BBQ Chicken Sliders with Herbed Butter Glaze

baked hawaiian roll sliders with chicken and cheese

4.69 from 86 votes

BBQ Chicken Sliders with Herbed Butter Glaze

Shredded chicken, tangy BBQ, sharp cheddar, and a savory herbed butter glaze baked into soft Hawaiian rolls. No dry chicken or soggy bottoms.

Prep Time10

Cook Time25

Total Time35

Course: Appetizer, lunch, Main Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 270kcal

Author: Julie Clark

Ingredients

3 cups shredded chicken
1 cup barbecue sauce
6 slices sharp cheddar cheese shredded cheese works as well.
12 Hawaiian bread rolls (1 package)
1/3 cup melted salted butter
¼ teaspoon beef broth base (Better Than Bouillon)
3 sprigs of thyme (stems removed)
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet or a 9x13" baking dish with aluminum foil. Spray very lightly with cooking spray.
In a microwave safe large bowl, mix together the shredded chicken and barbecue sauce. (Use as much barbecue sauce as you'd like...more or less! Heat the chicken and bbq sauce mixture in the microwave if it is not warm. This will help the sandwiches heat through properly. 3 cups shredded chicken, 1 cup barbecue sauce
Use a large serrated knife to slice the rolls in half, separating the tops from the bottoms. Place the bottom of the rolls onto the prepared baking pan. 12 Hawaiian bread rolls
Evenly distribute BBQ chicken mixture over the rolls. Top with the slices of cheese. Place the tops of the rolls onto the sandwiches. 6 slices sharp cheddar cheese
In a small bowl, mix together the butter, beef broth, thyme, and Parmesan cheese. Brush butter mixture over the rolls. 1/3 cup melted salted butter, ¼ teaspoon beef broth base, 3 sprigs of thyme, 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
Cover the rolls loosely with foil. Bake in the preheated oven until the rolls are lightly browned and the cheese has melted, about 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for another 3-5 minutes. Slice into individual rolls to serve. Serve warm.

Video

Notes

If you don't have Better Than Bouillon Beef Base, substitute 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce in the butter mixture. Don't skip the butter glaze entirely as it's what makes these sliders stand out.
Make ahead: Assemble fully, cover with foil, refrigerate up to 24 hours. Add 5 minutes to covered bake time.
Storage: refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container. Reheat leftover sliders in air fryer at 350°F for 4–5 minutes for best results. Microwave works but softens the rolls.
Use sliced cheese, not pre-shredded bagged cheese. It melts more cleanly.
Chicken options: rotisserie chicken for the best shortcut, Instant Pot shredded chicken breasts, slow cooker chicken, or 3 cans drained canned chicken (last resort).
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.

The calories shown are based on the recipe making 12 sandwiches, with 1 serving being 1 sandwich. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition