Alabama BBQ Chicken Chopped Sandwich (Printable)
Tender chopped chicken coated in tangy Alabama white sauce, stacked on toasted buns with crisp slaw for a Southern favorite.
# 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)
# Steps:
01 - Preheat grill or oven to 400°F.
02 - Pat chicken dry and rub with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
03 - Grill chicken for 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, cayenne pepper, and salt until smooth. Set aside.
05 - Combine shredded cabbage, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper in separate bowl. Toss to coat evenly.
06 - Cut rested chicken into bite-sized pieces. Toss with half of Alabama white sauce until well coated.
07 - Pile sauced chicken onto toasted buns. Top generously with slaw. Drizzle additional white sauce if desired. Add pickles for extra tang.
08 - Serve immediately while warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The white sauce creates this incredible cooling effect that balances the smoky chicken in ways traditional red BBQ never could
- That crisp slaw cutting through the tender meat creates such a satisfying texture contrast
02 -
- The chicken needs those 5 minutes of resting time or all those juices will end up on your cutting board instead of in your sandwich
- The white sauce actually tastes better after sitting for an hour, so make it ahead if you can plan that far ahead
03 -
- Double the white sauce recipe immediately because you will want to put it on everything
- Use a thermometer instead of cutting into the chicken to check doneness