If you think all Pulled Chicken Sandwich are the same, then we need to talk. Making a Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich is easy enough and taking the same sandwich to the next level will heighten your taste buds to gold medal status.
I love, and I mean I LOVE this Easy BBQ Sauce Recipe which is also good on grilled chicken and pork too. But for a moment let’s just focus on this easy Pulled Chicken Sandwich.
With only a few ingredients you can easily mix up this recipe. It’s sweet, tangy and delicious. It’s thick enough to put right on top of your sandwich but also perfect to mix into pulled chicken. And here is a tip, it’s excellent to dip Chicken nuggets into too!
Let's get started and I'll show you exactly how I make this perfect BBQ Chicken Sandwich!
Ingredients for Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich
- Chicken
- Buns
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cheese
- Green Onion
- Tomatoes
- Bacon Crumbles
Ingredients for Homemade BBQ Sauce
¾ Cup Ketchup
1 ½ Tbs Dijon Mustard
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar
½ Tbs Lemon Juice
2 Tbs Brown Sugar
½ teaspoon Pepper
1 teaspoon Honey
Don’t let a long ingredient list fool you. With a few minutes prep dinner is really done!
How to make Shredded Chicken
I've got all the details in the Recipe Card below, so make sure to scroll to the bottom. Making Pulled Chicken is super easy when you use the Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker to cook chicken breasts.
I like to season the breasts with Salt, Pepper and Crushed Garlic. Add a cup of water or chicken broth and set to Pressure Cook / High for 18 minutes. Allow a 20 minute Natural Pressure Release.
Remove Chicken and shred while hot with forks. It will literally fall apart. The chicken is so juicy and moist. It's perfect.
How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce
This can't be any simpler, honestly measure the ingredients in a medium size bowl and stir. There's no way I can drag out those directions. But I'll try!
I have a medium size bowl that I prefer to use when mixes sauces. Add Ketchup, Dijon Mustard, Worcestershire Sauce, Apple Cider Vinegar, Lemon Juice, Brown Sugar, Pepper an Honey. Stir to combine. This is the perfect amount sauce for this recipe, but don’t hesitate to double the recipe. Extra can be stored in the refrigerator for later use.
Making the BEST Pulled Chicken Sandwich
The chicken has been cooked, the BBQ Sauce has been stirred. It's now time to put together the Best Pulled Chicken Sandwich you ever tasted.
In a large bowl mix about ¾ of the BBQ Sauce with the shredded chicken and stir. If you wish to toast your buns, now is the time to do so. Add a little butter on top for a perfect crispy buttery taste.
Place about ½ Cup BBQ Chicken on Bun
Dice Green Onions and Tomatoes and combine in a small bowl. Add Bacon Crumbles and stir to make a simple Bruschetta.
Adding this simple Bruschetta on top of each sandwich and melting cheese will take this recipe to Gold Medal status. It’s a true party in your mouth and you will definitely hope there are more for the taking.
Just trust me, your family will go crazy over this sandwich. It's a favorite stand by recipe when I serve large crowds because the WOW Factor is so great!
What makes a Pulled Chicken Sandwich Great?
To me, a great pulled chicken sandwich is packed full of flavor and definitely isn’t lacking when it comes to the sauce. Also the bread or bun must be top notch too! Although a good hamburger bun works, why not try a large baked croissant or French Roll? Doesn’t that sound good?
How long will Homemade BBQ Sauce Last?
The sauce will last in the refrigerator for a week to 10 days. I never make more than a cup extra and always have plans for leftovers with a few days.
Can I freeze Pulled Chicken?
Of course you can! Store any leftovers in freezer containers and freeze. When ready to use allow to thaw and heat. You might need to add a little liquid (water or broth) to add moisture if needed.
Fun Fact
This is my recipe for serving a crowd. I will double or triple this recipe depending on how many I need to feed. Cooking chicken is easily done in the crockpot or Instant Pot which makes this recipe super simple!
Plan ahead and mix up the sauce, I always make extra, and prep the bruschetta. This can easily be done the day ahead to save you time.
When it comes time to serve a crowd mix a portion of the sauce with the shredded chicken and place on each roll. Add bruschetta and cheese on top and pop under the broiler for a few mins to melt the cheese. Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches are served and everyone will thank you!
More Shredded Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Parmesan Crescent Rolls
- Chicken Parmesan Sliders
- Homemade Chicken Taquitos
- Cream Cheese Chicken Croissants
- Chicken Tacos
- BBQ Chicken Tostadas
- White Chicken Chili
Pulled Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
- 3 lbs Chicken Breast
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Tbs Crushed Garlic
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 2 Roma Tomatoes - Dices
- 2 Bunch Green Onions - Diced
- ½ Cup Bacon Crumbles
- 6 Slices Cheese - Swiss, Provolone, or Jack
- 6 Hoagie Buns
BBQ Sauce
- ¾ Cup Ketchup
- 1 ½ Tbs Dijon Mustard
- 2 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar
- ½ Tbs Lemon Juice
- 2 Tbs Brown Sugar
- 1 Tbs Honey
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
Instructions
- Place water in Bottom of Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker
- Add Chicken Breasts on Trivet
- Sprinkle Salt and Pepper on Chicken Breasts
- Add crushed garlic on chicken
- Close Instant Pot Lid and check to make sure pressure valve is closed. Set on Manual (Presser Cook) High for 18 minutes
- Allow a 20 minute Natural Release
- Remove Chicken Breasts and one at a time shred chicken with forks, Set Aside
- In a medium bowl combine ingredients for BBQ Sauce and Stir to combine.
- Mix ¾ BBQ Sauce into Shredded Chicken
- In a small bowl combine diced green onions, diced tomatoes and bacon crumbles. Stir to combine
- *optional - Toast Buns
- Place ½ Cup BBQ Chicken on each bun and top with 1-2 Tbs of Tomato, Green Onion Mixture.
- Top with Cheese and Melt Cheese under Broiler for 1-2 minutes
- Serve Hot with extra BBQ Sauce on the side if desired.
Notes
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
msSally
Going to make this tomorrow(too late for today)! I can hardly wait. It looks wonderful.