MVP BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches (Printable)
Tender pulled chicken in smoky BBQ sauce, piled on soft buns with crisp slaw. A crowd-pleasing dish for any occasion.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
02 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
05 - 1 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ BBQ Sauce
08 - 1 cup barbecue sauce
09 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
11 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
→ Sandwich Assembly
12 - 6 soft sandwich buns
13 - 2 cups classic coleslaw
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (optional, for toasting buns)
15 - Dill pickle slices (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Thoroughly rub this seasoning mixture over the chicken breasts or thighs.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the seasoned chicken in the hot skillet and sear for 2 to 3 minutes per side until a golden crust forms.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour this prepared sauce directly over the seared chicken in the skillet.
05 - Cover the skillet tightly with a lid or aluminum foil. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and can be easily shredded with a fork.
06 - Remove the chicken from the oven. Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken directly in the skillet, ensuring it is well coated with the barbecue sauce.
07 - For enhanced flavor and texture, melt unsalted butter in a separate skillet over medium heat. Lightly toast the interior of the sandwich buns until golden brown.
08 - Generously pile the BBQ pulled chicken onto the bottom half of each toasted bun. Top with a scoop of classic coleslaw and dill pickle slices if desired. Complete the sandwich with the top bun and serve immediately.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- You'll adore how unbelievably easy it is to feed a hungry crowd without breaking a sweat – it's practically magic for game days.
- The way the tender chicken soaks up all that smoky, tangy sauce, then gets topped with cool, crisp slaw? Pure comfort food perfection that'll have everyone asking for seconds.
02 -
- Overcooking chicken breasts will leave you with dry, stringy meat; trust the internal temperature and the fork-shred test, and pull it from the oven as soon as it's tender.
- The real magic in the sauce isn't just the BBQ sauce itself, but the apple cider vinegar and brown sugar; they provide the perfect sweet-tangy balance that elevates everything.
03 -
- Even though you're shredding it, letting the cooked chicken rest for five minutes after baking allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring maximum tenderness and flavor.
- The coleslaw isn't just a garnish; its cool, crunchy texture and tangy dressing are crucial for cutting through the richness of the BBQ chicken, so be generous with it!