BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches are extremely easy and quick to put together! Served on toasted buns and topped off with crunchy Coleslaw, these are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

More summer BBQ recipes include BBQ Chicken Nachos, Instant Pot Chicken Wings, and Baked Honey BBQ Wings!

Picky eaters in your family? No worries. Modify these to everyone’s liking. Not a fan of coleslaw? Add some cheese.

Not a fan of coleslaw or cheese? Serve it with some corn on the cob and leave out the buns. Juicy pulled chicken simmered in spices and BBQ sauce is a win at every summer event.

Did I mention you can serve these as sliders? For this recipe, I used a store bought Hickory Smoked BBQ Sauce but feel free to use any kind you’d like.

Ingredients you’ll need for BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches:

Chicken Breasts
Good Quality BBQ Sauce
Onion
Fresh Garlic
Paprika
Granulated Garlic
Onion Powder
Oregano
Salt and Pepper
Toasted Buns
Coleslaw

FAQ’s

Can I make these bbq pulled chicken sandwiches in the Instant Pot?

You certainly can. Although chicken breasts cook extremely quickly on the stovetop.

What type of BBQ sauce should I use?

I recommend using a Hickory Smoked BBQ Sauce for this recipe, a lot of folks don’t enjoy BBQ Sauces that are too sweet or spicy so a plain one would work best for a large gathering.

What other toppings besides coleslaw can I use?

Cheddar cheese, jalapenos, or pickles work wonderfully.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Make sure you remove all the fat from the chicken thighs while you shred the chicken.

Especially if cooking for a crowd. For many years I avoided pulled chicken sandwiches because a lot of them tend to be very fatty.

If you enjoy the extra fat then, by all means, leave it in. I will say that chicken thighs are a good choice of meat because it is super juicy but keep in mind that you will have to cook chicken thighs for a longer period of time.

How to make BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches

It’s super easy to make, here’s how you make these:

Season the chicken on both sides with salt, pepper, granulated garlic, onion powder, oregano, and paprika.
Saute the onions and garlic in a large skillet with some olive oil and cook until translucent.
Place the seasoned chicken in the skillet with the onions and garlic.
Pour the barbecue sauce in the skillet, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 25 minutes.
Once the 25 minutes are up, shred the chicken using two forks and then place the chicken back in the skillet. Let the chicken simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Serve on toasted buns.

BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches