These slow cooker BBQ Hawaiian roll chicken sliders are the ultimate delicious dinner! Perfect for parties, the big game, or just dinner, the combination of sweet BBQ sauce mixed with pineapple on a sweet Hawaiian roll makes these sliders the perfect snack! Making these in the slow cooker not only makes it easy, it keeps the chicken warm for you too.
Why We Love BBQ Hawaiian Roll Chicken Sliders
- Perfect Party Food- These little sliders are a perfect meal to feed a crowd, and the slow cooker keeps everything warm. Great for game day, summer parties or potlucks!
- Easy Recipe– This dump and go style recipe doesn’t take long to prep, freeing you up to do other things!
- Family Friendly Recipe– Sweet and savory, these sliders are great for both kids and adults, and chicken recipes are usually a safe bet.
Ingredients For BBQ Hawaiian Roll Chicken Sliders
- chicken breasts – boneless skinless
- BBQ sauce – you can use your favorite barbecue sauce.
- brown sugar
- pineapple rings in juice – canned, plus an extra for garnish. Use pineapple in juice, not in syrup.
- low sodium soy sauce
- green onions – sliced, green and white parts
- garlic – minced, can also use fresh garlic or garlic powder.
- Hawaiian style rolls slider buns – King’s Hawaiian rolls has some of the best sweet Hawaiian rolls around, but I have also seen other brands in places like Trader Joe’s and Sprouts. Costco often carries a large pack that has 3 packs of rolls.
- sesame seeds – optional, you can also use poppy seeds.
- butter – optional
How To Make BBQ Hawaiian Roll Chicken Sliders
- Spray a 6 quart slow cooker with cooking spray if desired. Add chicken breast to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- In a large bowl combine BBQ sauce, brown sugar, juice from the can of pineapple, soy sauce, green onions and garlic and mix well. Pour this sauce mixture over the chicken.
- Remove half of the pineapple rings and slice into bite-sized chunks. Add the pineapple chunks to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 4-6 hours until the chicken falls apart and shreds easily, the chicken should be at least 165 degrees when tested with a meat thermometer.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker to a cutting board. Save 3/4 cup of the liquid in the slow cooker to the side and remove the rest. Shred the chicken with two forks.
- Add the shredded chicken and 3/4 cup cooking liquid back to the slow cooker.
- You can serve these sandwiches right away from the slow cooker with any extra pineapple slices. Enjoy!
Making Pull Apart Sliders (optional)
- Heat the oven broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Slice the rolls in half horizontally. Place the bottom piece of the slider rolls on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Place 1/3 of the shredded chicken on the slider buns. To the chicken with the remaining or additional pineapple slices
- Place the top on the buns and brush melted butter mixture on the top buns with a pastry brush. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top of the rolls. Broil for a minute or two until golden brown. Keep an eye, they brown quickly!
- Repeat for each pack of rolls, then serve and enjoy!
You can heat the sliders up in a glass baking dish but it is not safe to broil in a glass baking dish. The higher temperature from broiling can shatter the glass. Instead, heat the oven to 375 degrees, then add the glass baking dish full of sliders to the oven. The slider rolls should brown in about 5-10 minutes after being brushed with butter.
Variation Ideas for Slow Cooker BBQ Hawaiian Chicken Sliders
Serve Over Steamed Rice– This recipe can easily be simply served over rice for dinner for a full dinner. Plan about one cup of cooked rice per person.
Try Regular Sized Buns– The mini slider size is fun, but full sized sandwiches also works too. I recommend using a bun or roll that is soft and fluffy. Pretzel buns or pretzel slider buns are also fun.
Add Cheese – Slices of Monterey Jack cheese or Colby Jack cheese can be delicious on these sandwiches. I like to layer it on the bottom bun before topping it with chicken. This can also keep the bottom buns from being soggy.
Top With Pickled Red Onions– While my kid isn’t the biggest fan, I love to add pickled red onions on top of BBQ chicken or pulled BBQ pork. One day I’ll post my exact recipe, but here is a pickled red onion recipe you can try in the meantime.
Try Pickled Jalapeno Slices – For those that like a little more kick, a few pickled jalapeños can be great. I serve them on the side for a crowd, especially when serving kids and adults together.
Slice Some Avocado – Slices of avocado add a great creaminess, and are another great topping idea.
Add Some Hot Sauce– Try a few dashes of hot sauce to give your chicken a kick!
