Apple Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sandwich

Name: Apple Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sandwich
Prep time: 4 h
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 4 h 15 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 breasts chicken; 4 thighs chicken; 2 cups apple juice; ½ cup bourbon; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon chipotle powder; 1-2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 2 cups BBQ Sauce; 3-5 Large Apples sliced; 1-3 packages raw shredded coleslaw depends how much you want to put on each sandwich; 8 hamburger buns

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The perfect Labor Day sandwich, this Apple Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sandwich will have you salivating, it's so good! It's super easy to make in a crockpot and the flavor is unbelievable. You get sweet and savory in one bite!

This is one of my favorite ways to celebrate Labor Day or enjoy a nice sunny BBQ day in the summer. It's a popular choice in our home!

This was inspired by my Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich on this site, and pairs well with my Homemade Hamburger Buns.

Ingredients Overview

*See recipe card for quantities*

chicken breast
chicken thighs
apple juice
bourbon
garlic powder
onion powder
cayenne pepper
chipotle powder
ground cinnamon
BBQ sauce (your choice of brand!)
large apples sliced
raw shredded coleslaw
hamburger buns

Instructions Overview

Here's what the process will look like!

Large white crockpot filled with chicken and juice contents. Bourbon being poured into crockpot. Crockpot rests on wooden kitchen countertop.

Combine chicken, apples, bourbon, juice, seasonings and BBQ Sauce in crockpot. Cook on high for 4 hours.

Large mixing bowl filled with chicken and apple contents. Two forks prepared to pulled apart and shred the chicken contents. Bowl rests on wooden kitchen countertop.

After cooking, drain contents and transfer contents to large mixing bowl.

Large mixing bowl filled with shredded chicken and apple contents. A layer of fresh BBQ sauce rests atop of the contents of the bowl. Two forks prepared to mix the sauce in with the chicken. Bowl rests on wooden kitchen countertop.

Shred and pull the chicken apart and add in remaining BBQ sauce. Mix together.

Assembled apple bourbon bbq chicken sandwich resting on white plate with yellow, red, and green designs at center and along rim. Kitchen bowls and jars rest in background.

Assemble your sandwich with hamburger buns and coleslaw. Enjoy!

Hint: don't forget to set a cup of the crockpot juice aside after step 1.

Substitutions

Lettuce - instead of raw shredded coleslaw, you can use shredded iceberg lettuce
Bun - use gluten free buns instead of white bread buns to make this gluten free

Variations

Alcohol Free - remove the bourbon altogether if you'd like to make this without alcohol.
Less Spice - if you don't want to use the spicier seasonings like cayenne pepper and chipotle seasoning, you can remove!

Equipment

1 Crockpot I used my 6 qt crockpot
1 Cutting Knife
1 Cutting Board
1 Large Spoon
1 Large Mixing Bowl
2 Forks

Storage

Separate Components: For best results, store the shredded cooked chicken and separately from the bread and toppings. This prevents the sandwich from becoming soggy. Place the cooled, cooked chicken in an airtight container. Pour any leftover apple bourbon BBQ sauce over the chicken to keep it moist. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Store the Bread: Store the buns or bread in a resealable plastic bag at room temperature if you plan to use them within 1-2 days. For longer storage, freeze the buns, wrapping each one individually in plastic wrap and then placing them in a freezer bag.
Toppings Storage: Store fresh toppings like lettuce, onions, or coleslaw in separate containers in the refrigerator.
Reheat and Assemble: When ready to eat, reheat the chicken in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through. Assemble the sandwich with fresh toppings and enjoy!

FAQ

Is this gluten free?

The contents of the sandwich are! Be sure to use gluten free hamburger buns to make this gluten free.