4th July BBQ Chicken Sliders (Printable)

Savory BBQ chicken with crunchy coleslaw on soft buns, ideal for warm-weather gatherings and casual meals.

# What you'll need:

→ BBQ Chicken

01 - 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 cup BBQ sauce
03 - 0.5 cup chicken broth
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
08 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Coleslaw

09 - 3 cups shredded green cabbage
10 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
11 - 1 medium carrot, grated
12 - 0.25 cup mayonnaise
13 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - 1 teaspoon honey
16 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Assembly

17 - 8 slider buns
18 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# Method:

01 - Season chicken breasts with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken breasts and sear 2-3 minutes per side until lightly browned.
02 - Add chicken broth and BBQ sauce to the skillet. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15-18 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tender.
03 - Remove chicken and shred with two forks, then return to the skillet. Toss with sauce and simmer uncovered for 3-5 minutes until thickened.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.
05 - Add shredded green and red cabbage and grated carrot to the dressing. Toss well to coat evenly and set aside.
06 - Brush slider buns with melted butter. Toast in a skillet or under the broiler until golden brown.
07 - Place a generous scoop of BBQ chicken on each bottom bun. Top with a heap of coleslaw. Cover with the top bun and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The chicken is ridiculously tender and juicy, absorbing all that smoky sauce while staying foolproof.
  • Coleslaw adds a bright, tangy contrast that feels fancy but takes five minutes to make.
  • You can prep everything in forty-five minutes total, which means more time actually enjoying your guests.
02 -
  • Don't skip the uncovered simmer at the end; that's when the sauce thickens enough to actually stay on the chicken instead of sliding off the bun.
  • Make your coleslaw dressing first, then add the vegetables—this way everything gets coated evenly instead of some bites being dry and others drowning.
03 -
  • If your BBQ sauce is very thick, thin it with a bit more chicken broth so it coats the chicken instead of clumping up.
  • The coleslaw tastes even better the next day once the flavors have married together, so don't hesitate to make it ahead.
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