Tender Pulled Barbecue Chicken Sandwich (Printable Version)

Tender barbecue chicken with tangy slaw on soft brioche buns. An easy, satisfying American comfort food classic.

# What You Need:

→ Pulled Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.2 lbs)
02 - 1 cup barbecue sauce
03 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
08 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Slaw

09 - 2 cups shredded green cabbage
10 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
11 - 1 medium carrot, grated
12 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
13 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - 1 teaspoon honey
16 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Assembly

17 - 4 brioche buns
18 - 1 tablespoon butter, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Set oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).
02 - Place chicken breasts in a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
03 - Pour chicken broth into the baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tender.
04 - While chicken cooks, combine green cabbage, red cabbage, and grated carrot in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper. Pour dressing over vegetables and toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
05 - Remove chicken from oven and shred using two forks. Discard any excess liquid. Mix shredded chicken with barbecue sauce until well coated.
06 - Return chicken mixture to oven, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes to heat through and intensify flavor.
07 - If desired, butter the brioche buns and toast them lightly in a skillet or under the broiler.
08 - Pile pulled barbecue chicken onto the bottom half of each bun. Top generously with slaw and add the bun tops. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The chicken stays ridiculously tender because it bakes in broth before getting tossed in sauce.
  • The crunchy slaw cuts through the richness in a way that makes every bite feel balanced.
  • You can have this on the table in an hour, which feels like a small miracle on busy weeknights.
  • It uses pantry staples and whatever barbecue sauce you already love, no fancy shopping required.
02 -
  • Don't skip covering the chicken with foil during the first bake, or it will dry out instead of staying tender.
  • Let the slaw sit in the fridge for at least 10 minutes so the flavors meld and the cabbage softens just a bit.
  • If your barbecue sauce is very thick, thin it with a tablespoon of water or chicken broth so it coats the chicken evenly.
03 -
  • Toast the buns cut side down in the same skillet you used for anything else to pick up extra flavor.
  • If you like a saucier sandwich, brush a little extra barbecue sauce on the inside of the bun before piling on the chicken.
  • Make a double batch of the pulled chicken and freeze half for another night when you need dinner fast.
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