Barbecue Chicken Sliders make a fantastic appetizer! These are quick and easy to make and feature my Homemade Barbecue Sauce, and my quick bread and butter pickles. These small bites can be held with one hand and are perfect for parties or entertaining! You only need cooked chicken, barbecue sauce, bread and butter pickles, and toasted Homemade Brioche Slider Buns.
Feel free to make as much of this recipe from scratch as you want, or use store-bought ingredients to keep things super simple. I have recipes for the components below if you want to make some of them from scratch. Go check them out!
- Homemade Brioche Slider Buns - These slider buns are soft, fluffy, and full of flavor! They're perfectly sized for this recipe or any one-handed sandwich or appetizer.
- Homemade Barbecue Sauce - This is a classic take on a tangy and flavorful tomato-based barbecue sauce. It's really perfect for just about anything, but it's fantastic for this recipe.
- Quick Bread and Butter Pickles - These quick bread and butter pickles are so much more delicious than any store-bought version. Several simple ingredients and a little bit of resting time are all that you need for these!
Components
To make these, you need the following:
- Cooked Chicken - Sear some salted boneless, skinless chicken breast in some oil in a skillet until cooked through. Cook the chicken until done (at least 165°F on an instant read thermometer), and allow it to rest for 15 to 20 minutes until cooled. After it's cooled, pull the chicken apart with your hands or two forks to shred. The key to this recipe is to return the pulled or shredded chicken to the pan for about 5-minutes and crisp up the edges of the chicken.
- Barbecue Sauce - Any tomato based barbecue sauce will do, but my recipe for Homemade Barbecue Sauce is preferred. It's got just the right amount of sweetness, tanginess, and is perfect for a lot more than just these sandwiches.
- Bread and Butter Pickles - Homemade Bread and Butter Pickles add a bit of crunch and sweetness to the party. Dill pickles would work great as well, but the milder flavor of bread and butter suits these sandwiches better, if you ask me.
- Buns - Brioche slider buns are a "must-have" for this recipe. My recipe for Homemade Brioche Slider Buns fits the bill and works perfectly for these sliders. Whether you go with store-bought or homemade, its is absolutely crucial to split the buns and toast them in some butter. This adds a ton of flavor and helps to keep the buns from getting soggy from the barbecue sauce.
Slider Assembly
Once you have your components, all you have to do is assemble the sliders! Take a slice of pickle and place it on the bottom half of your toasted buns. Add a few tablespoons of the chicken, top with more sauce, and then add your top bun. Simple as that!
These are absolutely fantastic, served with my family recipe for Crunchy Pepper Slaw. Talk a bout a killer summer-time combo! These were practically made to go together.
These work great as an appetizer for your next cookout or as a summer-time lunch or dinner. They are quick, delicious, and the perfect grab-and-go snack or appetizer!
Did you make this recipe for Barbecue Chicken Sliders?
Let me know in the comments below how yours turned out, and don't forget to leave a rating!
Recipe
Barbecue Chicken Sliders
Equipment
- Medium Sauce Pan
- Heavy Bottom Stainless Steel or Cast Iron Skillet
- Large Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- 2 Cups Ketchup
- ½ Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Teaspoons Worcestershire
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice Juice from ½ Lemon
- ½ Cup Water
- 1 Tablespoon Dark Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
- 5 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Dry Mustard
- 1 Teaspoon Paprika
- 1 Pinch Kosher Salt
- Fresh Cracked Black Pepper To Taste
Chicken
- 4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts About 3 Lbs.
- 1½ Teaspoons Kosher Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Fresh Cracked Black Pepper To Taste
Slider Ingredients
- 24 Brioche Slider Buns or Dinner Rolls Split, and Toasted
- 24 Bread And Butter Pickle Slices
- Cooked Barbecue Chicken From Above
- Homemade Barbecue Sauce To Taste
Instructions
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- Heat a medium sized sauce pan over medium-high heat. Combine all barbecue sauce ingredients in the pan.
- Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 1-hour, until thickened.
- Towards the end of the sauce simmering, begin preparing your chicken.
Barbecue Chicken
- Heat a heavy bottom stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat. While pan is heating up, season chicken on both sides with kosher salt.
- Once pan is hot, add a few tablespoons of a neutral cooking oil to the pan. Add as much chicken that will fit without crowding the pan (usually two breasts at a time). Cook for about 15-minutes, turning occasionally until chicken is cooked through (165℉ on an instant read thermometer), and golden brown. Repeat with remaining chicken until done.
- Once chicken is cool enough to handle (about 20-minutes) use two forks or your hands to shred the chicken in to bite-sized pieces. Season with more kosher salt and black pepper to taste.
- In the last 5-minutes of the chicken resting, turn the heat back on your pan to warm it back up. Return the shredded chicken to the pan, and cook for an additional 5-minutes until the edges begin to crisp. Transfer the chicken to a large mixing bowl and toss with approximately half of your barbecue sauce (about 1-cup) to evenly coat.
Barbecue Chicken Slider Assembly
- Place a bread and butter pickle chip on the bottom half of each of your toasted brioche buns. Top with 2 - 3 tablespoons of barbecue chicken, then spoon another teaspoon of sauce over the top. Add your top bun and serve.
Karen says
Can’t wait to try these!
Paula says
5 stars for these yummy sandwiches!!