Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders: A Juicy and Flavorful Crowd-Pleaser
These Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders are juicy, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. With minimal prep and the crockpot doing all the work, this recipe is perfect for busy nights, parties, and meal prep. The combination of tender shredded chicken, smoky BBQ sauce, and soft slider buns makes every bite irresistibly delicious.

The beauty of this dish is its simplicity and versatility. You can serve these sliders with coleslaw, pickles, cheese, or even caramelized onions to customize them to your taste. Whether you’re feeding a large crowd or just meal prepping for the week, these sliders are a guaranteed hit!
Why You’ll Love Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders
🔥 Effortless Slow-Cooking
Let the crockpot do the work—just add the ingredients and let it cook until the chicken is juicy and flavorful.
🍗 Tender, Shredded BBQ Chicken
Slow-cooking allows the chicken to absorb the smoky, tangy barbecue sauce, making it incredibly tender and juicy.
🍞 Perfect for Any Occasion
These sliders are great for parties, family dinners, meal prep, or game day snacks.
🌿 Customizable Toppings
Pair with coleslaw, pickles, cheese, or jalapeños to switch up the flavors.
🕒 Great for Meal Prep
The shredded BBQ chicken stores and reheats well, making it an excellent make-ahead meal.
Ingredients for Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders
For the Chicken:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce (your favorite brand)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
For the Sliders:
- 12 slider buns (brioche or Hawaiian rolls work best)
- 1 tablespoon melted butter (for brushing the buns)
- 1/2 cup coleslaw (optional, for topping)
- Pickles, sliced red onions, or cheese (optional toppings)
Instructions for Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders

Step 1: Season and Cook the Chicken
- Place the chicken breasts or thighs in the crockpot.
- Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder.
- Pour in chicken broth and cover with BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shredded.
Step 2: Shred the Chicken
- Once cooked, remove the chicken from the crockpot and place it on a plate.
- Use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and mix with the sauce to keep it juicy and flavorful.
Step 3: Toast the Buns (Optional)
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the slider buns on a baking sheet and brush the tops with melted butter.
- Toast for 5 minutes until slightly golden for extra flavor and texture.
Step 4: Assemble the Sliders
- Spoon a generous amount of BBQ shredded chicken onto the bottom half of each slider bun.
- Top with coleslaw, pickles, sliced red onions, or cheese (if desired).
- Place the top bun over the chicken and gently press down.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
- Serve the sliders warm with extra BBQ sauce on the side.
- Pair with crispy fries, potato salad, baked beans, or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
Tips for the Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders
🌟 Use Chicken Thighs for Extra Juiciness
Chicken thighs are naturally more tender and absorb the flavors better than chicken breasts.
🔥 Adjust the Spice Level
Add cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick.
🍯 Sweeten It Up
For a sweeter BBQ flavor, add extra brown sugar or a tablespoon of honey to the sauce.
🍞 Don’t Skip the Toasting
Toasting the buns helps them stay crisp and not get soggy from the juicy BBQ chicken.
How to Serve Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders
🍽 As a Main Dish
Pair with coleslaw, fries, or baked beans for a full meal.
🎉 For Game Day or Parties
Serve sliders on a large platter with extra toppings and sauces for a build-your-own station.
🥗 As a Light Meal
Enjoy with a side of mixed greens or a fresh corn salad.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
🧊 Refrigerate: Store leftover BBQ chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
🔥 Reheat: Warm in a skillet over medium heat or microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through.
❄️ Freeze: Freeze shredded BBQ chicken in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Variations to Try
🌶 Spicy BBQ Chicken Sliders: Use spicy BBQ sauce or add sliced jalapeños for heat.
🍍 Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sliders: Add grilled pineapple slices for a tropical twist.
🧀 Cheesy BBQ Chicken Sliders: Melt cheddar or pepper jack cheese on top of the chicken.
🥓 Bacon BBQ Sliders: Add crispy bacon slices for extra smoky flavor.

Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce your favorite brand
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 12 slider buns brioche or Hawaiian rolls
- 1 tablespoon melted butter for brushing the buns
- 1/2 cup coleslaw optional, for topping
- Pickles sliced red onions, or cheese (optional toppings)
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts or thighs in the crockpot.
- Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder.
- Pour in chicken broth, then cover with BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender.
- Shred the Chicken
- Remove the cooked chicken from the crockpot and place it on a plate.
- Use two forks to shred the chicken.
- Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and mix with the sauce.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the slider buns on a baking sheet and brush the tops with melted butter.
- Toast for 5 minutes until slightly golden.
- Spoon a generous amount of BBQ shredded chicken onto the bottom half of each slider bun.
- Top with coleslaw, pickles, sliced red onions, or cheese (if desired).
- Place the top bun over the chicken and press gently.
- Serve the sliders warm with extra BBQ sauce on the side.
- Pair with fries, potato salad, or baked beans for a complete meal.