Smoked Chicken Sandwich with Tangy Slaw and Sweet BBQ Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-25 · Updated 2026-06-25

Juicy smoked chicken pulled from the bone layered on a toasted bun with house-made sweet and tangy BBQ sauce and crisp marinated slaw. This Southern-inspired sandwich and wrap recipe, ready in about 280 minutes, pairs whole chicken, kosher salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 lbs whole chicken
• 2 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp yellow mustard
• 2 cups shredded green cabbage
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (for slaw)
• 1 tbsp sugar (for slaw)
• 1/2 tsp salt (for slaw)
• 6 hamburger buns

The instant-read thermometer we’d check this chicken with → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100

Instructions

1. Step 1: Combine 2 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, and 1 tbsp onion powder. Rub mixture all over 4 lbs whole chicken. Let rest for 30 minutes.
2. Step 2: Preheat smoker to 225°F. Place chicken on smoker rack and smoke for 3-4 hours until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear.
3. Step 3: While chicken smokes, stir together 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tsp yellow mustard in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes until thickened.
4. Step 4: In a bowl, toss 2 cups shredded green cabbage and 1 cup shredded carrots with 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1/2 tsp salt. Chill for at least 20 minutes.
5. Step 5: When chicken is done, let rest 10 minutes, then pull meat from bones into bite-sized pieces. Toast 6 hamburger buns. Assemble sandwiches by layering pulled smoked chicken, 1/3 cup sweet BBQ sauce, and a generous scoop of tangy slaw on each bun. Serve warm.