4-Ingredient Easy Cheesy BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders
Tangy barbecue chicken with melted cheese on a crispy bun — these barbecue chicken sliders are fantastic for parties or just plain dinner!
These barbecue chicken sliders are the perfect meal—the kind you can throw together in a hurry but still feel excited to eat. The combo of sweet Hawaiian rolls, tangy barbecue sauce, juicy chicken, and lots of cheese just works. It’s simple, comforting, and always a hit whether I’m feeding the family or bringing something to share.
We’ve made these for busy weeknights, lazy Sundays, and even Super Bowl parties, and they disappear fast every single time. They’re warm, cheesy, a little messy in the best way—and just plain fun to eat. Serve them with a side of chips or coleslaw, or let them shine on a party tray.
What’s in this 4-ingredient BBQ chicken sliders recipe?
This recipe uses simple ingredients to get absolutely delicious results!
- Sweet Hawaiian Rolls: These rolls are the perfect size for sliders! You can use any brand or variety.
- Barbecue Sauce: Feel free to mix it up with any kind of barbecue sauce you’d like. My favorite is Sweet Baby Ray’s, but you can use any brand or even make your own homemade BBQ sauce!
- Shredded Chicken:Leftover chicken works great here. I used a rotisserie chicken, which I then shredded. You can use shredded chicken thighs, boneless skinless chicken breasts, or any other cut of chicken!
- Cheddar Cheese Slices: You can actually use any cheese you’d like, but I love the combination of cheddar and barbecue flavor. Other great options include pepper jack cheese or colby jack cheese.
Making easy chicken sliders
Step 1 | Prep the Chicken
Start by shredding your chicken if you haven’t already. You want it pretty well shredded: the thicker the pieces, the harder it is to eat the slider.
Once the chicken is shredded, add the barbecue sauce and mix it in well. You can add as much or as little sauce as you’d like!
Set the chicken aside.
Step 2 | Prep the Rolls
Cut the whole package of rolls in half with a bread knife. The idea is to keep the whole thing in one piece while cutting, but as you can see from the picture, that’s harder than it looks. I ended up breaking up and cutting each roll individually. That works too!
Place the bottom half of the rolls in a baking dish. Set the top half of the rolls aside.
Step 3 | Layer
Now let’s put it all together! Start by spreading the chicken in a roughly even layer over the bottom half of the rolls. You can drizzle extra barbecue sauce over the top, if you’d like.
Then place the cheese slices over the top of the chicken. I can fit six in with no overlap.
Finally, place the top half of the rolls over the whole thing.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, and you’re ready to bake!
Step 4 | Bake
Bake your sliders at 350 for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and bake them for 5 more minutes. This gives them the nice golden brown tops!
Step 5 | Enjoy!
You can eat your sliders right away while so you get that gorgeous melty cheese! I finish the top of the rolls with melted garlic butter, chopped fresh parsley, and fresh cracked black pepper.
What to serve with barbecue chicken sliders
Level Up the Flavor
While this recipe is delicious as written, you can kick it up a notch with a few options:
- Just Add Butter: You can brush the tops of the buns with melted butter. Flavored butter is even better — my favorite is garlic butter (add a little garlic powder to melted butter)!
- Add Veggies: Pickled red onion is an absolute delight in these little sandwiches. You can add it on top of the chicken layer before you add the cheese. Another great way to get some veggies in here is to add coleslaw mix before you place the cheese.
- Play with the Sauce: You can combine barbecue sauces, or try new types to create your own sliders!
FAQs
Let them cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container or wrap in foil. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Yes—assemble the sliders, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours before baking.
Try not to overdo the barbecue sauce, and bake uncovered so the tops can crisp up a bit. You can also add a second layer of cheese on the bottom to act as a moisture barrier.
4-Ingredient Barbecue Chicken Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 pkg Hawaiian sweet rolls
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 6 slices cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp butter, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- In a bowl, mix shredded chicken and barbecue sauce. Set aside.
- Cut rolls in half. Place bottom half in a baking dish. Set top half aside.
- Spread the chicken mixture over the bottom half of the rolls. Layer the cheese evenly over the top of the chicken mixture. Place the top half of the rolls over the cheese. Optional: brush tops of rolls with melted butter.
- Cover the baking dish with foil.
- Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 5 more minutes. Sliders are done with the tops of the rolls are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
