Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it. While the oven heats, prepare all your ingredients: thinly slice the red onion, finely chop the cilantro, shred the pepper Jack cheese if not already shredded, and have all other ingredients measured and ready. This ensures smooth assembly once you start building the sliders.

In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken with 0.5 cup of BBQ sauce, the finely diced jalapeño, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Mix thoroughly until the chicken is evenly coated and the seasonings are distributed throughout. This creates the flavorful base that will make your sliders delicious—the jalapeño adds heat while the spices build depth.

Split each slider roll in half and arrange the bottom halves on your prepared baking sheet. Divide the seasoned chicken mixture from Step 2 evenly among the bottom buns, then drizzle the remaining 0.35 cup of BBQ sauce over the chicken. Top each slider with a thin layer of sliced red onion and a generous sprinkle of fresh cilantro from Step 1, then add a handful of shredded pepper Jack cheese. I like to pile the cheese generously because it melts beautifully and holds everything together. Place the top bun on each slider.

Cover the entire baking sheet tightly with foil to trap steam and help the cheese melt evenly. Bake for 12 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and the sliders are heated through. The foil is crucial here—it creates a steamy environment that melts the cheese perfectly without drying out the chicken.

While the sliders bake, melt the butter in a small bowl and mix it with the garlic powder to create a fragrant garlic butter. When the 12 minutes are up, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and take off the foil. Brush the top of each bun generously with the garlic butter mixture, then season with a light sprinkle of black pepper. Return the sliders to the oven, uncovered, for 5-8 minutes until the tops are golden and lightly toasted.

Remove the sliders from the oven when the bun tops are golden brown and crispy. Let them cool for 1-2 minutes (just enough to handle them safely), then serve immediately while the cheese is still melty and the flavors are at their peak. The combination of tender chicken, melted cheese, and toasted buttered buns will be absolutely irresistible.