Slow Cooker BBQ Hawaiian Roll Chicken Sliders
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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.
Table of Contents
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
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions below in the recipe card.
- 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
This recipe is also really delicious topped with my easy 10 minute coleslaw.
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!
What To Serve With BBQ Hawaiian Roll Chicken Sliders
For a party, potluck or just for a family dinner, we may want to pair them with a tasty side. Pigs in a blanket always disappear fast. Pasta salad feeds a crowd, try the Italian pasta salad or the creamy bacon ranch pasta salad.
Roasted potato wedges or crispy baked potatoes are hearty sides that fill bellies. Add some more vegetables to the meal with the honey glazed carrots or the cucumber tomato salad.
If you want the ultimate BBQ pairing, don’t skip the 10 minute coleslaw, it’s crunchy, creamy, and just right with these sweet sliders.
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.
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Slow Cooker BBQ Hawaiian Roll Chicken Sliders
Ingredients
Ingredients For The Chicken Mixture
- 3 pounds chicken breasts boneless skinless
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 20 ounces pineapple rings in juice canned, plus an extra for garnish. See notes
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 4 stalks green onion sliced, green and white parts
- 4 cloves garlic minced
Ingredients For Making Sliders
- 36 rolls Hawaiian style rolls slider buns, usually 3 packs
- sesame seeds optional
- 3 tablespoons butter optional
Instructions
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!
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This?
I would love to see it! Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
Question: can pork be used instead? If so what kind and how much works best?
I’m sure you could use pork Becky, but I haven’t tried it this way so I it’s hard to give you exact directions without testing.
I do have a pineapple pork loin that you could add bbq sauce too, but it will make a lot of pork, I would estimate enough for three packs of sliders. https://onmykidsplate.com/slow-cooker-pineapple-pork-loin/
Pork tenderloin might be closer to the amount you need for sliders, and I bet it would work out with this chicken recipe as it is lean like chicken and not far off in size. I’d just watch the cook time a little closer, it may be done a little closer to 3 hours then four depending on how big your pork tenderloin is. Hope that helps Becky.
I am going to try this today! Sounds delicious! I was wondering if teriyaki sauce would be a good substitute for the soy sauce?
Hi Cyndi- I have never done it but you probably could use teriyaki sauce. Teriyaki sauce is a little thicker, you may need to add a splash of water or chicken broth to thin it out a little. Hope it’s delicious!
Fanominal
Hi there! Can I use an instant pot instead of the slow cooker for a faster result? Wondering if it would taste the same?
Hi Jaqueline, I’m sure you could use an instant pot but I have not tested this recipe in the instant pot. I’m not sure if it would need adjusted or not, but you are welcome to try it. Let me know how it goes!
I’m confused about step 3. You cut up pineapple & then do what with it? It says the remaining slices go in the crockpot…
Hi Ann, I edited the text in the recipe to make it clearer. It’s throw in the chunks of pineapple to the slow cooker. Any leftover pineapple rings can be added at the end or on the sandwiches. Thanks, hope you enjoy!
Can you use fresh pineapple instead of canned? If so, any special instructions? Thanks.
Hi Bev, I have not made this recipe with fresh pineapple, however knowing what I know about pineapple and cooking it should be fine to use fresh in this recipe. If we were trying to create more sauce (more like in stir fry) sometimes it can make more of a difference if you use fresh or canned pineapple, but for this recipe you should be just fine to use fresh pineapple cut for cup. No special instructions, just make sure to take out the core and fully take off the skin! Let me know how it goes!
Fantastic recipe!
The instructions do not say what to cook the chicken in the slow cooker? Do you put the mixture in and cook the chicken with it, or so you cook the chicken on water for those hours? It says to add the mixture after the chicken is cooked, but what was it cooked with first?
Hi Shania, thank you for the note. You mix the sauce mixture in step 2, then pour that over the chicken in the slow cooker. Then you add the pineapple on top in step 3. Sorry about that I think I missed a line! I went ahead and edited the recipe instructions, which should show up in the directions now. Hope it is delicious for you!