Alabama BBQ Chicken Chopped Sandwich (Printable)
Smoky grilled chicken chopped and tossed in creamy Alabama white BBQ sauce, piled high on soft buns with crunchy coleslaw and tangy pickles for the ultimate Southern comfort meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
04 - 1 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
→ For the 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 (optional, for heat)
17 - Salt to taste
→ For Assembly
18 - 4 soft sandwich buns
19 - 1 cup coleslaw (prepared or homemade)
20 - 1/4 cup sliced pickles (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat grill or stovetop grill pan over medium-high heat.
02 - Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper, coating evenly.
03 - Grill chicken for 6-8 minutes per side, or until fully cooked (internal temp: 165°F). Remove and let rest for 5 minutes.
04 - While chicken rests, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, prepared horseradish, Dijon mustard, sugar, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a bowl until smooth. Adjust salt and vinegar to taste.
05 - Chop the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Transfer to a bowl and toss generously with the Alabama white BBQ sauce, reserving a small amount for drizzling.
06 - Lightly toast sandwich buns on the grill or in a toaster for added texture and warmth.
07 - Pile chopped BBQ chicken onto the bottom halves of buns. Top each with a generous spoonful of coleslaw and sliced pickles.
08 - Drizzle with extra BBQ sauce, close sandwiches, and serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The creamy tangy sauce cuts through rich chicken in ways traditional red sauce never could
- Chopping the chicken means every bite gets perfectly coated in that incredible white sauce
- This sandwich comes together in under an hour but tastes like you spent all day tending the grill
02 -
- The horseradish is non-negotiable here—it's what makes Alabama white sauce distinctive rather than just mayonnaise with vinegar
- Letting the chicken rest before chopping prevents all those juices from running out onto your cutting board instead of staying in the meat
03 -
- If you're cooking indoors, add a drop of liquid smoke to the sauce to mimic that grill flavor
- Chicken thighs work beautifully here and stay juicier than breasts if you have the extra time to deal with the bones