Gluten Free BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

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BBQ Chicken Sandwiches feature tender bites of succulent shredded chicken topped with creamy coleslaw and served on a bun (gluten free, if needed). Low and slow flavor, easily made fast on the stovetop – no grill or smoker required!

The filling of a bbq chicken sandwich can be seen including chicken and coleslaw.

Why You’ll Love This BBQ Chicken Sandwich Recipe

  • Cuisine Inspiration: American
  • Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop
  • Dietary Info: Gluten-free option, Dairy-free option
  • Skill Level: Easy

If your family loves BBQ chicken as much as mine does, you’ll win the dinnertime lottery when you make my easy BBQ chicken sandwiches recipe! Super flavorful and cooked just in minutes on the stove, this is a great choice for a quick weeknight meal that can be rounded out with simple sides or even a handful of potato chips if you’re short on time.

  • Flexible family meal. If your family has different diet needs, the only adjustment is to have a selection of regular and gluten free rolls, as needed.
  • So fast. You’ll note the total prep and cook time for these sandwiches is just 10 minutes. That’s not a typo! I love how fast this recipe comes together, and I rely on it for weekend lunches or for nights when I don’t want to cook (but still need to make dinner). If you really have no time in the evening, you can always get some Crockpot BBQ Chicken in your slow cooker in the morning and prep the slaw in advance.
  • Good use of leftovers. You can turn any chicken leftovers into the filling for these BBQ chicken sandwiches, or make it the day you plan to prepare the sandwiches. And, if you love turkey, this is a perfect way to use up any leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
  • Flavorful. You’ll find all the flavors of BBQ chicken in each bite, but you won’t need to bother with a grill. The chicken and BBQ sauce will give that authentic from-the-grill flavor but it’s made easily on the stove.
A sesame seed-flecked bun is used to serve a bbq chicken sandwich.

What You’ll Need

Here’s everything you’ll need to make a BBQ chicken sandwich. Make sure to check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.

For the Coleslaw

  • Coleslaw Mix: Instead of using pre-made coleslaw mix, you can mix 2 ½ cups of shredded cabbage with ½ cup of shredded carrots.
  • Mayonnaise: If you don’t do mayo, you can substitute Greek yogurt for a similar creaminess plus a bit more tangy flavor.
  • Granulated Sugar: A little sugar offsets the tanginess of the vinegar so it’s not too strong.
  • White Vinegar: A good substitute for white vinegar is apple cider vinegar if needed.
  • Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice gives the best flavor, but bottled juice may also be used.
  • Salt and Pepper
The ingredients for th coleslaw filling are shown labeled and portioned: coleslaw mix, mayonnaise, salt and pepper, lemon juice, sugar, white vinegar.

For the Sandwiches

  • Red Onion: A combination of onion and garlic adds texture and savory flavor to the chicken.
  • Oil: I use avocado oil or vegetable oil.
  • Garlic: Add more garlic if you like a lot of garlic.
  • Chicken: You’ll need about 1 pound of cooked, shredded chicken.
  • Barbecue Sauce: Use your favorite gluten free bbq sauce or make a batch of homemade sauce! My Honey BBQ Sauce is great in this recipe.
  • Parsley
  • Seasonings: Paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper.
  • Buns: Use gluten free buns if needed.
  • Lettuce: You can use any kind of lettuce or salad greens you like to finish off the sandwiches.
The ingredients for bbq chicken sandwiches are shown labeled and portioned: chicken, buns, garlic, red onion, garlic, lettuce, bbq sauce, oil, paprika, pepper, garlic powder.

How To Make BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

In about 10 minutes you’ll have lunch or dinner ready to go! You can see how to make this recipe below -and find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.

  • Mix coleslaw. Add the coleslaw mix, mayonnaise, sugar, white vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to a large bowl.
  • Toss. Use tongs to toss to coat everything evenly.
  • Cook the onion. Heat the oil in a skillet and cook the onion until soft.
  • Add garlic. Stir in the garlic and cook for a minute more.
  • Add remaining ingredients. Place the shredded chicken, barbecue sauce, parsley, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper in the skillet.
  • Cook. Stir together until well mixed and until the chicken is heated through.
  • Assemble. Top each bun bottom with lettuce.
  • Add chicken. Divide the barbecue chicken between the buns.
  • Top with coleslaw. Dollop coleslaw on top of the chicken.
  • Finish. Top the sandwiches the bun tops and serve!

