These grilled BBQ chicken sliders are juicy, smoky, cheesy, and loaded with bold barbecue flavor. Tender grilled chicken is coated in tangy BBQ sauce, layered onto soft slider buns with melted cheese and crunchy coleslaw, then finished with an extra drizzle of BBQ sauce.
They’re easy enough for a casual lunch but also perfect for backyard BBQs, game days, parties, picnics, and family gatherings.
Why You’ll Love These BBQ Chicken Sliders
- Easy grilled chicken recipe
- Ready in about 30 minutes
- Juicy and flavorful
- Perfect for BBQ season
- Great party food
- Family-friendly
- Easy to customize
- Perfect for game day
- Great for meal prep
- Delicious with homemade coleslaw
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
For the Sliders
- 12 slider buns
- 6 slices cheddar cheese, halved
- 1 cup prepared coleslaw
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- Extra BBQ sauce for serving
How to Make Grilled BBQ Chicken Sliders
1. Prepare the Chicken
Pat the chicken breasts dry.
If they’re thick, pound them gently to an even thickness so they cook evenly on the grill.
2. Season the Chicken
Combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and black pepper.
Rub the seasoning evenly over both sides of the chicken.
3. Add Olive Oil
Brush the chicken lightly with olive oil.
This helps prevent sticking and encourages attractive grill marks.
4. Preheat the Grill
Preheat an outdoor grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
Lightly oil the grates if necessary.
5. Grill the Chicken
Place the chicken on the hot grill.
Cook until the underside develops clear grill marks.
Flip and continue grilling until the chicken is cooked through.
6. Add BBQ Sauce
During the final few minutes of cooking, brush both sides of the chicken generously with BBQ sauce.
Turn once more and allow the sauce to caramelize slightly.
Avoid adding too much sauce too early because the sugars can burn.
7. Rest the Chicken
Transfer the grilled chicken to a clean plate.
Allow it to rest for approximately 5 minutes.
8. Slice the Chicken
Slice the chicken into thin strips or chop it into small bite-sized pieces suitable for sliders.
9. Prepare the Buns
Carefully slice the slider buns horizontally while keeping them connected if using a pull-apart style.
10. Toast the Buns
Brush the cut sides lightly with melted butter mixed with garlic powder.
Place them cut-side down on the grill or toast them briefly until lightly golden.
11. Add Cheese
Place the bottom halves of the buns in a baking dish or on a serving platter.
Add the grilled BBQ chicken.
Top with cheddar cheese.
12. Melt the Cheese
Place the assembled chicken and cheese briefly under a broiler or back on the grill until the cheese melts.
Watch carefully so the buns don’t burn.
13. Add Coleslaw
Spoon crunchy coleslaw over the melted cheese and chicken.
14. Add BBQ Sauce
Drizzle additional BBQ sauce over the top.
15. Finish the Sliders
Place the toasted bun tops over the filling.
Brush the tops lightly with remaining garlic butter if desired.
16. Serve
Serve warm with extra BBQ sauce, coleslaw, pickles, or your favorite BBQ sides.
What Chicken Is Best for Sliders?
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are lean and easy to grill.
Boneless chicken thighs are another excellent option if you prefer juicier, richer chicken.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs?
Absolutely.
Chicken thighs are especially flavorful and forgiving on the grill.
Cook them until they reach a safe internal temperature.
Can I Use Rotisserie Chicken?
Yes.
For a faster version, shred rotisserie chicken and warm it with BBQ sauce before assembling the sliders.
What BBQ Sauce Is Best?
Use your favorite bottled BBQ sauce or homemade sauce.
Sweet, smoky, spicy, or tangy BBQ sauces all work.
Can I Make Homemade BBQ Sauce?
Absolutely.
A simple BBQ sauce can be made with ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and a little mustard.
Can I Use Hawaiian Rolls?
Yes.
Soft Hawaiian-style rolls are excellent for sliders because they add a subtle sweetness that pairs well with smoky BBQ chicken.
Can I Use Regular Dinner Rolls?
Absolutely.
Any soft slider-sized rolls will work.
What Cheese Goes Best With BBQ Chicken?
Excellent options include:
- Cheddar
- Colby Jack
- Monterey Jack
- Pepper Jack
- Smoked Gouda
- Provolone
Sharp cheddar is especially good with sweet BBQ sauce.
Can I Make These Spicy?
Yes.
Add:
- Jalapeños
- Pepper Jack cheese
- Hot BBQ sauce
- Cayenne pepper
- Pickled jalapeños
- Hot honey
Can I Add Bacon?
Absolutely.
Crispy bacon adds smoky, salty flavor and pairs beautifully with BBQ chicken.
