orange Juice & Zest): Fresh garlic brings a pungent warmth, while the orange adds a bright, subtle citrus note that elevates the sauce beyond the ordinary.
- Chicken Stock: Thins the sauce to the right consistency while adding another layer of savory flavor.
Simmering the sauce for about 20 minutes allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the sauce to thicken to the perfect consistency for coating the pulled chicken.
The Indispensable Potato Slider Buns
A pulled chicken slider is only as good as its bun! And when it comes to sliders, potato slider buns are almost mandatory. Their incredible softness and slight sweetness are the perfect foil to the savory, tangy BBQ chicken. They hold up well to the saucy filling without becoming soggy and are the ideal size for a two-bite delight.
Why Potato Buns?
- Soft & Fluffy: They provide a comforting, yielding texture.
- Subtle Sweetness: This complements the BBQ flavors beautifully.
- Perfect Size: Designed specifically for sliders, ensuring a balanced bite every time.
If potato buns aren’t available, look for other soft, brioche-style slider buns. The key is to avoid anything too crusty or dense, as it will overpower the delicate nature of the pulled chicken.
Coleslaw: The Essential Finishing Touch
While the pulled chicken and bun are the stars, the coleslaw is the crucial supporting act that brings everything together. A sweet and tangy coleslaw adds a refreshing crunch and a cool contrast to the warm, rich BBQ chicken. It’s an essential component that elevates these from good to truly great.
Feel free to use your favorite store-bought coleslaw for convenience, or whip up a simple homemade version with shredded cabbage and carrots dressed in a creamy, tangy dressing. The contrast in texture and temperature is what makes it so irresistible!
BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders
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Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs bone in chicken
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Homemade BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves
- juice and zest of 1/2 orange
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- salt to taste
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
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Drizzle the chicken with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, 1/2 tsp granulated garlic, and 1/8 tsp chili powder.
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Place the chicken in the oven and cook for 30 minutes or until fully cooked through.
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Let the chicken cool a bit and then shred using two forks.
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Place the shredded chicken in a bowl, add remaining seasoning if needed and set aside.
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To make the BBQ sauce stir the ketchup, orange juice and zest, fresh minced garlic cloves, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, chicken stock, and salt to taste in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and cook for 20 minutes or until the BBQ sauce thickens.
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Place the shredded chicken in the saucepan along with the BBQ sauce, cover with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes.
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Serve on potato slider buns and top with coleslaw if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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Tips for Serving and Variations
These BBQ pulled chicken sliders are perfect on their own, but a few additions can make them even more special:
- Side Dishes: Pair them with classic BBQ sides like baked beans, corn on the cob, potato salad, or extra coleslaw.
- Spice It Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to your BBQ sauce for an extra kick.
- Smoky Flavor: A touch of liquid smoke in your homemade BBQ sauce can enhance that authentic barbecue depth. You can also add smoked paprika to the chicken seasoning.
- Cheese, Please: A slice of cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese melted over the chicken just before serving adds an extra layer of richness.
- Pickles: Dill pickle slices offer a briny crunch that many find essential with pulled sandwiches.
Make Ahead and Storage
One of the best things about these easy chicken sliders is how well they can be prepared in advance!
- Make Ahead: You can cook the chicken and prepare the BBQ sauce a day or two in advance. Store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, simply combine the chicken and sauce in a saucepan and simmer until heated through.
- Storage: Leftover pulled chicken (mixed with sauce) can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing: The BBQ pulled chicken freezes beautifully for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Conclusion: Your New Favorite BBQ Chicken Sliders
These homemade BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders are more than just a recipe; they’re an experience. They offer a delightful blend of sweet, smoky, and tangy flavors, coupled with tender chicken and soft buns, making them an ideal choice for any occasion. Forget the fuss of pulled pork – this chicken alternative is quick, easy, and absolutely delicious.
So gather your ingredients, fire up your oven, and get ready to enjoy some of the best easy chicken sliders you’ve ever tasted. Don’t forget to make that homemade BBQ sauce – it truly makes all the difference!
If you try this recipe, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and let us know how your delicious sliders turned out!