Slow Cooker BBQ Hawaiian Roll Chicken Sliders FAQ
You can prep the items in the slow cooker base up to 24 hours before you cook it. Just cover it so it is airtight and store everything in the refrigerator!
Yes, you can make the chicken on the stovetop for these sliders. The slow cooker recipes do keep the meat warm for a longer time for a party, but you can make it faster on the stove.
Place all the ingredients in a large pot and over high heat bring to a rapid boil. Reduce the heat so the pot is simmering and cover. Cook the entire mixture for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken easily shreds with a fork, then continue with the directions as written.
Yes, chicken thighs are also delicious in this recipe and can easily be swapped out pound for pound.
The chicken in the slow cooker can sit on warm covered for up to three hours. Stir occasionally as needed.
Yes. Use ripe pineapple cut into small chunks and ½ cup pineapple juice in the sauce. Canned pineapple in juice is slightly sweeter and more consistent, but fresh works well if you have it.
Start with ¾ cup cooking liquid mixed back into the shredded chicken, then add more 2 tablespoons at a time if you like it saucier.
How Many Sliders Do I Make For A Party?
As the main dish, this recipe will feed 10-12 adults with other side dishes, or 8 very hungry adults. I assume most adults will enjoy at least two sliders, and some three.
For potlucks with multiple main dishes, I plan for 1-2 sliders per adult.
How Long Will BBQ Hawaiian Roll Chicken Sliders Last?
I recommend saving any leftover chicken separate from the rolls when possible. This will allow the chicken to last for about 3 days without the rolls getting too soggy. Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
More Recipes You Will Love
Slow Cooker BBQ Hawaiian Roll Chicken Sliders
Tender BBQ chicken with pineapple cooks in the slow cooker, then gets piled on soft Hawaiian rolls. Easy for weeknight dinner, potlucks, and game day.
Prevent your screen from going dark
Ingredients For The Chicken Mixture
Ingredients For Making Sliders
Making The Chicken In The Slow Cooker
-
Spray a 6 quart slow cooker with cooking spray if desired. Add chicken breast to the bottom of the slow cooker.
3 pounds chicken breasts
-
In a large bowl combine BBQ sauce, brown sugar, juice from the can of pineapple, soy sauce, green onions and garlic and mix well. Pour this sauce mixture over the chicken.
1 cup BBQ sauce, ½ cup brown sugar, 20 ounces pineapple rings in juice, ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce, 4 stalks green onion, 4 cloves garlic
-
Remove half of the pineapple rings and slice into bite-sized chunks. Add the pineapple chunks to the slow cooker.
20 ounces pineapple rings in juice
-
Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 4-6 hours until the chicken falls apart and shreds easily. The chicken should reach 165°F when tested with a meat thermometer.
-
Remove the chicken from the slow cooker to a cutting board. Save 3/4 cup of the liquid in the slow cooker to the side and remove the rest. Shred the chicken with two forks.
-
Add the shredded chicken and 3/4 cup cooking liquid back to the slow cooker.
-
You can serve these sandwiches on the buns right away from the slow cooker with any extra pineapple slices. or you can make them pull apart sliders.
36 rolls Hawaiian style rolls
Making Pull Apart Sliders (optional)
-
Heat the oven broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
-
Slice the rolls in half horizontally. Place the bottom piece of the slider rolls on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Place 1/3 of the shredded chicken on the slider buns. Top the chicken with the remaining or additional pineapple slices.
-
Place the top on the buns and brush melted butter mixture on the top buns with a pastry brush. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top of the rolls. Broil for a minute or two until golden brown. Keep an eye, they brown quickly!
3 tablespoons butter, sesame seeds
-
Repeat for each pack of rolls, then serve and enjoy!
You can heat the sliders up in a glass baking dish but it is not safe to broil in a glass baking dish. The higher temperature from broiling can shatter the glass. Instead, heat the oven to 375 degrees, then add the glass baking dish full of sliders to the oven. The slider rolls should brown in about 5-10 minutes after being brushed with butter.
Use pineapple in juice, not in syrup. Pineapple in syrup can cause the recipe to be too sweet.
This recipe is also delicious topped with my 10 minute coleslaw.
You can serve these right away from the slow cooker and just put the buns on the side. Everyone just grabs a bun or two and loads them up with chicken on their plate. Or you can heat up the buns and make pull-apart style sliders, it’s your choice how you would like to serve them!
Calories: 88kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 180mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Did You Make This?
I would love to see it! Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
