Tender Pulled Barbecue Chicken (Printable)

Tender barbecue chicken piled high on brioche buns with tangy cabbage slaw. A satisfying comfort food ready in just one hour.

# What You 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 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
08 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Coleslaw

09 - 2 cups shredded green cabbage
10 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
11 - 1 medium carrot, grated
12 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
13 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - 1 teaspoon honey
16 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Assembly

17 - 4 brioche buns
18 - 1 tablespoon butter, optional

# How-To:

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 coleslaw and add the bun tops. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It delivers all the smoky, saucy satisfaction of slow cooked barbecue in just an hour, no special equipment required.
  • The crunchy, tangy slaw cuts through the richness of the chicken in a way that feels balanced and bright, not heavy.
  • You can prep the slaw ahead and shred the chicken straight from the oven, making it weeknight friendly without sacrificing flavor.
  • Brioche buns turn golden and buttery when toasted, soaking up just enough sauce to stay soft in the middle and crisp at the edges.
02 -
  • Dont skip covering the chicken with foil during the first bake or it will dry out and shred into sad, stringy bits instead of tender pulls.
  • Let the slaw sit in the fridge for at least 15 minutes before serving so the flavors meld and the cabbage softens just enough to lose its raw bite.
  • If your barbecue sauce is too thick, thin it with a tablespoon of broth or water so it coats the chicken evenly instead of clumping.
03 -
  • Press down gently on the assembled sandwich before serving to help the slaw settle into the chicken and make it easier to bite without everything sliding out the sides.
  • Save any leftover pulled chicken and toss it into quesadillas, grain bowls, or nachos the next day for a completely different meal with zero extra work.
  • If you want deeper flavor, let the seasoned chicken sit in the fridge for an hour before baking to give the spices time to soak in.
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