Can I Add Pickles?
Yes.
Dill pickles or bread-and-butter pickles provide a bright acidic contrast to the sweet BBQ sauce.
Do I Need Coleslaw?
No.
Coleslaw adds crunch and freshness, but you can replace it with lettuce, pickles, sliced onions, or avocado.
Can I Make These Without Cheese?
Absolutely.
The BBQ chicken and coleslaw are flavorful enough without cheese.
Can I Add Caramelized Onions?
Yes.
Caramelized onions add sweetness and work particularly well with smoky BBQ sauce.
Can I Add Avocado?
Yes.
Sliced or mashed avocado creates a creamy contrast.
Add it immediately before serving.
Can I Make These Ahead of Time?
Yes.
Grill the chicken ahead of time and refrigerate it.
Warm the chicken with BBQ sauce before assembling the sliders.
For the best texture, add coleslaw immediately before serving.
Can I Make These for a Party?
Absolutely.
These sliders are excellent party food.
You can assemble a full tray of sliders at once and keep them warm until serving.
How Do I Keep Sliders Warm?
Place assembled sliders in a covered baking dish and keep them in a warm oven for a short period.
Avoid leaving them uncovered because the buns can dry out.
Can I Make These in the Oven?
Yes.
You can cook the seasoned chicken in the oven and then coat it with BBQ sauce.
The grill provides the best smoky flavor, but the oven is convenient.
Can I Make These in an Air Fryer?
Yes.
Cook the seasoned chicken according to your air fryer’s recommended temperature and timing, then toss with BBQ sauce before assembling.
Can I Freeze BBQ Chicken Sliders?
It’s better to freeze the cooked chicken separately.
Fresh buns and coleslaw have better texture when prepared just before serving.
How Long Do They Last?
Store leftover cooked chicken separately in the refrigerator for approximately 3–4 days.
Assembled sliders are best eaten fresh.
What Should I Serve With BBQ Chicken Sliders?
Serve them with:
- Coleslaw
- Potato salad
- French fries
- Sweet potato fries
- Corn on the cob
- Baked beans
- Pickles
- Macaroni salad
- Watermelon
- Grilled vegetables
Easy BBQ Chicken Slider Variations
Spicy BBQ Chicken Sliders
Use spicy BBQ sauce, Pepper Jack cheese, and sliced jalapeños.
Bacon BBQ Chicken Sliders
Add crispy bacon and cheddar cheese.
BBQ Chicken Sliders With Pickles
Add crunchy dill pickles and extra BBQ sauce.
Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sliders
Use sweet Hawaiian rolls and pineapple BBQ sauce.
BBQ Chicken Sliders With Avocado
Add sliced avocado and a little lime juice.
Buffalo BBQ Chicken Sliders
Combine BBQ sauce with Buffalo sauce and top with ranch-style coleslaw.
Smoky BBQ Chicken Sliders
Use smoked cheddar or Gouda with a smoky BBQ sauce.
Honey BBQ Chicken Sliders
Use honey BBQ sauce and add a drizzle of hot honey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use chicken thighs?
Yes. They make very juicy sliders.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Absolutely. Toss shredded rotisserie chicken with warmed BBQ sauce.
What buns are best?
Hawaiian-style slider rolls are excellent, but any soft slider bun works.
What cheese is best?
Cheddar, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, and Pepper Jack all work well.
Can I make them spicy?
Yes. Add jalapeños, hot BBQ sauce, or Pepper Jack.
Can I make them ahead?
Yes. Prepare the chicken ahead and assemble the sliders shortly before serving.
Can I freeze them?
Freeze the cooked chicken separately for the best texture.
Do I need coleslaw?
No. Pickles, lettuce, onions, or avocado are good alternatives.
Can I cook the chicken in the oven?
Yes, although grilling provides more smoky flavor.
Are these good for game day?
Absolutely. They’re easy to serve and perfect for parties.
Recipe Card
Grilled BBQ Chicken Sliders
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 sliders
Course: Lunch / Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 12 slider buns
- 6 slices cheddar cheese
- 1 cup coleslaw
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry and pound to even thickness if needed.
- Combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
- Season chicken and brush with olive oil.
- Preheat grill to medium-high.
- Grill chicken until cooked through and lightly charred.
- Brush generously with BBQ sauce during the final few minutes.
- Rest chicken for 5 minutes.
- Slice or chop chicken.
- Slice slider buns.
- Brush buns with garlic butter.
- Toast lightly.
- Add BBQ chicken to the bun bottoms.
- Top with cheddar cheese.
- Melt cheese briefly.
- Add coleslaw.
- Drizzle with additional BBQ sauce.
- Add bun tops.
- Serve warm.