BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich with Homemade Spice Blend

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I love barbecue flavors and find that these BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches are perfect for a crowd. They are easy to make and everyone will love them. The chicken is slow-cooked in the oven until it's fall-apart tender, then mixed in a delicious BBQ sauce. Serve on a soft bun with your choice of coleslaw or pickles for crunch!

barbecue pulled chicken sandwiches on wood slices with toothpick in center of bun

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BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
What Do I Serve With Barbecue Sandwiches?
Ingredients
Handy Kitchen Tools
How to Make BBQ Pulled Chicken
Frequently Asked Questions
More Easy Sandwich Recipes
📖 Recipe

BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

I love sandwiches because they are so easy to throw together and can actually work for any meal of the day. This barbecue chicken sandwich uses pulled chicken that is smothered in a delicious blend of barbecue sauce and homemade spice rub. It's the perfect meal for any time of day, whether you are looking for a quick lunch or something to satisfy your hunger after a long day.

I know that you'll love this BBQ pulled chicken sandwich. They are packed with flavor and will leave you feeling satisfied and happy. Plus, they're easy to eat and won't leave you feeling weighed down. If you want something similar, check out this delicious Instant Pot pulled pork sandwich. Another great choice for any mealtime!

two chicken sandwiches on wood table with carrots in background

What Do I Serve With Barbecue Sandwiches?

When I make these barbecue sandwiches, I love to make homemade seasoned steak fries. There is just something about how well they taste together. Of course, you can make frozen store-bought fries too, or even these simple cottage fries if that is what you prefer.

If you want something that feels like you have been to the local BBQ joint, you can serve this sandwich with coleslaw and mustard potato salad. Homemade macaroni and cheese is always a winner. Another favorite is a nice pasta salad of which there are numerous varieties.

If you want to go a little bit healthier, you could serve this with the beetroot and feta salad, a simple fruit salad, or even this corn salad with cucumber and peppers. Roasted broccoli and cauliflower or any preferred steamed or roasted vegetable can pair wonderfully with this sandwich.

pulled chicken sandwich with lettuce on brioche bun on cutting board

Ingredients

1 cup barbecue sauce
½ cup chicken broth
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1 medium yellow onion
4 cloves garlic
1 pound of chicken legs

For spice blend

¼ cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon mustard powder
½ teaspoon cayenne powder

For serving:

Soft buns
Coleslaw
Pickles

two barbecue chicken sadnwiches sitting on light wood table with gray napkin background

Handy Kitchen Tools

pulled chicken sandwich on white plate with lettuce in background

How to Make BBQ Pulled Chicken

Being by preheating the oven to 400°F/200°C. Spray your chosen baking dish with non-stick spray to make for easy cleanup later. I used a 10" oval dish, but you can use any baking dish that is large enough to fit 1 pound of chicken.

Now, mix together the barbecue sauce, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke, chopped onions, and minced garlic in the baking dish you will be using. Stir until it is completely combined then set it aside.

barbecue sauce being mixed in glass baking dish

Now, whisk together the spice blend of brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, chili powder, ground cumin, mustard powder, and cayenne pepper.

spices being combined in small glass bowl

Coat the chicken legs with the spice blend on all sides.

spice blend being poured over chicken legs in white bowl

Put the seasoned chicken legs into the baking dish sauce, and coat them in the sauce. Then bake for 1 hour, uncovered, until the chicken is falling off the bone and 165°F internally.

pink tongs coating chicken legs in sauce

Once the chicken has cooked through, remove it from the pan and discard the skin and bone, leaving just the meat to shred.

chicken legs on white plate with fork pulling meat from bone

Toss the chicken in the remaining sauce.

sauce being spooned onto plate of pulled chicken

Serve on a toasted bun with your choice of toppings such as coleslaw and pickles.

chicken sandwich on wood slice on table with lettuce

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make This With Chicken Thighs?

It is easy to make BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches with chicken thighs. The cooking time with thighs is usually different, but in this case, it should take around 1 hour. If in doubt, use a meat thermometer to verify the chicken is cooked through.

Thighs and chicken breasts can both be used in place of the legs if you prefer or have those on hand. Just make sure whatever cut of meat you use, it reaches a safe internal temperature for serving.

What’s the Difference Between Shredded and Pulled Chicken?

Most times shredded and pulled are used interchangeably. They are very similar. Shredded chicken is cooked chicken that has been cut or torn into small pieces. Pulled chicken is cooked chicken that has been shredded and then mixed with a sauce or seasoning. Additionally, Pulled chicken is done by slow cooking the chicken. The chicken falls apart easily when pulled. Shredded chicken is done by cooking the chicken normally and then it is usually shredded with a couple of forks.

Can I Make This in the Slow Cooker or Instant Pot?

While this recipe is made using the stove, you can easily use the slow cooker or Instant Pot. Most of the recipe is made the same, but there will be directions included in the recipe card below for each of these to tell you how to make this in the slow cooker or the Instant Pot.

single chicken sandwich on wood slice with wood background

More Easy Sandwich Recipes

Sandwiches are so fun to make and serve. They are often super easy, and of course, they always make everyone at the dinner table happy. Since they can be wrapped and taken to go, they make the ideal lunch for busy days. Make sure you bookmark this recipe, print out the recipe, or pin it to Pinterest to make it soon.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 4

BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

This easy BBQ pulled chicken sandwich recipe is filled with flavor and a perfect party food that is easy to share!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

For Chicken

1 cup barbecue sauce
½ cup chicken broth
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound of chicken legs or thighs

For Spice Blend

¼ cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon mustard powder
½ teaspoon cayenne powder

For serving

4 biroche buns
½ cup coleslaw

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C and lightly spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.
Into the baking dish, add a ready-made barbecue sauce, chicken broth, vinegar, liquid smoke, onion, and garlic. Stir this together well until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, mustard powder, and cayenne pepper.
Coat the chicken legs with the spice mixture on all sides.
Then, place the chicken legs into the prepared sauce and turn to coat all sides.
Bake for 1 hour, or until the chicken has reached 165°F internally and pulls easily off the bone.
Remove the chicken from the baking dish and carefully remove the skin, then shred the chicken removing it from the bone completely. Discard the skin and bone.
Toss the shredded chicken back with any remaining sauce if desired before serving on toasted buns with coleslaw, pickles, or your desired toppings.