BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls (Printable version)

Smoky BBQ pulled chicken on sweet, fluffy Hawaiian rolls. Quick, crowd-pleasing handhelds perfect for any gathering.

# What you'll need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

→ Sauce & Seasonings

02 - 1 cup BBQ sauce, plus more for serving
03 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
04 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
09 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt

→ Slider Assembly

10 - 12 soft Hawaiian rolls, split
11 - 2 tbsp melted butter (optional for toasting rolls)
12 - 1 cup coleslaw, store-bought or homemade (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
03 - Add chicken breasts to the skillet along with chicken broth, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour BBQ sauce over the top.
04 - Cover and simmer on low for 25-30 minutes until chicken is cooked through and easily shreds. Alternatively, use a slow cooker on LOW for 3-4 hours.
05 - Remove chicken from the skillet, shred with two forks, and return to the sauce. Stir well to coat evenly.
06 - Arrange Hawaiian rolls on a baking sheet. Brush with melted butter and toast in the oven for 4-5 minutes until lightly golden.
07 - Spoon pulled chicken onto the bottom half of each roll. Top with coleslaw if desired and cover with the top bun.
08 - Serve warm with extra BBQ sauce on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sweet Hawaiian rolls balance smoky BBQ sauce like they were made for each other no fancy sauce work required
  • Everything comes together in under an hour but tastes like youve been tending a smoker all afternoon
  • People hover around the kitchen when these are cooking which is basically the best hosting compliment ever
02 -
  • Let the chicken rest in the sauce for at least 5 minutes after shredding so it soaks up all that flavor instead of staying dry on the outside
  • Overcooked chicken turns into mush faster than you expect so start checking at the 20 minute mark
  • The sliders get soggy if assembled too far ahead so keep components separate until serving time
03 -
  • Use kitchen shears to shred chicken twice as fast as forks without making a mess
  • A splash of apple cider vinegar in the sauce cuts through the richness if it feels too heavy

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