Description
This Pulled Chicken Sandwich recipe offers a flavorful and tender shredded chicken cooked low and slow in a tangy barbecue sauce. Perfect for an easy and satisfying American-style main course, it pairs deliciously with sandwich buns and classic toppings like coleslaw and pickles. Ideal for a hands-off slow cooker meal any day of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken & Sauce
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup barbecue sauce (plus more for serving)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or water
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Buns & Toppings
- 6 sandwich buns
- Optional toppings: coleslaw, pickles, sliced onions
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Place the chicken breasts evenly in the bottom of your slow cooker or a large pot suitable for slow cooking.
- Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, chicken broth (or water), brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until well combined.
- Add Sauce over Chicken: Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the chicken breasts, ensuring they are fully submerged for maximum flavor infusion.
- Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and shreds easily.
- Shred the Chicken: Carefully remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker and place on a plate. Using two forks, shred the chicken finely into pieces.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir well to coat all the meat evenly with the cooking sauce.
- Warm the Buns: Heat the sandwich buns until warm, either by toasting lightly or warming in the oven or microwave.
- Assemble the Sandwiches: Pile the saucy pulled chicken generously onto each warm bun. Add optional toppings such as coleslaw, pickles, or sliced onions to taste.
- Serve: Serve the sandwiches hot with extra barbecue sauce on the side if desired for a juicy, flavorful meal.
Notes
- This recipe works well as a quick alternative by using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken shredded and warmed in the barbecue sauce on the stovetop.
- For an extra spicy kick, add a dash of hot sauce or chipotle powder to the sauce mixture before cooking.
- Using gluten-free buns makes this recipe suitable for a gluten-free diet.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
