Apple Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sandwich
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!
- Combine chicken, apples, bourbon, juice, seasonings and BBQ Sauce in crockpot. Cook on high for 4 hours.
- After cooking, drain contents and transfer contents to large mixing bowl.
- Shred and pull the chicken apart and add in remaining BBQ sauce. Mix together.
- 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
The contents of the sandwich are! Be sure to use gluten free hamburger buns to make this gluten free.
Apple Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sandwich
8 sandwiches
4 hours
15 minutes
American
Main Course
The BEST labor sandwiches!
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
Directions
Grab your crockpot and add in your chicken meat, apple juice, and bourbon, seasonings, and 1 cup of your BBQ Sauce.
Then grab your cutting board, cutting knife, and apples and cut each apple into slices. You want them to be on the thinner side, maybe 1-2 cm wide, so you get 8-10 slices per apple. Add them into the crockpot.
Using your large spoon, stir the contents of the crockpot together for about 30 seconds. Then set the crockpot to cook on high heat for 4 hours.
When the crockpot is done cooking, scoop out about 1 cup of the juice and set aside. Drain the remaining liquids so you're left with the meat and apple contents, which you then transfer to your large mixing bowl.
Pour in your cup of the saved juice and add into the large mixing bowl with the meat and apples.
Grab your two forks and start pulling apart and shredding the chicken. You should ultimately get a bowl of pulled chicken.
Then add in the remaining BBQ sauce and mix.
Grab your hamburger buns and add a heaping spoonful of the chicken and apple contents on the bottom half.
Grab a handful of your raw shredded coleslaw and place atop the chicken. Then top off with the top of your burger bun and you've got yourself a delicious sandwich!
