BBQ Chicken Sandwich (Printable)

Tender BBQ chicken with crisp slaw on toasted buns, ready in 30 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), cooked and shredded or grilled and sliced

→ Barbecue Sauce

02 - 1 cup (8 fl oz) barbecue sauce (store-bought or homemade)

→ Sandwich Components

03 - 4 soft sandwich buns or brioche buns
04 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (optional, for toasting buns)

→ Coleslaw

05 - 1 cup (3 oz) shredded green cabbage
06 - 1/2 cup (1.5 oz) shredded carrots
07 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
08 - 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

11 - Sliced pickles
12 - Red onion rings

# How To Make It:

01 - If not already cooked, grill or poach the chicken breasts until cooked through (internal temperature 165°F), then shred using two forks.
02 - In a medium bowl, toss the shredded or grilled and sliced chicken with the barbecue sauce until evenly coated.
03 - In a small bowl, combine cabbage, carrots, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Mix well until evenly distributed.
04 - Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Place buns, cut side down, and toast until golden brown, approximately 1 minute.
05 - Pile the BBQ chicken onto the bottom half of each bun. Top with coleslaw, pickles, and red onion as desired. Cover with the top half of the bun.
06 - Serve immediately while warm for best results.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when you want something hearty but don't want to spend hours at the stove
  • The combination of warm, smoky chicken and cool, crisp slaw hits every single craving sensor in your brain
02 -
  • Letting the chicken cool slightly before tossing it with sauce prevents the sauce from becoming too thin and running right off the meat
  • Mixing the slaw at least 15 minutes before serving gives the flavors time to make friends and the cabbage to soften just right
03 -
  • Letting the barbecue chicken rest in the fridge overnight makes it even better, as the flavors really settle into the meat
  • If you're making these for a crowd, set up a toppings bar with pickles, onions, and extra slaw so everyone can customize their sandwich
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