BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders
BBQ Pulled Chicken Game Day Sliders combine saucy shredded chicken, mozzarella, smoked gouda, red onion, and cilantro on soft slider buns. They're baked until hot and cheesy with buttery, golden tops for an easy game day appetizer or casual dinner.
Servings: 12 sliders
Equipment
- 9x13 inch baking dish
- nonstick cooking spray
- mixing bowl (small)
- spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 12 King's Hawaiian slider buns split in half
- 4 cups cooked chicken shredded
- 1 cup favorite BBQ sauce plus more if desired, divided
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup mozzarella grated
- ¼ red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup smoked gouda grated, or cheese of choice
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and lightly spray the paper with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the bottom halves of the slider buns in the prepared baking dish.12 King's Hawaiian slider buns
- In a small bowl, combine the shredded chicken with ½ cup BBQ sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then mix until completely coated.4 cups cooked chicken, 1 cup favorite BBQ sauce, salt and pepper
- Spread the chicken evenly over the bottom halves of the buns. Top with the remaining BBQ sauce.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella, red onion, smoked gouda, and cilantro evenly over the chicken.1 cup mozzarella, ¼ red onion, ½ cup smoked gouda, 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
- Place the top halves of the slider buns over the filling. Brush the tops with 1 tablespoon melted butter.2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the foil and brush the buns with the remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter.
- Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, or until the tops are golden.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
🥡 Storage
- Store leftover BBQ chicken sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Because the buns will continue absorbing moisture from the BBQ chicken as they sit, the sliders are best enjoyed sooner rather than later.
♨️ Reheating
- For the best texture, reheat the sliders in the oven at 350°F until heated through.
- Individual sliders can also be reheated in an air fryer until warmed through. Watch them closely since the tops of the buns can brown quickly.
- You can use the microwave for a quick option, but the buns will be softer.
❄️ Freezing
- For the best texture, I prefer these sliders freshly made rather than frozen after assembly. The BBQ sauce can soak into the buns during freezing and thawing and change their texture.
- The cooked shredded chicken itself can be frozen separately and used later to make a fresh batch.
💡 Tips for Best Results
- Shred the chicken into small pieces so the sliders are easier to eat.
- Slice the red onion thinly so it softens while the sliders bake.
- Spread the chicken and toppings evenly from edge to edge.
- Don't skip covering the sliders for the first 15 minutes of baking.
- Bake uncovered for the final 10 minutes so the tops can become golden.
- Serve the sliders soon after baking for the best bun texture.
🍳 Alternate Cooking Methods
Air fryer: A smaller batch of assembled sliders can be reheated or cooked in an air fryer-safe pan that fits your air fryer. Because air fryers vary considerably in size and power, watch the sliders closely and use the appearance of the melted cheese and golden buns as your guide rather than relying on an untested exact cooking time.♻️ Leftovers
- Leftover BBQ chicken sliders make an easy lunch or quick meal the next day.
- If you have leftover BBQ chicken that hasn't been assembled into sliders, use it for sandwiches, wraps, quesadillas, baked potatoes, or salads.
📝 Notes
- Use additional BBQ sauce if you prefer saucier sliders.
- The smoked gouda can be replaced with another cheese of your choice.
- Prep the chicken, cheese, and onion ahead of time if needed, but wait to assemble the sliders until you're ready to bake them.
- Serve immediately after baking for the best texture.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slider | Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 420mg | Potassium: 185mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 254IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 155mg | Iron: 2mg
