My Barbecue Chicken Sliders with Homemade Barbecue Sauce might be one of the easiest game day recipes you can make, and they are SO good! Crispy chicken tenders are tossed in my homemade barbecue sauce, then layered onto soft rolls with Monterey Jack cheese and red onion and baked until the cheese is perfectly melted.
For the chicken, I’m using Nature Raised Farms Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Strips. Having these in my freezer makes recipes like this so quick and easy to throw together, especially on nights when I don’t feel like making everything completely from scratch.
I also love that Nature Raised Farms keeps the ingredients simple. Their Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Strips are made with no seed oils and are gluten and dairy free, so they’re an easy freezer staple I can feel good about using for quick meals like these sliders.
And we have to talk about the homemade barbecue sauce! It’s sweet, smoky, tangy, and has just the right amount of spice. The recipe makes more than you’ll need for the sliders, which is perfect because you can save the extra for dipping.
BE SURE TO SAVE THIS RECIPE TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD FOR LATER!
Why I Use Nature Raised Farms Chicken Breast Strips
The Nature Raised Farms Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Strips are really what make this recipe so easy. Instead of having to bread and cook chicken from scratch, I can cook the strips until crispy, toss them in my homemade barbecue sauce, and the main part of the recipe is already done.
I especially love keeping them in my freezer for busy weeknights, game days, or those days when I want something homemade without having to make every single component from scratch.
They’re made with simple ingredients, no seed oils, and they’re gluten and dairy free. Once they get nice and crispy, they’re SO good tossed in the homemade barbecue sauce.
Why You’ll Love These Barbecue Chicken Sliders
There’s a lot to love about these sliders, but my favorite part is how easy they are to make without sacrificing flavor.
- Quick and easy: Using Nature Raised Farms chicken strips saves so much prep time.
- Simple ingredients: I love that the chicken strips are made without seed oils and are gluten and dairy free.
- Homemade barbecue sauce: The sweet and smoky sauce takes these to the next level.
- Perfect for game day: Make a whole tray at once and let everyone grab their own.
- Easy to customize: Add as much cheese, red onion, and barbecue sauce as you like.
- Great for busy nights: Keeping the chicken strips in the freezer makes it easy to throw these together when you don’t want to cook everything from scratch.
Equipment You Will Need
- Large saucepan
- Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Large mixing bowl
- Baking dish or sheet pan
- Air fryer or oven for cooking the chicken strips
Ingredients
For the Chicken Sliders
- 12 rolls of choice — I used homemade sourdough rolls
- 12 Nature Raised Farms Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Strips
- About 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or to taste)
- Thinly sliced red onion, to taste
- Homemade barbecue sauce
For the Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion (finely diced)
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 cups unsweetened ketchup
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/8 cup monk fruit (or sweetener of choice)
- 2 tsp dried mustard
- 3/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp chipotle seasoning
- 2 tsp chili powder
- Salt, to taste
Note: The barbecue sauce makes more than you need for 12 sliders, so save the extra for dipping!
Instructions
How to Make Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Add the finely diced onion and minced garlic and sauté for about 2 minutes.
- Add the remaining barbecue sauce ingredients and stir until combined.
- Allow the sauce to begin bubbling, then reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Remove from the heat and set aside while you prepare your chicken.
How to Make Barbecue Chicken Sliders
- Cook the Nature Raised Farms Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Strips according to the package instructions until hot and crispy. I cooked mine in the air fryer.
- Once cooked, toss the chicken strips with enough homemade barbecue sauce to evenly coat them.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Slice the rolls in half and arrange the bottom halves in a baking dish or on a baking sheet.
- Place one barbecue chicken strip onto each roll.
- Top with Monterey Jack cheese and thinly sliced red onion.
- Place the tops of the rolls over the chicken.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, or until everything is warmed through and the cheese is melted.
- Serve warm with extra homemade barbecue sauce for dipping.
An Easy Game Day Recipe
These sliders were made for game day. You get crispy chicken, melty cheese, soft rolls, red onion, and that smoky homemade barbecue sauce all in one bite.
And because the Nature Raised Farms chicken is already lightly breaded, there’s no need to make your own breading or fry chicken from scratch. Cook the strips until crispy, toss them in sauce, assemble your sliders, and pop them in the oven.
It’s one of those recipes that feels fun enough for game day but is simple enough to make for a regular weeknight dinner too.
Tips for the Best Barbecue Chicken Sliders
Get the chicken nice and crispy. Cook your Nature Raised Farms chicken strips until crispy before adding the barbecue sauce. This gives the sliders a much better texture.
