Pulled Chicken Sandwich Recipe
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
1 hr
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Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
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Servings
4 sandwiches
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Calories
544 kcal
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Course
Lunch
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Cuisine
North American
Pulled Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Description
This Pulled Chicken Sandwich recipe starts with cooking chicken breasts in a simmering mixture of orange juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and optional brown sugar. The chicken simmers gently for about an hour until very tender, allowing it to absorb the vibrant, smoky, and citrusy flavors. The chicken is then shredded with forks and combined with the reduced cooking liquid thickened down into a barbecue-like sauce.
The accompanying coleslaw mix includes finely shredded purple and green cabbage, grated carrot, chopped cilantro, lime juice, honey, salt, and black pepper for a fresh, slightly sweet, and tangy crunch contrasting the smoky pulled chicken. Brioche buns, preferably toasted with butter, provide a soft and slightly sweet bread base.
Together, the pulled chicken, coleslaw, and buns create a balanced sandwich with layers of smoky heat, sweetness, tang, and fresh vegetable texture. Adjusting the number of chipotle peppers changes the spiciness level. The sauce can be left a bit chunky or pureed for smoothness depending on preference.
Replacing sugar with coconut sugar is an option. For a milder sauce, reduce chipotle peppers. To smooth the sauce, use a blender or immersion blender after cooking.
Ingredients
The Pulled Chicken
- 1 teaspoon neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 2-6 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce finely minced (see notes)
- 2 cups orange juice
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce gluten-free, if needed
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- brown sugar see notes, or coconut sugar, 2 tablespoons
- 2 chicken breast boneless skinless
The Coleslaw
- 2 cups cabbage we like a mix of purple and green cabbage, finely shredded
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
- 1 medium carrot grated
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- Pinch salt
- Pinch black pepper
The Buns
- 4 Brioche buns preferably toasted with a little butter (sub gluten-free buns, if needed)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the chipotle peppers and cook for 1 more minute.
- Add the orange juice, Worchestershire sauce, dijon mustard, and if using, the sugar to the pot and stir. (See notes) Put the chicken breasts into the pot and turn the heat to high. When it starts to boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot. Simmer for 1 hour, or until the chicken is very tender.
- Remove the chicken from the pot (save the liquid in the pot!) and shred it using 2 forks. Return the pot to high heat and boil, uncovered, until the liquid is as thick as BBQ sauce - it will thicken when it cools.
- Pour half of the sauce over the chicken and gently mix. If you'd like it saucier, add a little more sauce.
- Mix the coleslaw ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl.
- Top the buns with the pulled chicken and coleslaw and eat right away!
Notes
- Adjust the chipotle peppers to control the sandwich's spiciness; fewer peppers reduce heat.
- You can omit the optional sugar since orange juice adds natural sweetness, or use coconut sugar as a substitute.
- If you prefer a smooth sauce, blend the cooked sauce before adding it to the shredded chicken.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4sandwiches
Amount Per Serving
Calories 544 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 sandwich (¼ of the recipe) | |
| Calories | 544kcal | 27% |
| Carbohydrates | 64g | 21% |
| Protein | 24g | 48% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 180mg | 60% |
| Sodium | 775mg | 32% |
| Potassium | 737mg | 16% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 18g | 36% |
| Vitamin A | 4028IU | 81% |
| Vitamin C | 81mg | 90% |
| Calcium | 114mg | 11% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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