These sliders feature succulent shredded chicken drenched in tangy homemade BBQ sauce and mixed with cream cheese. The real secret though is the pineapple. Pile all that slow cooker goodness on soft dinner rolls with a slice of cheese and you have the most delicious little sandwich. Not only are they delicious, they also work well for feeding a crowd.
Another great option is a Classic pulled pork sandwich Which we also make with a simple homemade BBQ sauce.
Why our recipe?
- Easy homemade BBQ sauce using pantry staples.
- The pineapple adds acidity and flavor and ensures that the chicken is tender and juicy.
- There are no steps after slow cooking so people can self-serve the buns.
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 fruit's natural enzymes 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!
Material notes
- the chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breasts work best for this recipe.
- Pineapple Slices: You are looking for canned pineapple rings. If you like, you can reserve some or buy an extra can to add 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: Base for BBQ sauce.
- Brown Sugar: Can be substituted with pure maple syrup.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a lot of flavor.
- Liquid smoke: Use hickory or mesquite flavoring.
- Cream Cheese: Shredded chicken adds creaminess and richness and helps bind the meat together for serving on sliders.
- Dinner Rolls: Use any type of roll you like.
- Cheese Slices: Use cheddar, provolone, gouda or monterey jack. Small slices of cheese and crackers work great for sliders.
feed a crowd
The recipe is easily scalable, Makes it easy to prepare a large batch without 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 large quantities of chicken at once while keeping your prep time to a minimum. Once the chicken is cooked and shredded, you can keep the sliders warm in the slow cooker until you're ready to assemble them.
Set up a self-service slider station Top with dinner rolls, cheese slices, pineapple rings and warm chicken mixture. It allows guests to create their own sliders the way they like them. It also keeps the rolls from getting soggy if they sit for a while.
to keep everything organized, Use a large tray to hold the rolls and a warming tray or slow cooker to keep the chicken mixture warm. This setup is perfect for buffet-style meals where guests can serve themselves.
Roll option
These cream cheese chicken sliders are perfect for serving on your standard classic dinner rolls, but you can also use them on full-sized hamburger buns, brioche, potato rolls, Hawaiian rolls, or pretzel rolls. For a lighter twist, you can also serve it on lettuce leaves for a lettuce wrap.
Make it a freezer meal
After the chicken is cooked and drained, let it cool completely. Divide the shredded chicken mixture into portions that fit your needs—whether it's individual servings or enough for an entire meal. Place each portion in a freezer-safe bag or container. If using bags, flatten them to save freezer space and allow to thaw quickly later.
When you're ready to enjoy your sliders, transfer the bag from the freezer to the fridge the night before thawing. Once melted, reheat the chicken mixture in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.
Storage and reheating instructions
Keep in fridge Any leftover chicken for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
Reheat in microwave Cook in 30-second increments until heated through, stirring occasionally for even heating.
Reheat in a saucepan Over medium heat, stir occasionally until it is warm
