Tender Pulled Barbecue Chicken Sandwich (Printable)

Tender pulled chicken in barbecue sauce with crunchy slaw on brioche buns. A quick and satisfying American comfort classic.

# What You'll 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 tbsp olive oil
05 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp 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 tbsp apple cider vinegar
14 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
15 - 1 tsp honey
16 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Assembly

17 - 4 brioche buns
18 - 1 tbsp butter, optional for toasting buns

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F
02 - Place chicken breasts in a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
03 - Pour chicken broth into the dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or 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 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 use.
05 - Remove chicken from oven and shred using two forks. Discard any excess liquid. Mix shredded chicken with barbecue sauce until well coated. Return to oven, uncovered, for 8 to 10 minutes to heat through and intensify flavor.
06 - If desired, butter the brioche buns and toast them lightly in a skillet or under the broiler.
07 - 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 -
  • Everything bakes in one dish while you prep the slaw, so theres barely any active cooking time.
  • The tangy crunch of homemade slaw cuts through the rich barbecue sweetness in a way store-bought never does.
  • Leftover pulled chicken turns into tacos, rice bowls, or even a quick pizza topping the next day.
  • Toasting buttery brioche buns transforms this from good to unforgettable.
02 -
  • Covering the chicken with foil during the first bake is crucial, without it the meat dries out and becomes stringy.
  • Letting the slaw sit in the fridge for at least 15 minutes before serving allows the flavors to meld and the cabbage to soften just slightly.
  • If your barbecue sauce is very sweet, add an extra splash of apple cider vinegar to the chicken for balance.
03 -
  • Use rotisserie chicken and skip the baking step entirely when you need dinner in under 20 minutes.
  • Toast the buns cut-side down in the skillet without butter if you want a lighter, crispier base.
  • Make a double batch of pulled chicken and freeze half for an effortless weeknight meal later.
Return