Tips for Sucess

I love a quick-prep meal, and this is one of my top easy favorites that’s very do-able for everyone!

These tips will make them the best:

  • Use rotisserie chicken. Making the bbq chicken filling with pre-cooked chicken will save you even more time, or you can save leftovers from the next time you make a roast chicken to fold into the filling.
  • Make homemade rolls. Keep it easy and pick up a package of gluten free rolls or buns, or make them yourself! My Gluten Free Hamburger Buns are a great way to serve these sandwiches (may I suggest lightly toasting the buns before filling them? It makes a difference!).
  • Turn them into sliders. Easily make bbq chicken sliders by popping the filling and coleslaw on small buns. I love making a batch of Gluten Free Hawaiian Rolls to use as the base for sliders, and they perfectly complement the sweet-savory bbq chicken mix.
  • Try add-ins. You can dress up these bbq chicken sandwiches by adding tidbits like chopped jalapeno peppers, pickles, a drizzle of hot sauce, or piling the bun with avocado and tomato slices along with the lettuce.

Chicken, lettuce, and coleslaw make up a bbq chicken sandwich.

Proper Storage

The chicken, coleslaw, and buns should be stored separately. If you have leftovers, place each component in a separate, airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reassemble the sandwiches with the leftovers when you are ready to eat them.

BBQ chicken sandwiches are arranged on a plate.

Make It A Meal

Turn your bbq chicken sandwich into the star of the meal with a few sides.

A bun tops a bbq chicken sandwich.
5 from 2 votes

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches feature tender bites of succulent shredded chicken topped with creamy coleslaw and served on a gluten free bun.
Prep: 4 minutes
Cook: 6 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

For the Coleslaw:

  • 3 cups coleslaw mix, or 2 ½ cups shredded cabbage plus ½ cup shredded carrots
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • teaspoon coarse kosher salt
  • teaspoon black pepper

For the Sandwiches:

  • ½ cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or vegetable oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (from about 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts)
  • ¼ cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 buns, gluten free if needed
  • 2 large leafy lettuce leaves, torn

Instructions

  • Make the coleslaw: Add the coleslaw mix, mayonnaise, sugar, white vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Toss to coat everything evenly and place in the refrigerator until needed.
  • Heat the avocado oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the onions are soft. Add the minced garlic. Stir for 1 minute or until the garlic is fragrant.
  • To the pan, add the shredded chicken, barbecue sauce, parsley, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir for 2-3 minutes or until the chicken is heated through.
  • Open the buns and top the bottom of each bun with the lettuce leaves. Divide the barbecue chicken between the buns and top with coleslaw, followed by the tops of the buns. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Amount Per Serving (1 sandwich)
Calories 402 Calories from Fat 162
% Daily Value*
Fat 18g28%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Trans Fat 0.04g
Polyunsaturated Fat 8g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 54mg18%
Sodium 661mg28%
Potassium 555mg16%
Carbohydrates 38g13%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 14g16%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 1344IU27%
Vitamin C 27mg33%
Calcium 111mg11%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.

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35 Comments
  1. I think the pictures still look appetizing! I would be all over these sloppy sandwiches. And I totally get the sending-the-hubby to the store conundrum. My husband is willing, which I am thankful for, but he’s not good at sticking to the list. We always end up with loads of junk food when he shops!

  2. Haha we will forgive you about the lighting, I’m sure it was still amazing!!! PS it must have been nuts where you are in Jersey last night, oy!

  3. Yum! I think these look delicious! BBQ is always a favorite in our home. And what is it with husbands and grocery shopping? Mine calls me 10,000 times to read the labels of everything to make sure it’s right. Sounds great, but I usually ask him to pick up something because, hello, I’m busy. And if I’m getting 10,000 phone calls and listening to someone read labels it’s not really saving me a lot of time. And then once he came home without the main item I wanted anyway. Seems he left it on the conveyor belt at the store. LOL.

  4. My husband doesn’t eat wings because he says they are too much work for such a small bit of chicken. He would love this sandwich. All the flavor of the wings in a bun. Nice!

  5. Brianne,
    My hubby does the same thing! When I send him to the store to get one thing, he comes back with 7. And for whatever reason I think all husbands, who don’t usually grocery shop, all come back with the random crap! Mine comes back with whatever is on sale. And I don’t know what you’re talking about- I think your photos came out great! I love a good sloppy joe! and I feel you on the weather. . b/c I DO live in Wisconsin! Ah!! this winter is harsh!

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