Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sliders
Tender and juicy fried chicken tossed in a homemade Bourbon BBQ sauce served on brioche slider buns and topped with pickles and coleslaw! These sliders are delicious and full of flavor! One just won't be enough!
My Version oF an Old memory
Those who know me know that I love a good appetizer! Honestly, I enjoy just ordering several appetizers off of a restuarant’s menu and making that my meal. Plus, most of my friends love to order a bunch of food and share it with everybody at the table! I feel like you get to truly experience a restaurant by doing this!
My Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sliders are the appetizer for you if you want something new with some traditional flare! These sliders have crispy chicken thighs tossed in a homemade Bourbon BBQ Sauce served on toasted brioche slider buns. Topped with coleslaw and dill pickle slices, these sliders will put you into a food coma!
Let’s Talk Sliders!
Fingers foods have always been one of my favorite categories of foods! They can easily be eaten in a few bites and take no time at all to make. Sliders are in my top 5 finger foods! You can make pretty much any type of slider which make them even more fun to make. Your guests can customize them and have fun with their toppings!
Typically they will be one of the first things that I run out of on my buffet table. They give off the perception that you’re eating less which causes people to eat more than one. They work great for kid’s parties, Sunday Night Football, wedding appetizers, and so much more. Plus, the different types of slider rolls that are out now are insane! From Brioche to Hawaiian to Pretzel, you can choose what works for you and your guests!
Bourbon BBQ Chicken Slider Ingredients:
This recipe combines so many simple ingredients into such delicious sliders. The ingredients can be found in pretty much any store too which is even better!
Some of the ingredients are probably sitting in your refrigerator waiting to be used.
Chicken Sliders:
Chicken Thighs: I personally like using boneless skinless chicken thighs over breasts for chicken sliders. Since they are dark meat, they are a lot juicier than white meat. But, be mindful that they will take a few extra minutes to fully cook.
Buttermilk: If you have never marinated your chicken in buttermilk, I highly suggest it. The acid in the buttermilk helps to tenderize the chicken. It also helps the seasoned flour to stick to the chicken which creates a crispier end product.
Hot Sauce: Adding some hot sauce to the buttermilk helps to add some extra spice and flavor to the chicken thighs. Plus, it helps to season the chicken before it gets dredged in flour.
Frying Oil: You’ll need enough oil to fill a deep fryer or heavy pot about ½ to ¾ of the way. You also want to choose the correct oil for frying. Here are a few options that will work great: veggie oil, canola oil, and peanut oil.
Seasoned Flour: Not only do you have to season your chicken, you need to season your dredging flour. I usually stick to this list of ingredients when making seasoned flour: all-purpose flour, kosher salt, onion powder, garlic powder, ground black pepper, and paprika.
Brioche Slider Buns: For both burgers, and sandwiches I love good quality fresh bread. For these sliders, I suggest using either brioche or Hawaiian slider buns. They are both buttery and full of flavor! Brioche buns are more buttery while Hawaiian buns are both sweet and buttery.
Kosher Dill Pickle Slices: For some extra tang and texture, I added some kosher dill pickle slices. The pickle juice mixed with the bbq sauce was a great combo!
Coleslaw: I know that some people aren’t a fan of coleslaw, but I highly recommend topping your sliders with some! It added an extra element of crunch. I suggest getting a good quality coleslaw or making a quick one at home!
Bourbon BBQ Sauce:
Yellow Onion & Garlic: I love adding onion to my homemade bbq sauces. I cook them in the sauce for some added flavor, but I always strain the sauce after it finishes reducing. I added some minced garlic because garlic makes everything better! I only added about 1 tbsp. You do not need a lot. A little goes a long way.
Tomato Paste: The tomato paste helps with thickening and enriching the sauce with more flavor.
Ketchup: The ketchup is the base of the bbq sauce. I used about 1 cup total. Most BBQ sauces are made with some type of ketchup and/or tomato product.
Brown Sugar: The extra molasses flavor in brown sugar works great in bbq sauces. It adds the right amount of sweetness with some added depth.
