Slow Cooker Creamy BBQ Chicken Sliders

These sliders feature juicy shredded chicken drenched in a tangy homemade BBQ sauce and mixed with cream cheese. The real secret though is the pineapple. Pile all that slow cooker goodness onto soft dinner rolls with a slice of cheese, and you’ve got the tastiest little sandwiches. Not only are they delicious, but they work well for feeding a crowd too.

Another great option is a classic pulled pork sandwich which we also make with a simple homemade BBQ sauce.

The slow-cooked chicken soaks up all that delicious BBQ sauce as it cooks. In this recipe, the pineapple serves a dual purpose. It not only adds a sweet, juicy flavor to the sliders but also helps tenderize the chicken. The natural enzymes in the fruit help break down the proteins in the chicken, resulting in a tender, juicy final product. Trust us, you won’t want to skip the pineapple in this recipe!

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breasts work best for this recipe.
• Pineapple Slices: You are looking for the canned pineapple rings. If you prefer, you can reserve some or buy an extra can for adding to the sliders for more pineapple goodness.
• Butter: Chicken breasts can be quite lean, and adding butter to the slow cooker helps keep the chicken moist.
• Ketchup: The base for the BBQ sauce.
• Brown Sugar: Can be replaced with pure maple syrup.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a lot of flavor.
• Liquid Smoke: Use hickory or mesquite flavored.
• Cream Cheese: Adds creaminess and richness to the shredded chicken, and helps bind the meat together for serving on sliders.
• Dinner Rolls: Use any type of roll you prefer.
• Cheese Slices: Use cheddar, provolone, gouda, or Monterey jack. The small slices for cheese and crackers work great for sliders.

Feed a Crowd

The recipe is easily scalable, making it simple to prepare a large batch without much extra effort for a potluck, buffet, luncheon, or large family dinner. Double or triple the recipe depending on the number of guests. A slow cooker is your best friend for this – you can cook a larger quantity of chicken all at once, keeping your prep time minimal. Once the chicken is cooked and shredded, you can keep it warm in the slow cooker until you’re ready to assemble the sliders.

Set up a self-serve slider station. Lay out the dinner rolls, cheese slices, pineapple rings, and the warm chicken mixture. This allows guests to build their own sliders just the way they like them. It also keeps the rolls from getting soggy if they’re left sitting for a while.

To keep everything organized, use large trays to hold the rolls and a warming tray or slow cooker to keep the chicken mixture hot. This setup is perfect for a buffet-style meal where guests can serve themselves.

Roll Options

These Cream Cheese Chicken Sliders are perfect for serving in your standard classic dinner rolls, but you can also use full-sized hamburger buns, brioche, potato rolls, Hawaiian rolls, or pretzel rolls. For a lighter twist, you can even serve these on lettuce leaves for a lettuce wrap.

Make it a Freezer Meal

After cooking and shredding the chicken, let it cool completely. Divide the shredded chicken mixture into portions suitable for your needs—whether that’s individual servings or enough for a whole meal. Place each portion in a freezer-safe bag or container. If using bags, flatten them out to save space in the freezer and allow for quicker thawing later.

When you’re ready to enjoy your sliders, simply transfer the bag from the freezer to the fridge the night before to thaw. Once thawed, reheat the chicken mixture in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until it’s warmed through.