Smoked Pulled Chicken Sandwiches (Printable)

Smoky pulled chicken with tangy white BBQ on soft buns; add coleslaw for crunch.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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)

# How To Make:

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 Hints:

01 -
  • The white BBQ sauce is so tangy and bold you’ll want to dip everything in it—not just chicken.
  • Smoking keeps the meat juicy and makes your backyard smell like a little slice of Southern heaven.
02 -
  • Under-seasoning the chicken makes the whole sandwich fall flat—the rub needs to be generous for real depth.
  • Pulling the chicken while it’s still warm is so much easier and keeps it moist; don’t let it cool too much.
03 -
  • Always use a thermometer to avoid guessing when the chicken’s done—trust me, dry chicken is heartbreak in a bun.
  • A squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end lifts both chicken and sauce unexpectedly.
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