Bourbon: The bourbon makes this recipe so flavorful. It takes the sauce up a notch! It brightens up the entire sauce too! Make sure to cook off the alcohol so that all you have left is the bourbon flavor.
Apple Cider Vinegar: A little bit of vinegar goes a long way in bbq sauces. It adds just the right amount of twang to the sauce. I always go with apple cider or balsamic vinegar for my bbq sauces.
Worcestershire Sauce: The Worcestershire sauce adds some umami to the sauce. Plus, it is acidic and slightly sweet which only adds to the sauce’s overall taste.
Liquid Smoke: I always suggest having some liquid smoke on hand! It gives any recipe a little bit of smoky flavor. It works perfectly with BBQ sauces. They usually come in various flavors as well.
Yellow Mustard: The mustard adds some additional twang to the sauce. I used regular yellow mustard, but Dijon and grain mustard would be great as well!
Red Pepper Flakes: The red pepper flakes add some spice to the sauce. You only need a small amount though. Adding too much will overpower the sauce.
Ground Ginger: Adding a little ground ginger is a little secret of mine. I only use a small amount, but it helps to balance out all of the flavors in the sauce.
Salt & Ground Black Pepper: You have to season your sauce just like you do the chicken. I added some salt and ground black pepper to bring out the flavors.
How to Make A Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sliders
Now that we understand what goes into the recipe, let’s get started! The great thing about this recipe is how easy it is to make!
I couldn’t stop eating these sliders! I almost began eating the sauce by itself. Trust me, you’ll understand once you start eating one!
The full written recipe is below, but here’s an overview.
STEP 1: Prep & Marinate the Chicken Thighs. Clean and pat dry the chicken thighs. Cut and dispose of any excess fat. In a large bowl, mix together the chicken thighs, buttermilk, and hot sauce. Allow the chicken to marinate covered for 30 minutes to an hour in the refrigerator.
STEP 2: Heat the Oil & Make Dredging Flour. Heat oil in a deep fryer or heavily weighted pot on medium-high heat. While the chicken is marinating, mix together the all-purpose flour, kosher, onion powder, garlic powder, ground black pepper, and paprika in a large bowl or large Ziploc bag. Reserve the dredging flour for later.
STEP 3: Make the Bourbon BBQ Sauce. In a medium-sized saucepan, heat 2 tbsp of oil over medium heat. Saute the onion until translucent (about 3 - 5 minutes). Add the garlic and cook until aroma (about 1 minute). Add the bourbon and allow the bourbon to cook for 2 - 3 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients for the bbq sauce and mix until combined. Allow the sauce to simmer for 10 minutes.
STEP 4: Dredge the Chicken. While the sauce is simmering, remove the chicken thighs from the marinade. In batches, toss the chicken thighs in the seasoned flour mixture until fully coated. Shake off any excess of the mixture.
STEP 5: Fry the Chicken Thighs. Begin frying the thighs in batches when the oil reaches 350°F. Fry until golden brown and crispy (about 4 - 6 minutes). The thighs should reach 165°F internally. Typically, they will be fully cooked when they begin to float. Remove from the oil and drain on a sheet pan lined with a wire rack.
STEP 6: Finish the Sliders. If you desire, strain the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the cooked onions. Toast the slider buns. Dip the fried chicken thighs in the bourbon bbq sauce until coated. Begin assembling the sandwiches in the following order: bourbon bbq chicken thigh, kosher dill pickle slices, and coleslaw. Top the sliders off with another bun and serve with your favorite sides! Enjoy!
WHAT TO SERVE WITH Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sliders?
These sliders scream game night, cookout season, and Sunday Night Football! They can literally be made for pretty much any occasion!
To make these sandwiches even better, I like to eat them with 1 or 2 other dishes that are equally as delicious! Here are a few options that will be great with these sandwiches:
Seasoned French Fries or Potato Wedges
Fried Onion Rings
Homemade Salt & Pepper Chips
BBQ Baked or Cowboy Beans
Homemade Potato Salad
Fried Pickles
I’d love to hear your feedback about these Easy Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sliders! Leave me a message in the comments section below. Remember to share and enjoy! Follow Be Greedy Eats on Pinterest and Instagram as well!
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