Let’s be real for a second, sometimes you just want something that hits like comfort food but won’t wreck your carb count. These Keto BBQ Chicken Sliders get the job done and then some. They’re juicy, cheesy, a little smoky, and packed into soft low-carb buns that make it easy to forget you’re even eating keto.
This recipe isn’t fussy. It’s more of a throw-it-together-and-let-it-wow-you kind of deal. Whether you’re feeding a few picky eaters or planning bbq main dishes for a crowd, this one brings everyone back for seconds. Heck, even the non-keto folks won’t know the difference.
What Makes These Keto BBQ Chicken Sliders Stand Out?
You know how some low-carb recipes try too hard and end up tasting like cardboard? This ain’t that. This recipe focuses on real flavor, smoky, tangy, a little sweet, and it all starts with bbq chicken shredded in your slow cooker.
We’re talking about those melt-in-your-mouth textures from shredded chicken sliders crockpot style. Toss in your favorite sugar-free barbecue sauce, maybe a little spice if you’re into that, and boom, you’ve got a hit on your hands.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For this recipe, simple is king. You don’t need anything fancy. If you can find a decent sugar-free BBQ sauce and a reliable low-carb bun or keto slider rolls, you’re golden.
For the chicken:
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup sugar-free barbecue sauce (something thick, tangy, and a little smoky)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the sliders:
- Low-carb slider buns or small keto-friendly rolls (look for almond flour or coconut flour based)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese (go with what makes your mouth happy)
- Sliced pickles or jalapeños (optional)
- Extra BBQ sauce for topping (because you know you’ll want it)
This combo gives serious cheesy chicken sliders vibes without going off-plan.
Ingredients for Homemade Keto Slider Buns (makes 8–10 mini buns):
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1½ cups almond flour (fine, blanched stuff—not almond meal)
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1 tablespoon baking powder
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2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (low-moisture works best)
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2 oz cream cheese
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2 eggs
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Pinch of salt
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Optional: sesame seeds or Everything Bagel seasoning for the top
How to Make the Best Keto BBQ Chicken Sliders
You’re going to love how hands-off this recipe is. It’s one of those crockpot chicken sliders recipes that does all the work for you while you get on with your life.
Step 1: Cook the Chicken
Throw the chicken into your slow cooker. Pour in the barbecue sauce, vinegar, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Give it a little mix so the chicken gets coated.
Cover and cook on low for 5–6 hours or high for 3–4 hours. When it’s done, use two forks to shred it right in the pot. Let it soak up all that saucy goodness—it’s how we get that shredded bbq chicken magic.
This step right here is the backbone of those crowd-pleasing bbq shredded chicken recipes.
Step 2: Assemble the Sliders
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lay out the bottom halves of your low-carb buns on a baking sheet. Spoon a good amount of the shredded chicken on each one. Don’t skimp—it’s called a slider, not a sampler.
Top with shredded cheese. If you like heat, this is where you add those jalapeños. Then finish with the top half of the bun.
Pop these in the oven for about 8–10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tops get a little toasty. That cheese melt? That’s where mini slider sandwiches turn into full-blown obsession.
How to Make Keto Slider Buns from Scratch
Forget store-bought buns that fall apart or taste like cardboard. Making your own is way easier than you’d think, and they actually hold the fillings like real bread. This version uses almond flour and cheese (yep, cheese in the dough—it’s magic) to give you that perfect slider texture.
Step 1: Melt the cheese
In a microwave-safe bowl, mix the shredded mozzarella and cream cheese. Microwave for about 45 seconds, stir, then microwave another 30–45 seconds until it’s melted and stretchy. Stir it until smooth.
Step 2: Mix the dough
In a separate bowl, mix almond flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the melted cheese mixture and one of the eggs. Stir it all together fast while the cheese is still warm. It’ll feel weird, like mixing playdough with pizza dough, but trust the process.
Tip: If it’s too sticky to handle, oil your hands a little or chill the dough for 10–15 minutes.
Step 3: Shape your buns
Divide the dough into 8–10 equal pieces and roll into balls. Flatten slightly to slider bun shape. Place them on a parchment-lined baking tray. Beat the second egg and brush it over the tops. Sprinkle sesame seeds or seasoning if you’re feeling fancy.
Step 4: Bake
Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 14–18 minutes, or until golden brown. Let them cool a bit before slicing—hot cheese dough is soft but firms up as it cools.
These buns freeze well too. Just let them cool completely, wrap them up, and store in the freezer. Toast or reheat before using. Boom—homemade low-carb slider buns that don’t suck.
Easy Sliders for Any Situation
One of the best things about this recipe is how adaptable it is. Whether you’re pulling together a last-minute dinner, prepping food for game night, or loading up your backyard party with bbq sliders recipes Hawaiian rolls style (just make them keto rolls), these work.
Here’s how people are using them:
1) Quick sliders recipes for busy weeknights
You’ve had a long day. You want dinner fast. These cook themselves while you work, chase the kids, or scroll Pinterest for your next meal idea.
2) Pulled BBQ chicken crock pot for meal prep
Make a big batch and portion the chicken into containers. It reheats beautifully and makes killer lunches all week.
3) Sliders chicken style for parties
Serve these at your next BBQ or get-together and watch them disappear. No one misses the carbs. Add a toothpick to each one and you’re ready for the buffet table.
