Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches (Printable)

Slow-cooked chicken with tangy barbecue sauce served on soft buns with a fresh coleslaw topping.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

→ Sauce

02 - 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
03 - 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
04 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
05 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

→ Sandwich Assembly

11 - 6 sandwich buns
12 - 1 1/2 cups coleslaw mix
13 - 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
14 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
15 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Arrange chicken breasts or thighs in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper until well blended.
03 - Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are fully coated.
04 - Cover and set the slow cooker to high for 4 hours or low for 6 to 7 hours, until the chicken is fork-tender and shreds easily.
05 - Remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker, shred with two forks, then return to the cooker and stir to evenly distribute with sauce. Warm for 10 to 15 minutes.
06 - In a separate bowl, toss coleslaw mix with mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
07 - Spoon generous portions of pulled chicken onto the lower halves of each bun, top with coleslaw, and complete with bun tops.
08 - Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This sandwich tastes even better the next day & so you can sneak leftovers for lunch without anyone noticing.
  • It's practically foolproof & you can toss everything in the crockpot and walk away, then come back to meat that shreds like magic.
02 -
  • If you don't let the shredded chicken sit in the sauce for those extra 15 minutes, it won't be nearly as juicy.
  • Using chicken thighs instead of breasts saved me from dry sandwiches more times than I care to admit.
03 -
  • Shred the chicken for maximum sauce coverage—it makes every bite rich and flavorful.
  • Let the coleslaw chill for at least 10 minutes so the flavors meld—it's better than hurried mixing.
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