BBQ Chicken Sandwich

This show-stopping, flavor-packed BBQ Chicken Sandwich is made with slow-cooked saucy chicken. Add the sweet BBQ chicken to a toasted bun with a quick guac and easy coleslaw.

Pair this barbecue favorite with a corn salad or potato salad.

BBQ Chicken Sandwich

These easy sandwiches have been on major repeat at our house this summer; they’re crazy-simple to make, loaded with flavor, and everyone in my family is obsessed with them!

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that we use a slow cooker to cook the meat. No worries if you don’t have a grill or smoker, you can enjoy delicious BBQ chicken with this recipe.

Ingredients

• Ketchup and Tomato Paste: Provide a base for the sauce, adding a rich tomato flavor and thickness.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds acidity and tanginess, balancing the sweetness.
• Brown Sugar: Sweetens the sauce, complementing the acidity.
• Paprika: Offers a sweet and mild spice.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a complex, savory flavor.
• Mustard and Onion Powder: Enhance the sauce with sharpness and depth.
• Chicken Thighs: Are the main protein; they’re tender and absorb the sauce well.
• Onion: Adds sweetness and texture.
• Buns and Butter: Serve as the vessel for the sandwich; browning them adds flavor.
• Coleslaw and Avocado: Provide freshness and a creamy element to complement the chicken.

How To Make BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

1. Slow Cook: Combine ketchup, vinegar, sugar, tomato paste, spices, and seasoning in a slow cooker. Add trimmed chicken thighs and sliced onion. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
2. Shred Chicken: Once cooked, shred the chicken in the sauce and leave uncovered to thicken.
3. Prepare Buns and Guacamole: Toast buttered buns. Mash avocados with lime juice, salt, and pepper.
4. Assemble: Spread guacamole on buns, add chicken and onion, top with coleslaw, and serve your BBQ Chicken Sandwiches.

What To Serve With BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Here are some of our favorite additions to BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, along with our top side dish choices to complement them.

1. Coleslaw: Adds a crunchy, refreshing contrast. We love throwing this in our sandwiches.
2. Quick “Guac“: Enhance your sandwich with a layer of easy homemade guacamole by mashing a ripe avocado with salt, pepper, and lime juice, or use prepared guacamole for convenience. Adds a creamy dimension to the sandwich.
3. Potato Salad: Creamy, hearty, and pairs well with BBQ flavors.
4. Baked Beans: Sweet and savory, complementing the smokiness.
5. Corn on the Cob: Sweet and buttery with a charred flavor.
6. Pickle Spears: Their tartness cuts through the BBQ richness.
7. French Fries or Sweet Potato Fries: Popular and easy.
8. Grilled or Roasted Vegetables: Healthy option like bell peppers or zucchini.
9. Macaroni and Cheese: Creamy and comforting.
10. Garden Salad: Light and fresh balance.
11. Chips and Dip: Simple and casual addition to BBQ Chicken Sandwiches.

More Easy Recipes

• Jalapeño Chicken Salad Sandwiches
• BBQ Chicken Tacos
• Margherita Pizza
• Sloppy Joes
• Honey Mustard Chicken Salad Sandwiches

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5 from 2 votes

BBQ Chicken Sandwich

By Chelsea Lords

A show-stopping, flavor-packed BBQ Chicken Sandwich made with slow-cooked saucy chicken. Add the sweet BBQ chicken to a toasted bun with a quick guac and easy coleslaw.

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 hours hours

Total Time: 5 hours hours 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 -8 sandwiches

Ingredients 

USMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1/2 cup Heinz ketchup
• ▢ 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• ▢ 4 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• ▢ 1/4 cup tomato paste
• ▢ 2 tablespoons paprika (sweet not smoked)
• ▢ 1 and 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ 2 teaspoons dry mustard powder
• ▢ 2 teaspoons onion powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon EACH: fine sea salt, freshly cracked pepper
• ▢ 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced (or 2 small onions)
• ▢ 3 pounds (~11-13 total) boneless skinless chicken thighs, excess fat cut off (don't use chicken breasts)
• ▢ 6-8 hamburger buns + butter (we love Brioche buns)
• ▢ Serve with: coleslaw (see Note 1) and 2 large avocados with lime juice

Instructions 

• SLOW COOKER: Spray slow cooker with nonstick spray. Add the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, tomato paste, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, mustard powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper. Whisk to combine.
• CHICKEN AND ONION: Remove the fatty parts of the chicken thighs (some fat is fine; just cut out the majority of the fat). Add the chicken thighs right to the sauce. Thinly slice the onion. Add to slow cooker and stir to combine everything. Spread the mixture evenly in the slow cooker, making sure everything is generously coated with sauce.
• COOK: Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until chicken shreds easily (this is about 4.5 to 5 hours for me). I don't recommend cooking on high; it tends to dry out the chicken.
• FINISH CHICKEN: As soon as the chicken shreds easily with 2 forks, it's done! Shred the chicken right in the slow cooker and stir it in the sauce. The sauce is a little thin at first, but will absorb and thicken a lot, once the chicken has shredded and it cools. Leave the crockpot uncovered, turn to warm, and let stand for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to continue thickening the sauce as you prepare everything else.
• COLESLAW: Use store-bought or make your own (See Note 1).
• BUNS AND QUICK GUACAMOLE: Spread butter on the insides of the buns. Add to a skillet or griddle and lightly brown the buns over medium heat. Set aside. In a small bowl, add the ripe avocados and mash with a fork. Add a pinch of salt and pepper (garlic powder if you'd like) and a squeeze of lemon. Mash to make a quick guac. Spread the guacamole along the bottom of the buns.
• ASSEMBLE: Using tongs, scoop out chicken and onions to go on top of the guac. Add a generous spoonful of coleslaw. Top with the other bun half. Enjoy immediately!

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Use a bag of coleslaw mix and Marie's® coleslaw dressing and toss to combine (add dressing gradually until mix is sufficiently dressed; you won't use all of it) or make this homemade coleslaw recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 450kcal | Carbohydrates: 39.3g | Protein: 40.9g | Fat: 10.7g | Cholesterol: 193.1mg | Sodium: 562.9mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 14g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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