Smoked Pulled Chicken Sandwiches (Printable)

Tender smoked pulled chicken dressed in tangy white BBQ sauce on soft buns; coleslaw adds crisp contrast.

# What You Need:

→ For the Chicken

01 - 2 lbs (900 g) 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 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 Suggestions:

01 -
  • Once you taste chicken hugged by smoke and zapped by that sharp, creamy sauce, you’ll crave it anytime you spot a picnic table.
  • It’s a forgiving recipe that brings big flavor even if you’re not a pitmaster—plus, the leftovers somehow get even better.
02 -
  • Ignore the temptation to rush the smoke—impatience turns juicy into chewy and cheats you out of that lingering woodsy aroma.
  • Letting the pulled chicken rest before shredding is my holy grail for keeping things succulent; skipping it only brings regret.
03 -
  • Resting the chicken before shredding is non-negotiable if you want moisture in every bite.
  • A bold hit of prepared horseradish in the sauce can convert any BBQ traditionalist.
Go Back