These Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Sliders are the perfect combination of tangy and savory flavors. Made with juicy, tender chicken breasts cooked in the Instant Pot, these sliders are sure to be a hit. Whether you're hosting a party or just looking for a quick and tasty weeknight dinner, these bbq chicken sliders are the answer.

Jump to:
Check out my Zucchini Sliders and my Instant Pot Turkey Burgers for more delicious slider recipes!
This Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Sliders recipe is a delicious and easy to make meal that is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a casual get-together with friends and family. This recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are cooked in the Instant Pot, then shredded and mixed with bbq sauce.
Topped with tangy purple onions, crunchy pickle chips, and served on soft Hawaiian rolls, these sliders are easy to make and even easier to devour. Juicy, flavorful, and satisfying sliders that are perfect for any occasion.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- The Instant Pot makes it easy to cook the chicken quickly and efficiently, leaving you with juicy and tender meat in no time.
- The combination of bbq sauce and pickles with the tender chicken and tangy onions creates a delicious flavor profile that is hard to beat.
- You can use your favorite bbq sauce, add different toppings, or switch up the rolls to make this recipe your own.
- Whether you're hosting a party, feeding a crowd, or just want a quick and easy weeknight dinner, these sliders are the perfect solution.
- These sliders are great on their own, but can also be served with sides like coleslaw, potato salad, or baked beans for a complete meal.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast: This is the main protein in the recipe. The chicken is cooked in the Instant Pot, making it juicy and tender, and then shredded and mixed with bbq sauce.
- BBQ Sauce: Used to flavor the chicken, you can use your favorite brand or make your own.
- Purple Onion: Adds a tangy and crunchy flavor to the sliders.
- Kosher Pickle Chips: Adds a salty and crunchy texture to the sliders.
- Hawaiian Rolls: The soft and sweet rolls serve as the base for the sliders. They are split in half and the chicken and toppings are added to create the finished product.
- Water: Used in the Instant Pot to cook the chicken. It creates steam, which helps cook the chicken evenly and quickly.
Step-By-Step-Instructions
Step 1: Add the water to the Instant Pot and place a trivet inside.
Step 2: Place the chicken breast on the trivet and close the lid. Set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 8 minutes.
Step 3: When the timer goes off, do a quick release of the pressure. Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and let it cool for a few minutes.
Step 4: Shred the chicken with two forks, return to Instant Pot and place on sauté. Add the bbq sauce and sauté for 1 minute.
Step 5: Preheat your oven to 350 ℉. Split the Hawaiian rolls in half and place the bottom halves in a 9x9 inch baking dish.
Step 6: Spoon the chicken mixture on top of the rolls, then add a few slices of purple onion and some pickle chips.
Step 7: Place the top half of the rolls on top of the filling and bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until the rolls are lightly toasted.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- Use high quality BBQ sauce. The flavor of the sliders depends greatly on the BBQ sauce you use, so make sure to choose a high quality sauce that you love.
- Shred the chicken while it's still warm. Shredding the chicken while it's still warm will make it easier to shred and will result in more evenly shredded meat.
- Make ahead of time. The chicken can be cooked and shredded ahead of time, making assembly quick and easy when you're ready to make the sliders.
- Customize the toppings. Feel free to add your favorite toppings, like cheese, jalapenos, or avocado, to make these sliders your own.
Variations
- Different BBQ sauce: Use your favorite bbq sauce or try a different flavor, such as spicy, honey mustard, or chipotle.
- Toppings: Add your favorite toppings, such as cheese, bacon, jalapenos, avocado, or coleslaw.
- Bread: Switch up the Hawaiian rolls for another type of bread, such as brioche buns, slider buns, or even dinner rolls.
- Spices: Add some spices to the chicken mixture, such as garlic powder, cumin, or chili powder, to give it an extra kick of flavor.
- Sauces: Serve the sliders with your favorite dipping sauce, such as ranch, blue cheese, or honey mustard.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Store the cooked chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store the assembled sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Freezing: Freeze the cooked chicken and sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Freeze the assembled sliders in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
Reheating: When you're ready to eat the sliders, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the oven or on a pan on the stove until heated through.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts, but you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly as chicken thighs can take longer to cook.
Yes, you can use any type of pickle that you like, such as dill pickles or sweet pickles.
Yes, you can make the sliders without an oven by toasting the rolls on a pan on the stove or in a toaster.
Yes, you can use any type of roll that you like, such as brioche buns, slider buns, or even dinner rolls.
Other Instant Pot Recipes You'll Love
If you love this recipe, please leave a comment with a five-star rating — or simply hit the five-star button in the recipe card. Don't forget to signup for my newsletter.
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 8 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 9 Hawaiian sweet rolls
- ½ medium purple onion sliced thin
- 9 kosher pickle chips
Instructions
- Add the water to the Instant Pot and place a trivet inside.
- Place the chicken breast on the trivet and close the lid. Set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 8 minutes.
- When the timer goes off, do a quick release of the pressure. Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and let it cool for a few minutes.
- Shred the chicken with two forks, return to Instant Pot and place on sauté. Add the BBQ sauce and sauté for 1 minute.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Split the Hawaiian rolls in half and place the bottom halves in a 9x9 inch baking dish.
- Spoon the chicken mixture on top of the rolls, then add a few slices of purple onion and some pickle chips.
- Place the top half of the rolls on top of the filling and bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until the rolls are lightly toasted.
Notes
- The flavor of the sliders depends greatly on the BBQ sauce you use, so make sure to choose a high-quality sauce that you love.
- Shredding the chicken while it's still warm will make it easier to shred and will result in more evenly shredded meat.
- The chicken can be cooked and shredded ahead of time, making assembly quick and easy when you're ready to make the sliders.
- Feel free to add your favorite toppings, like cheese, jalapenos, or avocado, to make these sliders your own.
- Storing: Store the cooked chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store the assembled sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Freezing: Freeze the cooked chicken and sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Freeze the assembled sliders in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
- Reheating: When you're ready to eat the sliders, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the oven or on a pan on the stove until heated through.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Sara Welch
Another great recipe for my Instant Pot! Served these for dinner last night and they do not disappoint; so delicious-the whole family loved them!
Michelle
Never thought to use my IP to make bbq chicken sliders! Can't wait to make these! Yum!