Smoked & Shredded BBQ Chicken Sliders

On July 28, 2025

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Smoky shredded chicken piled on sweet Hawaiian rolls and drizzled in BBQ sauce, these BBQ Chicken Sliders make an awesome tailgate appetizer.

Chicken sliders stacked on a black plate. The Text overlay reads "Smoked & Shredded BBQ Chicken Sliders" at the top, and "Hey Grill Hey" at the bottom.

Smoked and Shredded BBQ Chicken Sliders

Turn BBQ pulled chicken into an unforgettable handheld experience with these BBQ Chicken Sliders. With this recipe you can deliver crave-able sliders in an hour. First, you’ll season and smoke chicken thighs to juicy perfection before shredding and tossing them in a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce. After that, stack your chicken high on buttery toasted Hawaiian rolls.

These bite-sized bombs are bursting with flavor. Let them be a hit at your next cookout, game day, or family dinner.

Ingredients for this Recipe

If you’ve already stocked up on Hey Grill Hey goods, you only need 6 ingredients to make these smoky sliders. Here’s what you’ll want on hand so you can get started:

3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 Tablespoon avocado oil
2 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Sweet Rub
2 Tablespoons butter
1 cup Hey Grill Hey Apple Jalapeño BBQ Sauce
2 packages Hawaiian sweet rolls

Don’t worry if you’re out of my rub or sauce. You can pick some up in the Hey Grill Hey Store, or make your own following these easy recipes:

You can also use any rub or sauce you love and still turn out delicious smoked chicken for your sliders.

A chef's hands pouring juice from a cast iron skillet into a clear bowl of smoked poultry.

How to Make BBQ Chicken Sliders

Smoked sliders might sound like a weekend-long project, but this recipe comes together in just over an hour. Here’s how to make them:

Preheat the smoker. Get your smoker running at 275 degrees F. This lower heat gives the chicken time to absorb that smoky goodness while staying juicy. You can also make this in your oven if you don’t have access to a smoker. You won’t get that layer of smoke flavor, but you’ll still end up with delicious chicken for your sliders.
Season the chicken. First, drizzle your chicken thighs with avocado oil, then rub until they’re evenly coated. After that, sprinkle both sides with Sweet Rub, making sure every bite is seasoned.
Smoke the chicken. Place the chicken thighs directly on the grates, close the lid, and let them smoke for about 45 minutes. You’re looking for the thickest part of the thighs to reach an internal temperature of 175 degrees F. This is the ideal temperature for dark meat like thighs, and it makes shredding later a breeze.
Rest and shred the chicken. Transfer the smoked chicken to a large bowl and let it rest for 10 minutes. This helps the juices redistribute so every bite is full of flavor. Shred using two forks, a hand mixer, or some trusty Pitmaster Gloves.
Toast the rolls. While the chicken is resting, slice your Hawaiian rolls in half and toast them cut-side up on a baking sheet under the broiler for 2–3 minutes until golden.
Sauce and assemble. Heat the Apple Jalapeño BBQ Sauce in a saucepan with 2 Tablespoons of butter, whisking until smooth. Stir the warm sauce into your shredded chicken until everything is well coated, then pile everything high on your toasted rolls, and enjoy!

A chef's gloed hands shredding cooked chicken in a glass bowl.

Susie’s BBQ Chicken Slider Pro Tips

The recipe card has everything you need to deliver tasty sliders, but I’ve got some tips I’ve learned making these over the years to help take yours over the top:

Choose thighs over breasts. You might be tempted to go with chicken breasts, but the dark meat of thighs stays juicier, has more flavor, and shreds more easily. Starting with boneless, skinless thighs also makes for less hassle.
Cook to 175 degrees F. While light meat only needs to cook to 165 F, dark meat like chicken thighs needs to cook to 175 degrees F. This temperature also makes for easier shredding.
Shred smarter, not harder. You can use Pitmaster Gloves to shred the chicken hot off the smoker, or grab a hand mixer for fast, fork-free shredding in a deep bowl.

Serving Suggestions

These sliders are built for sharing. Serve them up at tailgates on game day, add them to your backyard BBQ spread, or make them the star of your family-style dinner. There’s really no wrong way to enjoy these amazing sliders. Here are some ways we like to enjoy them at our house if you need a little inspiration:

Round out your meal. These sliders go great alongside BBQ Baked Beans, Easy Grilled Corn, or a Simple Pasta Salad.
Add some toppings. You can make some Quick Pickles or Pickled Red Onions to add a little crunch, or Homemade Coleslaw for a creamy touch.
Swap the sauce. If you’re not a fan of spice, you can use my Everything BBQ Sauce. It’s still sweet and tangy, but skips the heat. Check out my Store for bottled options or browse the Sauce Section of the site for even more ways to shake up the flavor.
Go big. You can easily use this same recipe with some full-size buns for BBQ chicken sandwiches if you’re feeling extra hungry. No judgment here.

A closeup shot of 2 BBQ chicken sliders dripping with sauce.

More BBQ Chicken Recipes

Can’t get enough of that smoky, saucy chicken? Me either. I’ve got all kinds of chicken recipes here on the site, as well as in the Hey Grill Hey App. Here are a few of my most popular options for you to try next:

Chicken

Backyard BBQ Chicken Pizza

Chicken

BBQ Chicken Quesadilla

Chicken

BBQ Chicken Thighs

Chicken

BBQ Chicken Nachos

Simple Smoked BBQ Chicken Slider Recipe

Make these BBQ Chicken Sliders, feel like a Backyard BBQ Hero. After you’re done enjoying the sliders (and the glory) be sure to come back and tell me how yours turned out in the comments section below.

Make sure to snap a few mouthwatering photos, then tag my Instagram and Facebook with @heygrillhey. I love to see your masterpieces and cheer you on, along with the best community of backyard grillers around!

A closeup shot of a shredded chicken sandwich dripping with BBQ sauce.

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