Alabama BBQ Chicken Chopped Sandwich (Printable Version)
Tender smoked chicken in tangy white BBQ sauce with crisp slaw on toasted buns
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
04 - 1 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1 tsp onion powder
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Alabama White BBQ Sauce
08 - 3/4 cup mayonnaise
09 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
11 - 1 tbsp prepared horseradish
12 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
13 - 1 tsp sugar
14 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
15 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
16 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
17 - Salt to taste
→ Sandwich Assembly
18 - 4 sandwich buns, split and toasted
19 - 2 cups shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix
20 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise
21 - 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
22 - Salt and pepper to taste
23 - Pickles for garnish (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat grill or oven to 400°F.
02 - Pat chicken dry and rub thoroughly with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Grill chicken 6-8 minutes per side, or roast on lined baking sheet for 20-25 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest 5 minutes.
04 - Whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, horseradish, Dijon mustard, sugar, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne until smooth. Season with salt to taste.
05 - Combine shredded cabbage, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix until evenly coated.
06 - Chop rested chicken into bite-sized pieces. Toss with half the Alabama white sauce until evenly coated.
07 - Pile sauced chicken onto toasted buns. Top generously with slaw. Drizzle with additional sauce if desired and add pickles for extra tang.
08 - Serve immediately while warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The white sauce creates an incredibly creamy, tangy contrast to the smoky chicken that you just cant get from traditional red sauce
- Chopping the chicken instead of leaving it whole means every single bite gets coated in that Alabama magic
- The whole thing comes together in under an hour but tastes like you spent all day tending a pit
02 -
- The white sauce can be made up to a week ahead and actually tastes better after the flavors meld together
- Don't skip resting the chicken after cooking, or you'll lose all those precious juices that make it so tender
- The slaw needs at least 15 minutes to wilt slightly and marry the flavors, so make it while the chicken cooks
03 -
- If you're using chicken thighs, give them an extra 2 minutes per side on the grill
- Don't toast the buns until you're ready to assemble, or they'll get tough and chewy