Smoked Pulled Chicken Sandwiches (Print version)

Smoked, shredded chicken on toasted buns with tangy white BBQ sauce and optional coleslaw for bright crunch.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Chicken

01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tbsp BBQ dry rub (paprika, brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne)
04 - 1 cup chicken broth or apple juice (for smoking moisture)

→ For the White BBQ Sauce

05 - 1 cup mayonnaise
06 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
07 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
08 - 1 tbsp prepared horseradish
09 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
10 - 1 tsp sugar
11 - 1 tsp black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp salt
13 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
14 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

→ For Serving

15 - 6 sandwich buns
16 - 1 cup coleslaw (optional, for crunch)

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Preheat your smoker to 250°F (120°C).
02 - Pat chicken dry, drizzle with olive oil, and coat evenly with BBQ dry rub.
03 - Place chicken on smoker grate. Add chicken broth or apple juice to a pan inside the smoker to keep the meat moist.
04 - Smoke chicken for 2 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and meat is easy to pull apart.
05 - Remove chicken, rest for 10 minutes, then shred using two forks.
06 - Meanwhile, combine all white BBQ sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth.
07 - Toss pulled chicken with some of the white BBQ sauce (reserve extra for serving).
08 - Toast buns if desired.
09 - Pile smoked pulled chicken on the bottom half of each bun. Top with coleslaw (optional), drizzle with more white BBQ sauce, and cap with bun tops.
10 - Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The white BBQ sauce lifts every smoky bite with its zesty, creamy kick you won’t find on ordinary sandwiches.
  • The pulled chicken stays incredibly juicy thanks to a trick with the smoker that anyone can pull off.
02 -
  • If you rush the smoking or skip the resting time, you’ll end up with tough chicken that’s nothing like the tender goal.
  • Letting the white BBQ sauce chill in the fridge for at least 20 minutes deepens the flavor and thickens it just right.
03 -
  • Never skip letting the smoked chicken rest before shredding; that ten-minute pause means juicy instead of dry.
  • For extra punch in the sauce, blend in a little chopped fresh parsley or chives just before serving.
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