Name: Easy Mini Chicken Sliders for a Graduation Party Crowd of 20
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Yield: 20 sliders
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts; 1 cup chicken broth; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1.5 cups barbecue sauce (your favorite store-bought or homemade); 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tsp hot sauce (optional, adjust to taste); 20 soft slider buns (Hawaiian rolls work great); 1.5 cups coleslaw (store-bought or homemade); 20 bread and butter pickle slices (optional but recommended)

Jump to Recipe

When my niece graduated last spring, I volunteered to handle the food for 20 hungry guests without breaking a sweat. These mini chicken sliders saved the day, and honestly they disappeared faster than the diploma photos.

The beauty of this recipe is how little effort it takes for how impressive it looks on a party table. Slow-cooked pulled chicken, a quick tangy sauce, and soft slider buns are really all you need.

Easy Mini Chicken Sliders for a Graduation Party Crowd of 20

Juicy, saucy pulled chicken piled onto soft mini buns — the easiest crowd-pleaser you will ever make for a big celebration.

5.0 (178 reviews)

Prep15 min

Cook1 hr 30 min

Total1 hr 45 min

Serves20 sliders

LevelEasy

Ingredients

For the Pulled Chicken

4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

For the Sauce

1.5 cups barbecue sauce , your favorite store-bought or homemade
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp hot sauce , optional, adjust to taste

For Assembling

20 soft slider buns , Hawaiian rolls work great
1.5 cups coleslaw , store-bought or homemade
20 bread and butter pickle slices , optional but recommended

Instructions

Add the chicken breasts to a large pot or slow cooker and pour in the chicken broth. Season generously with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.

If using a slow cooker, cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken shreds easily with a fork. If using a stovetop pot, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low, cover, and simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes until fully cooked through.

While the chicken cooks, whisk together the barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and hot sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.

Once the chicken is cooked, drain most of the liquid and use two forks to shred the meat directly in the pot. It should pull apart very easily.

Pour the prepared sauce over the shredded chicken and stir well to coat every strand. Let it heat through on LOW for another 10 minutes so the flavors soak in.

Slice the slider buns in half if not already pre-cut. Pile a generous spoonful of the saucy chicken onto each bottom bun.

Top each slider with a small spoonful of coleslaw and a pickle slice if using, then press the top bun on firmly. Arrange on a large serving platter and serve immediately.

For a party setup, you can keep the pulled chicken warm in a slow cooker on the WARM setting and let guests assemble their own sliders. This makes serving 20 people so much easier.

Tips & Notes

You can make the pulled chicken a full day ahead and store it in the fridge. Just reheat gently with a splash of broth to loosen it back up before serving.
Hawaiian rolls are the gold standard for sliders because they are slightly sweet and hold up well without falling apart.
If feeding a crowd with different tastes, set out the coleslaw, pickles, and extra hot sauce on the side so guests can customize their own.
Double check that your slow cooker is large enough for 4 pounds of chicken. A 6 quart size works perfectly for this batch.
To keep the buns from getting soggy at a party, assemble the sliders right before serving rather than ahead of time.

Storage: Store leftover pulled chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium low heat with a splash of broth or water. Keep buns stored separately at room temperature.

Nutrition per serving · estimated

285 Cal

7g Fat

32g Carbs

22g Protein

1g Fiber

9g Sugar

520mg Sodium

Why These Sliders Are Perfect for a Big Party

One of the things I love most about this recipe is that the chicken does almost all the work while you focus on everything else a graduation party demands. There is no hovering over a grill or fussing with individual portions for 20 people.

Pulled chicken also stretches beautifully, which means even if a few extra guests show up, you can pile the sliders a little lighter and nobody goes home hungry. It is that kind of forgiving, generous recipe that every host needs in their back pocket.

How to Set Up a Slider Station for a Crowd

Setting up a self serve slider station is honestly the smartest move for a party this size. Place the slow cooker of pulled chicken right on the table with a big spoon, stack the buns nearby, and line up the toppings in small bowls.

Guests love building their own food because it feels interactive and fun, especially at a celebration. It also takes the pressure completely off you as the host, which means you actually get to enjoy the party too.

Easy Mini Chicken Sliders for a Graduation Party Crowd of 20