APPS & SIDES

BBQ Chicken Sliders

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 2hrs 30 mins

2hours hrs 30minutes minshourmin
1hour hr 20minutes minshouminut

Total Time:  2hours  50minutes 

BBQ chicken sliders are full-flavored and smoky with a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy sauce! Instead of one cut of chicken, this recipe uses a whole chicken, so you get a little bit of everything. The chicken sliders also feature a cool, creamy slaw for richness and crunch.

Ingredients

Serving Sizes

 

Chicken

  • 1 (4-pound) whole chicken
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ yellow onion, peeled
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 lemon, halved

Slaw

  • 1 (10-ounce) bag shredded cabbage
  • ¼ cup matchstick cucumber
  • ¼ cup matchstick carrot
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, nonfat
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Sauce

  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup chopped yellow onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2/3 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon unsulfured molasses
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 ½ teaspoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Sliders

  • 12 slider buns, toasted if desired

Equipment

  • Z Grills 1000D3E Wood Pellet Grill
  • Z Grills Cherry Wood Pellets
  • Meat Fork
  • Tongs
  • Hand Mixer

Instructions

                                          • Chicken

                                            • Step 1: Preheat your Z-Grills (preferably with branded wood pellets) or other wood pellet grill to 275 degrees Fahrenheit.
                                            • Step 2: Remove the giblets from the chicken, rinse under cool water, and pat dry.
                                            • Step 3: In a bowl, combine the sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and paprika to make the dry rub.
                                            • Step 4: Apply the rub all over the chicken, including the cavity.
                                            • Step 5: Add the onion, garlic, and lemon to the chicken’s cavity.
                                            • Step 6: Transfer the chicken to the grill, close the lid, and smoke for 2 hours and 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

                                            • Slaw

                                              Step 1: Meanwhile, add the cabbage, cucumber, and carrot to a large bowl.
                                              • Step 2: Whisk the remaining slaw ingredients together in another bowl, then add to the cabbage mixture. Toss to coat, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until the chicken is ready.

                                            • Sauce

                                              • Step 1: As the chicken smokes and the slaw chills, heat the oil for the sauce over medium heat.
                                              • Step 2: Sauté the onion for 4 minutes or until softened and fragrant, then add the garlic and continue to sauté for another minute.
                                              • Step 3: Stir in the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, molasses, water, tomato paste, and brown sugar. Bring to a simmer.
                                              • Step 4: Add the remaining sauce ingredients to the saucepan and stir. Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce until smooth. Alternatively, remove it from the heat and use a stand blender or food processor.
                                              • Step 5: Return the sauce to a simmer once again, leave it for 5-7 minutes, then remove the sauce from the heat and set it aside.

                                              • Sliders

                                                • Step 1: Remove the chicken from the pellet grill using a meat fork and tongs. Set it aside to rest and cool slightly.
                                                • Step 2: Carefully remove the skin, then remove the meat from the bones.
                                                • Step 3: Shred the chicken using two forks or transfer it to a large bowl to shred with a hand mixer (on low speed). Toss the shredded chicken with about half of the sauce.
                                                • Step 4: Divide the chicken between the slider buns, drizzle with leftover sauce, and top with slaw.
                                                • Step 5: Serve and enjoy.

Ingredients

Serving Sizes

 

Chicken

  • 1 (4-pound) whole chicken
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ yellow onion, peeled
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 lemon, halved

Slaw

  • 1 (10-ounce) bag shredded cabbage
  • ¼ cup matchstick cucumber
  • ¼ cup matchstick carrot
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, nonfat
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Sauce

  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup chopped yellow onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2/3 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon unsulfured molasses
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 ½ teaspoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Sliders

  • 12 slider buns, toasted if desired

Equipment

  • Z Grills 1000D3E Wood Pellet Grill
  • Z Grills Cherry Wood Pellets
  • Meat Fork
  • Tongs
  • Hand Mixer