Alabama BBQ Chicken Chopped Sandwich (Printable)

Tender smoked chicken in tangy Alabama white BBQ sauce on toasted buns with crisp slaw—a juicy Southern classic.

# 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)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat your grill or oven to 400°F.
02 - Pat the 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 a lined baking sheet for 20–25 minutes, until cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F). Let rest 5 minutes.
04 - Mix all Alabama white BBQ sauce ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Set aside.
05 - In a separate bowl, combine shredded cabbage, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper to make a quick slaw.
06 - Chop the rested chicken into bite-sized pieces and toss with half of the Alabama white sauce.
07 - Pile chopped BBQ chicken on each toasted bun. Top generously with slaw. Drizzle additional Alabama white sauce if desired. Add pickles for extra tang.
08 - Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The white sauce is creamy and tangy and unlike anything youve ever tried on barbecue
  • Chopped chicken means every single bite is perfectly coated and juicy
  • The crisp slaw cuts through all that richness so you never feel weighed down
02 -
  • Letting the chicken rest for at least 5 minutes before chopping is non negotiable or all those juices end up on your cutting board instead of in your sandwich
  • The white sauce keeps in the fridge for two weeks and somehow tastes even better after the flavors meld together
03 -
  • Grill grates should be oiled well before the chicken hits them or you will lose that beautiful seasoned coating
  • Chop the chicken into uniform pieces so every bite has the same ratio of meat to sauce

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