These BBQ Chicken Sliders are made easy with rotisserie chicken, tangy BBQ sauce, spicy jalapeño rings, and melty pepper Jack cheese. They’re a flavor-packed bite, perfect for game-day gatherings or a busy weeknight meal.
Love sliders? You’ll also want to try my Turkey Burger Sliders and Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders.
I have a tendency to get a little carried away when it comes to menu planning for parties. For reasons I will never understand, I tell myself lies. In my delusional mind, I have nothing but time, I’m happy and relaxed, get eight hours of sleep every night, and I’m dressed in something really cute and fashionable, sipping a glass of wine as I prepare my party food.
Sure, that could happen, right? Please tell me this could happen.
The truth is real life happens. There’s grocery shopping and cleaning to do, errands to run, and on and on. Over the years I’ve learned to modify my thinking about party food – especially game day party food.
These easy BBQ Chicken Sliders are one of my favorite EASY slider recipes that are perfect for entertaining or an easy dinner any old time.
Table of contents
Ingredient Notes
- Rotisserie chicken: One meaty rotisserie chicken should yield plenty of shredded chicken breast meat for this recipe. You’ll need 3 1/2 cups.
- BBQ sauce: We love Kinder’s Mild BBQ Sauce – use your favorite.
- Jarred pepper rings: I use Mezzzetta Tamed Jalapeño Peppers but if you want them spicy, you can go for the hot variety. But I warn you, the hot ones are HOT. The milder jalapeños add great flavor and just a touch of heat.
- Cheese: Shredded pepper Jack cheese is perfect for these but I also love them with havarti – another great melting cheese. Smoked gouda or regular Monterey Jack would also work well.
- Fresh produce: Thinly sliced red onion and cilantro leaves.
- Slider rolls: I used potato dinner rolls but any type of slider bun would work. Although, I don’t use sweet Hawaiian rolls for this recipe – I find the flavors of the filling work best with rolls that aren’t quite so sweet.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Sliders
This is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. You’ll find detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Make the BBQ Chicken Filling
- Place the shredded chicken, BBQ sauce, and diced diced jalapeño rings in a large mixing bowl.
- Use a spoon to combine the mixture well.
Assemble and Bake the Sliders
- Place the bottom half of the slider rolls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Divide the chicken mixture between each roll and drizzle each with BBQ sauce.
- Divide the red onion and cilantro between the sliders.
- Top them with the shredded cheese.
- Add the slider roll tops, cover the baking pan with foil, and bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 12 minutes. While they’re baking, combine the melted butter and granulated garlic (or garlic powder) in a small bowl. Remove the sliders from the oven and brush the tops with the butter mixture. Sprinkle them with a little pepper and bake, uncovered, for an additional 5 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the buns are lightly toasted.
Kitchen Tip
If your slider buns come attached, it can be awkward to slice them in half. I find it easier to slice them evenly if I separate them into two sections of 6 rolls each first.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store leftover sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat quickly, just pop them in the microwave oven for 1 to 2 minutes, or until warmed through. They can also be reheated in a conventional oven. Just wrap them in foil and bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for about 10 minutes.
More Rotisserie Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
- Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Dip
- Creamy Southwest Chicken Soup
- Southwest Chicken Tortilla Pinwheels
- Chicken Stuffing Bake
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Avocado Chicken Salad
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BBQ Chicken Sliders
Ingredients
- 3½ cups shredded rotisserie chicken breast
- ¾ cup BBQ sauce, I like Kinder's Mild
- ⅓ cup diced jarred jalapeño pepper rings, tamed or hot
- 12 slider rolls, like potato dinner rolls
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced red onion, or as needed
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped or torn
- 1¼ cup shredded pepper Jack cheese
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking pan or baking sheet large enough to hold your sliders with parchment paper or foil. This is for easy cleanup – you can use an unlined pan, if desired.
- Place the shredded chicken in a large mixing bowl and add ½ cup BBQ sauce and the diced jalapeno pepper rings. Use a spoon to combine well.
- Slice your slider buns in half, if needed. Place the bottom halves in the prepared baking pan. Divide the chicken mixture between each bun, top each with a drizzle of the remaining BBQ sauce (about 1 teaspoon per slider), red onion (2 to 3 slices), and a little cilantro. Divide the shredded cheese evenly over each slider and add the top buns, pressing down lightly (but don't smash).
- Cover the baking pan with foil and transfer it to the oven to bake for 12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the melted butter and granulated garlic or garlic powder.
- Remove the sliders from the oven, remove the foil and brush the tops of the sliders with the butter mixture. Sprinkle a small amount of freshly ground black pepper on top of each bun. Return the baking sheet to the oven for an additional 5 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the buns are lightly toasted.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
More Slider Recipes
This post was originally published on January 25, 2012. It has been updated with new text and images.
Looks great!! what store did you get the rolls from??? I find them maybe once a year :/
Hi Karen. I normally just buy whatever packaged dinner rolls look good and cut them in half. Soft potato rolls work really well. I got these at Safeway.
Thanks! I know where I’m going this weekend. Those rolls are amazing for sandwiches.
I swear out of any other blogger. I relate to your food the most. Everything you make is something I would make for my family. I love that.
Right back at you, Val. I LOVE your stuff! Seriously, I’m happy every time I visit your site 🙂
YUMMMMO!!!! Lookin @ All of these ARE Making Me Hungry!!! :-))))b:::
Thanks Val, these were ‘the’ hit at my Superbowl get-together! Delicious and rather simple to make.
Val – what a drool worthy recipe.
After sliders came out, I now hesistate to make regular sized ones. For some reason the little ones seem to have so much more flavor and less mess! All of these look delicious and since they are so popular-3 kinds are always better to have. Thanks for the recipe and the links-delicious post. Enjoy the weekend!
My first thought was these look like football game food. Great stuff.
Oh YUM! These look like great party sandwiches! Perfect the super bowl. They looks awesome!
Thank you so much Kim! I’m completely hooked on Pinterest and appreciate the pin. Can’t wait to see your new site 🙂
So great to meet you via FB! Love your site. Your header is beautiful. I’m bookmarking this recipe via Pinterest. Can’t wait to make it. Perfect for my family or when entertaining!!