Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Coleslaw Recipe
This Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken recipe features tender, slow-cooked boneless chicken breasts simmered in a flavorful mixture of barbecue sauce, brown sugar, bourbon, and Italian dressing. Perfectly seasoned and shredded, the chicken is served on soft potato buns topped with coleslaw and extra barbecue sauce for a deliciously sweet, tangy, and smoky sandwich ideal for casual gatherings or weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes (high heat) or 6 hours 10 minutes (low heat)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup barbecue sauce, plus more for serving
- 1/2 cup packed light or brown sugar
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup Italian dressing
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
To Serve
- 6 potato buns
- Coleslaw, for serving
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a slow cooker, place the boneless skinless chicken breasts. Add the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, bourbon, Italian dressing, garlic powder, and paprika. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Toss all ingredients together to ensure the chicken is thoroughly coated with the marinade.
- Cook Chicken: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook the chicken on high heat for 4 hours, or alternatively on low heat for 6 hours. This slow cooking process makes the chicken tender and allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.
- Shred and Serve: Once cooking is complete, shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker using two forks to pull the meat apart. Serve the shredded chicken on potato buns, drizzle with additional barbecue sauce if desired, and top with a spoonful of coleslaw for a perfect balance of flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a stronger bourbon flavor, add an extra tablespoon before cooking.
- Use gluten-free buns to make this recipe gluten-free friendly.
- Coleslaw can be store-bought or homemade according to preference.
- Leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Adjust the amount of brown sugar if you prefer a sweeter or less sweet sauce.
Keywords: BBQ chicken, slow cooker chicken, shredded chicken sandwich, brown sugar BBQ chicken, bourbon BBQ chicken, coleslaw sandwich
