Pulled Chicken Sliders (Instant Pot, Slow Cooker, Stovetop)

Pulled chicken with a homemade seasoning blend makes for perfect party food or an easy dinner of Pulled Chicken Sliders. These Chicken and Cheese Sliders are the perfect dinner for busy nights – made in about 30 minutes if you use the pressure cooker!

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It’s easy to fall for the take-out line on busy nights, but the truth is that you can make better chicken sandwiches at home — for less money! This easy recipe for Pulled Chicken Sliders is packed with flavor, but so simple to make! 

Make it a regular feature for Sandwich Night in the summer or an easy addition to Soup Night in fall or winter. These are great alongside a cup of Instant Pot Bean Soup.

You can cook the pulled chicken filling in the Instant Pot, in the Crock Pot or on the stovetop for a quick and easy dinner the whole family will enjoy.

Why Make Our Pulled Chicken Sliders Recipe

It’s easy. With just a handful of ingredients, you can prep this pulled chicken slider recipe in a snap in the pressure cooker, stovetop, or slow cooker. There’s no fussing with melted butter and pastry brushes, either.

It’s make-ahead. This is one of my favorite chicken recipes. Not only is it easy to make, but the chicken filling last for several days in the fridge and freezes beautifully for even longer. It’s a great recipe to double and freeze extra for later!

It’s delicious. Add your favorite seasonings and sauces to the simple chicken filling and you’ve got a great sandwich as well as a perfect game night recipe. 

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy Pulled Chicken Sliders recipe:

chicken – You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken tenders or boneless skinless chicken thighs to make this easy shredded chicken. If you’re in a big rush, skip the cooking step and shred the meat of a rotisserie chicken. This is also a great recipe for using leftover chicken from a roast chicken or when you grill a big batch.

aromatics – a bay leaf and peppercorns add subtle flavor to the poached chicken. You may want to add salt if your chicken is not already treated with a salt solution.

seasoning – Once the chicken is cooked, you can toss it with Jamie’s Spice Mix or another favorite spice blend. In a pinch, season the pulled chicken with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

buns – Serve the pulled chicken filling in slider buns, homemade hamburger buns, or another kind of roll. Sweet Hawaiian rolls are a nice option as are steakhouse rolls. Check out recs for the Best Breads for Sandwiches.

sandwich fillings – I like to serve these easy chicken sliders with sliced tomato, leaf lettuce, sliced pickles, and sliced cheddar cheese. Other options you might consider are sliced red onion or chopped green onions, pepper jack or gouda cheese, crispy bacon, and/or a crunchy coleslaw mix. The different options for shopping your kitchen are endless.

condiments for sandwiches – Serve these delicious sliders with choices of mayo, mustard, ketchup, or a favorite barbecue sauce. Herbed Mayonnaise is a nice touch!

Step-by-Step Instructions

To make this on the stove top

In a large pot with a lid, place the chicken, salt, bay leaf, and peppercorns. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the water boils, cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Turn off the heat and allow to cool.

To make this in the electric pressure cooker or instant pot

Place the chicken, bay leaf, and peppercorns in the pot with 1 cup of water. Cover and close the pressure valve. Set to manual for 12 minutes. Allow for natural pressure release.

To make this in the slow cooker

Place the chicken, bay leaf, and peppercorns in the Crock-pot with ¼ cup of water. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours.

Remove the chicken from the pot, discarding the liquid or reserving the chicken broth for another recipe. Shred the meat with two forks. Season to taste with the spice mix.

Serve the shredded chicken mixture hot or cold in buns with sandwich toppings and condiments.

To Make a Meal Prep

If you’d like to enjoy the chicken hot, store the rolls, chicken filling, and additional toppings in separate containers or compartments of meal prep containers. Reheat the filling and assemble prior to eating. For cold sandwiches, assemble the chicken sandwiches, leaving off the condiments. Add those just prior to serving.

Freeze Extra for Later

An assembled sandwich would get soggy, so it’s best to freeze a freezer sandwich kit.

To make a kit: Prepare the shredded chicken as directed. Divide it into meal-size containers, adding a little bit of the broth to keep it moist. Chill this completely in the fridge. Wrap the rolls well for freezing. Store the container of pulled chicken in the freezer along with the package of rolls. 

To serve: Thaw completely before reheating the filling and assembling the sandwiches, adding fresh fillings and condiments from the fridge.

Make a Plan for Leftovers

Be sure to promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. If you store your leftovers in clear containers, they’re more likely to get eaten.

Obviously, you can have sandwiches again with the leftovers, but the chicken filling is also good in burritos, tacos, and salads. We particularly like it on our Santa Fe Salad recipe.

More Sandwiches You Can Freeze

Freezing sandwiches and sandwich kits is a great way to save time and money. You can skip the take-out line and enjoy a homemade meal for less! Be sure to try these other sandwiches you can freeze:

This post was originally published on April 14, 2013. It has been updated for content and clarity.