Our easy BBQ Chicken Sandwiches feature our effortless slow cooker shredded chicken and creamy coleslaw on a toasted bun. They’re perfect for parties and get togethers!

Along with a Shrimp Po’ Boy and Classic Reuben, it’s one of our favorite sandwiches.

Two barbecue chicken sandwiches served on a plate with chips.

Why You’ll Love Them

These sandwiches are the perfect way to feed a crowd, and are great for meal prep. The easy Crockpot BBQ Chicken recipe makes enough chicken for 8-10 sandwiches.

And with the addition of smoked paprika, they still have that classic BBQ flavor even though the chicken isn’t grilled.

Ingredient Notes

Chicken – Boneless skinless breasts, because they are best for shredding.
Barbecue sauce – We love Sweet Baby Ray’s original. The measurements for the other ingredients are based off of this, and may need to be adjusted if you use a different sauce.
Brown sugar – For sweetness. Honey could be used instead.
Apple cider vinegar – Because barbecue should be a balance of sweet and tangy. Distilled white vinegar also works.
Smoked paprika – This is the secret ingredient, giving that smoky flavor you get with grilled chicken.
Garlic powder – Just to round off the flavors of the sauce.
Sandwich buns – For best results, use a sturdier bun. Our top choice is brioche, followed by kaiser. Hamburger buns tend to fall apart because of the barbecue sauce.
Coleslaw – You can use store bought, or make your own for a fresher slaw. We have easy recipes for basic Coleslaw, as well as a more zippy Creole Coleslaw.

How to Make BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Make the shredded chicken: Place the chicken in a slow cooker. Whisk together BBQ sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and garlic powder. Pour this mixture over the chicken, then cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Use two forks to shred the chicken, then toss it with the sauce.

Toast the buns: Spread a thin layer on the cut side of each bun half. In a preheated nonstick skillet or griddle, sear the buttered buns until they become golden and crisp.

Assemble your sandwiches: Load up your bun with as much chicken as you like, top it off with coleslaw, and enjoy.

Sandwich buns loaded with pulled chicken and coleslaw.

Serving Suggestions

We love these pulled chicken sandwiches with good old potato chips. That crunch really goes well with the saucy chicken.

Some other sides that pair very well are Three Bean Salad, Hawaiian Mac Salad, or Mexican Street Corn Salad.

For plenty more ideas, check out our roundup of the best BBQ side dishes.

If you try our BBQ chicken sandwiches, please leave a star rating and comment, we love to hear from you.

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

Overhead shot of BBQ chicken sandwich on the Gypsy Plate.

Still craving barbecue? Try these recipes!
Country Style Beef Ribs
Baked BBQ Chicken
Pinchos de Pollo
Oven Baked Ribs

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Yield: 8-10 sandwiches

These easy BBQ Chicken Sandwiches feature our effortless slow cooker shredded chicken and creamy coleslaw on a toasted bun. They're perfect for parties and get togethers!

Ingredients

2.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
1.5 cups barbecue sauce (see note 1)
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ garlic powder
8-10 sandwich buns (see note 2)
butter, for toasting buns
2.5 cups prepared coleslaw

Instructions

Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
In a bowl, whisk together barbecue sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Pour this mixture over the chicken breasts.
Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.
Shred the chicken with two forks, then toss with barbecue sauce.
Spread a thin layer on the cut side of each bun half. In a preheated nonstick skillet or griddle, sear the buttered buns until they become golden and crisp.
Place desired amount of shredded chicken on each bun bottom, top with about ¼ cup coleslaw, then finish with the bun tops. Serve immediately.

Notes

We use Sweet Baby Ray's original barbecue sauce. The measurements for the other sauce ingredients are based off of this, and may need to be adjusted if you use a different sauce. Taste and adjust before pouring on the chicken.
For best results, use a sturdier bun. Our top choice is brioche, followed by kaiser. Hamburger buns tend to fall apart because of the barbecue sauce.

Nutrition Information

Yield 10 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 420Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 99mgSodium 781mgCarbohydrates 45gFiber 2gSugar 19gProtein 41g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Picture of Alpana, blogger and recipe developer at GypsyPlate

Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.

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