Don’t overdo the sauce. Coat the chicken well, but don’t completely soak it. You can always add more sauce for dipping.
Use your favorite rolls. I made homemade sourdough rolls, but Hawaiian rolls, brioche rolls, or your favorite dinner rolls will work.
Make them your own. I don’t really measure the cheese or red onion here. Use as much or as little as you like!
Keep Nature Raised Farms in the freezer. Having a bag of chicken strips on hand makes recipes like this so much easier when you need a quick lunch, dinner, or game day appetizer.
What Cheese Is Best for Barbecue Chicken Sliders?
I used Monterey Jack because it melts really well and has a mild flavor that pairs perfectly with the barbecue sauce.
Cheddar, Colby Jack, mozzarella, or pepper Jack would also be delicious.
Can I Make These Ahead of Time?
You can absolutely make the homemade barbecue sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to make the sliders.
I recommend waiting to cook the chicken and assemble the sliders until you’re close to serving them. That way, the chicken stays crispy and the rolls don’t get soggy.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftover sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For the best texture, reheat them in the oven or air fryer until warmed through.
Keep the leftover homemade barbecue sauce in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator and use it for dipping throughout the week.
Barbecue Chicken Sliders FAQ
What chicken do you use for barbecue chicken sliders?
I use Nature Raised Farms Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Strips. They’re an easy freezer staple that makes this recipe so much faster because you don’t have to bread and cook chicken completely from scratch. I also love that they’re made with simple ingredients, no seed oils, and are gluten and dairy free.
Can I use store-bought barbecue sauce?
Yes! I love these with my homemade barbecue sauce, but you can absolutely use your favorite store-bought sauce when you need to save even more time.
What rolls are best for chicken sliders?
I used homemade sourdough rolls, but Hawaiian rolls, brioche rolls, or regular dinner rolls all work.
Can I use a different cheese?
Definitely. Monterey Jack is my favorite here, but cheddar, mozzarella, Colby Jack, or pepper Jack would all work.
What can I do with the extra barbecue sauce?
Save it for dipping! You can also use it throughout the week with chicken, burgers, fries, roasted potatoes, or another protein.
Recipe Notes
- The homemade barbecue sauce recipe makes more than you’ll need for 12 sliders. Store the extra in an airtight container in the refrigerator and save it for dipping or another meal.
- The Monterey Jack cheese and red onion amounts are flexible, so feel free to adjust them to your preference.
- I used homemade sourdough rolls, but any soft slider or dinner roll will work.
- For the best texture, make sure your Nature Raised Farms chicken strips are nice and crispy before tossing them in the barbecue sauce.
Check Me Out on Social Media!
I post all my recipes on social media as well and you can stay up to date on what I am up to! Also, I love seeing people try my recipes! When make these, snap a picture, and share it to your socials. Tag @cookingkatielady and #cookingkatielady so I can admire your masterpiece and share with others!
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Description
My Barbecue Chicken Sliders with Homemade Barbecue Sauce might be one of the easiest game day recipes you can make, and they are SO good! Crispy chicken tenders are tossed in my homemade barbecue sauce, then layered onto soft rolls with Monterey Jack cheese and red onion and baked until the cheese is perfectly melted.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Sliders
For the Homemade Barbecue Sauce
Instructions
How to Make Homemade Barbecue Sauce
-
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
-
Add the finely diced onion and minced garlic and sauté for about 2 minutes.
-
Add the remaining barbecue sauce ingredients and stir until combined.
-
Allow the sauce to begin bubbling, then reduce the heat to low.
-
Simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
-
Remove from the heat and set aside while you prepare your chicken.
How to Make Barbecue Chicken Sliders
-
Cook the Nature Raised Farms Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Strips according to the package instructions until hot and crispy. I cooked mine in the air fryer.
-
Once cooked, toss the chicken strips with enough homemade barbecue sauce to generously coat them. Save the extra sauce for dipping later.
-
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
-
Slice the rolls in half and arrange the bottom halves in a baking dish or on a baking sheet.
-
Place one barbecue chicken strip onto each roll.
-
Top with Monterey Jack cheese and thinly sliced red onion.
-
Place the tops of the rolls over the chicken.
-
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until everything is warmed through and the cheese is melted.
-
Serve warm with extra homemade barbecue sauce for dipping.
Note
Did you make this recipe?
The next time you make it, snap a picture, and share it to your socials. Tag @cookingkatielady and #cookingkatielady so I can admire your masterpiece and share with others!:)
Please note that my nutrition label is approximate and can have slight rounding.
