Pulled Smoked Chicken Sliders with Spicy Coleslaw

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-19 · Updated 2026-06-19

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Juicy pulled smoked chicken nestled in soft slider buns topped with a spicy, creamy coleslaw for a perfect balance of flavors and textures. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 150 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, boneless skinless, smoked paprika, garlic powder for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 30 min Cook: 120 min Serves 8 American cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 lbs chicken thighs, boneless skinless
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
3/4 cup BBQ sauce
8 slider buns
2 cups green cabbage, shredded
1/2 cup carrot, grated
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp hot sauce
1 tsp honey
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Rub 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs with 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Let marinate 15 minutes.
Step 2: Preheat smoker or grill to 250°F. Smoke chicken thighs for 2 hours or until internal temperature reaches 165°F and meat is tender.
Step 3: Remove chicken from heat, let cool slightly, then shred using two forks. Toss shredded chicken with 3/4 cup BBQ sauce.
Step 4: In a bowl, combine 2 cups shredded green cabbage, 1/2 cup grated carrot, 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp hot sauce, 1 tsp honey, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Mix well to create spicy coleslaw.
Step 5: Toast 8 slider buns lightly on grill for 1 minute. Assemble sliders by layering pulled smoked chicken on buns and topping with a generous scoop of spicy coleslaw.