BBQ Chicken & Ranch Sliders (Whole30, Paleo)

5 from 6 votes

These BBQ Chicken & Ranch Sliders are the best and easiest Whole30 appetizer ever! Roasted Sweet Potato rounds are are topped with slow cooker bbq shredded chicken, topped with cilantro and red onion, and drizzled with compatible ranch dressing.

Side view of the finished dish on a white plate, drizzled with ranch and topped with cilantro.

My favorite part of football season? The snacks, of course! Just check out my Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip!

I mean, as much as I love to watch our beloved Buffalo Bills, more often than not, they’re losing. But at least I’ve got some delicious, real food tailgating snacks to soften the blow!

And these Whole30 compliant BBQ Chicken & Ranch Sliders are definitely making our Sunday afternoons a lot better!

I usually make them in my slow cooker, because I like to set it before we head to church in the morning, and then by the time we get home, it’s ready to go. Score!

Best of all, they’re Paleo, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and always major crowd pleaser!

Recipe Ingredients

  • Boneless Chicken Thighs (or substitute chicken breasts, if you prefer them)
  • BBQ Sauce
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Olive Oil
  • Ranch Dressing
  • Red Onion
  • Cilantro (optional)
  • Salt & Pepper

Optional: For a little extra oomph, sprinkle a tablespoon of BBQ Seasoning to the crock pot!

A collage showing the bbq chicken cooked in the slow cooker and the potato rounds baked on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Making the Recipe

This is absolutely one of the simplest recipes I’ve ever made!

Add the chicken, half of the bbq sauce, The chicken cooks in the slow cooker or Instant Pot, so it’s almost totally hands-off. Meanwhile, the sweet potato rounds are roasted in the oven or air fryer until they’re crispy, the perfect “bun” for the sliders.

Just top each sweet potato round with the cooked chicken, a little diced red onion, herbs, and compliant ranch dressing. People will be lining up for more, it’s so good!

Close up of the Whole30 compliant roasted sweet potato rounds topped with bbq chicken, red onion, ranch, and cilantro.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs?

Absolutely! Because they’re more flavorful than chicken breasts, I do prefer to use chicken thighs for this recipe, but if you have breasts on hand or if you just prefer white meat, go ahead and substitute chicken breasts.

Even though chicken thighs have more fat than breasts, in the slow cooker and instant pot, they do seem to cook at similar rates. If you make the substitution, they would likely need just a slightly shorter cook time, so check as it nears the end of cooking and remove the breasts early if they’re fall-apart tender.

What brands of Whole30 compliant condiments are best?

Tessemae’s ranch and Frank’s hot sauce are most popular, but there are many compliant condiments available.

More recipes: Classic Pot Roast, Pork Loaded Fries, BBQ Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Pineapple Slaw, Air Fryer Burger Bites.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing my recipes made in your homes! If you make this, let me know in the comments below or tag me on Instagram @cookathomemom!

Delicious Whole30 compliant roasted sweet potato rounds topped with bbq chicken, red onion, ranch, and cilantro. A really simple, crowd-pleasing Paleo appetizer!

Whole30 BBQ Chicken and Ranch Sliders

This simple recipe is so tasty and flavorful, and it's perfect for game day! Both Crock Pot & Instant Pot instructions included!
5 from 6 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

Slow Cooker Chicken

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 3/4 cups compliant bbq sauce divided

Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds

  • 2-3 medium sweet potatoes
  • 3-4 Tablespoon olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Toppings

  • 1/4 cup compliant ranch I use Tessemae's
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 2 teaspoons cilantro

Instructions

Slow Cooker Chicken

  • Lightly season the chicken with salt and pepper and add to the crockpot with half of the BBQ sauce. 
  • Cover and cook on high for 3.5-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours. 
  • Once the chicken is fall apart tender, remove the chicken and shred it gently using two forks. Return the chicken to the crock pot and mix it. Set the slow cooker to "Keep Warm" function until you're ready to serve. ⠀

Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds

  • Preheat your oven to 400. Wash potatoes and slice in 1/4 inch rounds. Toss with olive oil, season lightly with salt & pepper, and lay on a lined parchment sheet. Bake for about 12-15 minutes, turning once halfway through, and watching closely near the end.

Assemble the Sliders

  • Just before serving, remove the chicken with a slotted spoon and mix with the remaining BBQ sauce. 
  • Top each slice of sweet potato with about a tablespoon of chicken, a drizzle of ranch, some diced red onion, and cilantro.

Notes

*PRESSURE COOKER* Chicken:
Add the chicken and half of the sauce to your pressure cooker. Add 1/8 cup water. Set pressure to High and cook for 15 minutes. Allow for natural pressure release for at least 2-3 minutes, then quick release. Remove the chicken and set it aside, gently shredding it with two forks. Return it to the pressure cooker and set it to “Keep Warm” until you’re ready to serve. 
 
*AIR FRYER* Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds:
Preheat your air fryer to 400. Wash potatoes and slice in 1/4 inch rounds. Add the potatoes and spray with a bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 10 minutes, turning once and spraying again halfway through. Close to the end, watch closely and remove any that are browned before they burn!

Nutrition

Calories: 494kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 879mg | Potassium: 807mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 16179IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 2mg
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Photo of the finished dish with the words "BBQ Chicken & Ranch Sliders, Whole30, Paleo, Gluten Free" for Pinterest.