Go Beyond Just BBQ – Fun Twists to Try
Once you’ve nailed the basic recipe, you can play with flavors.
- Smoked chicken sliders: Swap the slow cooker for a smoker if you’ve got one. That smoke flavor? Game changer.
- Jerk chicken sliders: Mix in a little jerk seasoning with your BBQ sauce for a spicy, Caribbean-inspired version. Works well for summer parties or days when you just want to feel like you’re on a beach somewhere.
- Crockpot sliders recipes remix: Add chopped onions, bell peppers, or even crumbled bacon before the final bake. Add-ons keep things interesting.
Low-Carb Tips & Tricks
Let’s still keep it real, sometimes keto recipes can feel like a science project. This one doesn’t. But here are a few things that help:
- Don’t skimp on sauce: Even sugar-free BBQ sauces vary. Get one with body and flavor. If it’s too thin, your sliders won’t hold together as well.
- Watch the buns: Not all low-carb buns are created equal. Some taste like styrofoam. Some are actually delicious. Look for brands with 3g net carbs or less per roll.
- Cheese is your friend: It adds texture and holds everything together. Plus, nobody ever said no to melty cheese.
Recipes Using Barbecue Sauce – Other Things You Can Make
Got leftover sauce or chicken? You don’t have to stop at sliders.
- Toss it into a lettuce wrap with avocado.
- Pile it on cauliflower rice bowls.
- Stuff it into low-carb tortillas for BBQ chicken tacos.
- Turn it into a keto BBQ pizza topping with mozzarella and red onion.
Once you start making shredded chicken sliders recipes like this one, you’ll always want a batch of shredded bbq chicken in your fridge.
Why Many Loves This Recipe
If you’re anything like me, you save recipes with great pictures, short ingredient lists, and simple steps. This recipe nails all three.
It’s part of that growing list of bbq recipes for dinner sliders that actually work without a lot of mess or mystery. People love to pin recipes that don’t feel like “diet food” and that look good on a party table or in meal prep containers.
Plus, the fact that it works for gluten-free eaters, low-carb folks, and picky kids? That’s bonus points.
Conclusion
Keto BBQ Chicken Sliders aren’t just another Pinterest recipe—they’re one of those things you’ll want to keep on rotation. They’re simple, they taste amazing, and they work for anything from tailgates to Tuesday nights.
It doesn’t matter if you’re into cheesy chicken sliders, jerk chicken sliders, or the good ol’ crockpot chicken sliders—this one’s got your back. Just set it, forget it, and eat like a champ.
Make them once and you’ll see. This isn’t just one of those trendy quick sliders recipes. It’s a keeper.
PrintKeto BBQ Chicken Sliders
These Keto BBQ Chicken Sliders are cheesy, saucy, and packed with slow-cooked shredded chicken—all low-carb and ridiculously easy to make. Perfect for meal prep, parties, or weeknight dinners when you want something filling but still healthy. A real winner if you’re into keto diet dinner ideas, crockpot sliders recipes, and BBQ main dishes for a crowd.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours (low)
- Total Time: 5 hours, 10min
- Yield: 6–8 sliders 1x
- Category: Main Course, Dinner
- Method: Crockpot & Oven
- Cuisine: American, Keto, Low-Carb
Ingredients
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2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
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1 cup sugar-free barbecue sauce
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1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
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1 tsp garlic powder
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1/2 tsp smoked paprika
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Salt and pepper to taste
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1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
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Keto slider buns or small low-carb rolls
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Optional: sliced pickles or jalapeños
Instructions
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Add chicken, BBQ sauce, vinegar, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to a crockpot.
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Cook on low for 5–6 hours or high for 3–4 hours.
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Shred the chicken using two forks and stir it in the sauce.
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Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
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Place bottom halves of keto buns on a baking sheet.
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Spoon BBQ chicken onto each bun, top with cheese, and add bun tops.
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Bake for 8–10 minutes until cheese is melted and buns are slightly toasted.
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Serve warm. Add pickles or jalapeños if you like a kick.
Notes
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Use a thick sugar-free BBQ sauce for the best texture.
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Chicken thighs add extra flavor and stay juicier.
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Make ahead and freeze extra portions for quick weeknight meals.
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Great for low-carb food art boards or Pinterest diy ideas.
Please note: The recipe or ingredients shown in the video might vary slightly from what’s listed here. Use the video as an illustration, but for the best results, you might want to stick to the recipe provided in this article.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Slider
- Calories: 270 Sugar: 2g Sodium: 560mg Fat: 16g Saturated Fat: 6g Unsaturated Fat: 9g Trans Fat: 0g Carbohydrates: 5g Fiber: 2g Protein: 23g Cholesterol: 75mg
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I make these keto BBQ chicken sliders ahead of time?
Yes! You can cook and shred the BBQ chicken up to 3 days in advance. Store it in the fridge and reheat when you're ready to assemble the sliders. They’re great for meal prep, parties, or quick weeknight dinners.
What’s the best low-carb bun for keto chicken sliders?
Look for slider buns made with almond flour, coconut flour, or even cheese-based options like chaffles. Many keto bread brands now offer mini buns with 3g net carbs or less, perfect for this recipe.
Can I use frozen chicken in the crockpot for this recipe?
Yes, you can use frozen chicken, but make sure to add at least 30 more minutes to the cook time and check that it’s fully cooked before shredding. It’s an easy shortcut for busy days when you're low on time.