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BBQ Chicken Bites

Featured in: Small Snacks with Big Flavor

These tasty sliders pair BBQ chicken with crunchy bacon and melty cheese, nestled on soft buns. Quick and easy, ideal for gatherings or dinner.

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Updated on Sun, 27 Apr 2025 16:20:19 GMT
Soft bread sandwiches stuffed with BBQ chicken, crispy bacon, and melted cheese, served fresh on a white plate. Pin it
Soft bread sandwiches stuffed with BBQ chicken, crispy bacon, and melted cheese, served fresh on a white plate. | cookingkitchn.com

Need a crowd-pleaser for your next gathering? These BBQ chicken sliders will blow everyone away! Imagine tender pulled chicken drenched in tangy BBQ sauce, topped with crunchy bacon and gooey cheese, all sandwiched between fluffy Hawaiian buns. I first whipped these up for football Sundays, and now my crew demands them practically every week!

What Makes These Special

They're done in half an hour, perfect when you're short on time! Even the fussiest kids at my table finish everything. You can customize the add-ons any way you want, and they'll feed your whole gang without much effort. That's a total score!

Grab These Supplies

  • The Chicken: Pick up a rotisserie chicken to cut down your prep!
  • BBQ Sauce: Go for whatever flavor you enjoy most.
  • Good Rolls: The Hawaiian sweet ones really make these pop.
  • Melty Cheese: Strong cheddar brings out all the flavors.
  • Crispy Bacon: Splurge on the thicker slices.
  • Fresh Onion: A bit of red onion gives that perfect zing.
  • Real Butter: This creates that amazing golden crust.

Time To Make Magic

Prep First
Heat your oven to 350°F and lightly coat your baking dish.
Combine The Tasty Bits
Pull apart that chicken and mix in the BBQ sauce until everything's nicely covered.
Stack Everything Up
Slice those rolls horizontally but keep them all attached! Spread your chicken mixture, add bacon pieces, onion slices and sprinkle cheese generously.
Finish The Tops
Place the bun tops back on and brush with melted butter for that gorgeous shine.
Into The Oven
Wrap with foil and bake for 15 minutes, then take the foil off for 5 more until everything looks toasty and tempting!

Smart Tricks

Fix your bacon beforehand to save some hassle. Don't separate those buns during prep, it'll make your job way easier. Want more kick? Toss some garlic powder or smoky paprika in your butter. Craving heat? Throw some sliced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce in there, we won't tell!

A close-up of delicious pulled chicken sliders garnished with bacon and placed on a white plate. Pin it
A close-up of delicious pulled chicken sliders garnished with bacon and placed on a white plate. | cookingkitchn.com

Mix It Up

Swap chicken for some juicy pulled pork or add coleslaw for crunch. Looking for something different? Toss in pineapple chunks for a tropical twist. Don't eat meat? Plant-based chicken alternatives work just fine! Want more texture? Sprinkle on some fried onions or colorful bell peppers.

Store For Later

Any extras can sit in your fridge for about 3 days. When it's time to warm them up, wrap in foil so they don't dry out. Want to get ahead? You can build these a day early, just wait to brush on the butter until you're ready to bake!

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What chicken is ideal?

Shredded chicken breasts, thighs, or even rotisserie chicken are all great choices.

→ Can I switch the cheese up?

Sure! Any shredded cheese you like will work beautifully here.

→ How should leftovers be kept?

Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

→ What's the best way to warm them?

Wrap them in foil and heat in a 350°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

→ Can these be prepped early?

Yes! Put them together a day before and pop them in the oven when you're ready.

BBQ Chicken Bites

Soft buns stuffed with BBQ chicken, crunchy bacon, and warm cheese. Perfect mini treats.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Total Time
30 Minutes
By: Sophia

Category: Bite-Sized Snacks

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 12 Servings (12)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 2 lbs of shredded, cooked chicken.
02 1 cup and a quarter of BBQ sauce.
03 12 small, soft rolls.
04 6 slices of thick bacon, already crisped.
05 Half a cup of thin red onion slices.
06 1 cup of cheddar cheese, grated.
07 4 tablespoons of butter, melted.

Instructions

Step 01

Turn the oven on to 350°F. Coat a 9x13-inch dish well with a spray that stops sticking.

Step 02

Toss the shredded chicken and the sauce in a medium bowl until every piece is coated evenly.

Step 03

Slice through all the small rolls horizontally at the same time. Leave the rolls connected to make it easier.

Step 04

Lay the bottom part of the rolls inside the greased dish so they fit tightly without gaps.

Step 05

Spread the BBQ-flavored chicken evenly across the bottom rolls, making sure each section ends up with some.

Step 06

Add the crispy bacon slices on top of the chicken. Break them into pieces if needed to cover everything well.

Step 07

Evenly scatter the red onion slices over the bacon so every bite gets some onion flavor.

Step 08

Cover the surface generously with shredded cheddar, making sure it spreads across all the layers.

Step 09

Put the top section of the rolls over the cheese. Line them up carefully with the bottoms.

Step 10

Use a brush to spread the melted butter over the tops of the rolls, not missing the edges.

Step 11

Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil so the tops don't brown too much too soon.

Step 12

Pop it into the oven for 15 minutes, covered. This softens the cheese and heats the filling.

Step 13

Take the foil off and bake for another 5 minutes until the tops are golden.

Step 14

Let the dish sit untouched for 5 minutes. This keeps everything sturdy while slicing.

Step 15

Cut the sliders apart where the rolls are already divided. They're ready to share.

Notes

  1. Quick and easy to make.
  2. Perfect for serving a crowd.
  3. Can be prepared ahead of time.
  4. A solid choice for weeknights.

Tools You'll Need

  • A standard 9x13 dish.
  • Medium-sized mixing bowl.
  • Butter brush for spreading.
  • Foil for covering.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy (cheese, butter).
  • Includes wheat (rolls).

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 444
  • Total Fat: 22 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 33 g
  • Protein: 27 g