Crunchy BBQ Chicken Sliders

If you know my cooking style then you know I don’t cook modest food. I am all about well seasoned food that is exploding with flavor, creative pairings, and over-the-top combinations like adding potato chips onto these crunchy BBQ chicken sliders.

These sliders begin with chicken cooked in the Instant Pot or slow cooker, shredded, crisped under a broiler, and tucked into toasted slider buns. Then it’s topped with tangy Alabama white coleslaw, red onions, and crunchy barbecue potato chips. Every bite explodes with an unexpected range of flavors and textures.

And since they’re the perfect handheld size, they are great for serving at parties, game day gatherings, or just to enjoy on a weeknight with the fam. Not to mention the fact that they taste like summer and are ready in as little as 30 minutes!

If you love the taste of sunshine and the nostalgia of adding chips to a sandwich (I assume most people just did this as kids and I’m the only one actively adding chips to all sandwiches as a 30-something girl LOL) you will absolutely adore these.

For full-size sandwiches, check out my Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Sandwiches!

Tips from My Kitchen

• 3 ways to make the chicken. The recipe card includes 2 ways, using the Instant Pot or slow cooker. But you can fire up the grill and cook the chicken there. Just marinate the chicken in your favorite BBQ sauce, cook it on the grill (basting it a few times with the sauce), and then shred it.
• Make elements ahead. Y’all know I love to do as much prep in advance as I can. With these sliders, the chicken can easily be prepared in advance and so can the Alabama white sauce. Then, reheat the chicken, toast the buns, and assemble as usual.
• Enjoy immediately. I definitely recommend assembling these BBQ chicken sliders just before serving. The chips will lose their crunch pretty quickly and the bottom bun will absorb the sauce from the coleslaw.
• Add toppings as desired. I kept it pretty simple with just some red sliced onions but you can definitely add other toppings, like bacon and slices of cheese.
• Use your favorite BBQ sauce. The BBQ sauce used to cook the chicken plays the biggest role in the final flavor here. Any BBQ sauce can be used, whether it’s regular, spicy, or a sweeter sauce, but be sure to use one you like.

Ingredients You’ll Need & Why

Let’s take a look at everything needed to make these yummy sliders. The exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

For the Rolls

• King’s Hawaiian Rolls – You can either get the regular 12 pack of Hawaiian rolls or their sliders, which come in a 9 pack.
• Toasted sesame seeds – I like to add these to the top of the rolls to give them an extra fancy touch.
• Coleslaw mix – Feel free to chop your own cabbage if you’d like but I like to keep things simple by using the mix here.
• Alabama white sauce – Alabama white is a mayo-based sauce that’s tangy with a bit of heat. It’s made with apple cider vinegar, horseradish, Dijon mustard, and a few other ingredients. While you can buy it bottled at some stores, I always opt to make it myself. (The full ingredient list is in the recipe card.)
• BBQ chips – See below for my recommendations. Grippo’s is my absolute favorite!
• Toppings – I like to top my BBQ chicken sliders with thinly sliced red onions, crispy bacon, and cheddar or Colby Jack cheese.

For the BBQ Chicken

• Chicken stock – The liquid for the chicken to cook in.
• Chicken – Chicken breasts, chicken tenders, and chicken thighs all work. Just be sure to use boneless, skinless chicken.
• Spices – Onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and salt.
• BBQ sauce – Use your favorite! Any brand will do. Just keep in mind that the BBQ sauce you use will definitely impact the flavor of the sliders.
• Grated onion – Grating the onion really infuses the chicken with flavor. Be sure to dump any juice created from grating it in too.
• Brown sugar – A bit of brown sugar helps sweeten the chicken and balance the onion and spices.
• Worcestershire – Just a teeny tiny amount to add another layer of flavor to the chicken.

What Are The Best Chips to Use?

Grippo’s BBQ chips are my preference for these sliders. They taste like they were tossed in powdered sugar and have the most incredibly smoky, spicy, and sweet flavor that almost melts in your mouth.

That said, any barbecue chips will do! You can also use regular potato chips, like the original Ruffles or Lay’s, or experiment with flavors like sour cream & onion. I haven’t tried these with Doritos (yet) but something tells me it would work perfectly. I honestly don’t think you can go wrong here!

How To Make BBQ Chicken Sliders

One thing I love about these sliders is that they can be ready in as little as 30 minutes with the Instant Pot or the prep can be more leisurely with the slow cooker. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

What To Serve Them With

Normally, I would recommend serving BBQ chicken sliders with a side of chips and coleslaw, but those are already on the sandwich! You can keep it really simple by adding more chips on the side. These also pair really nicely with summer picnic sides, like potato salad or baked beans.

Proper Storage

These BBQ chicken sliders are best enjoyed immediately after being assembled, as the chips will soften and the coleslaw shouldn’t be heated.

However, the individual elements can be stored and used to assemble more sliders later. Store the chicken, the Alabama white sauce, and the coleslaw in separate containers in the fridge. The chicken is best enjoyed within 3-4 days, while the Alabama white sauce will last closer to a week.

Reheat the chicken in the microwave or in the oven, then assemble the sliders as usual.

Looking For More Slider Recipes?

• Blackened Chicken Alfredo Sliders
• Italian Grinder Sliders
• Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
• Candied Bacon BLT Sliders
• Hot Honey Chicken Sliders
• Hawaiian Roll Cheeseburger Sliders