This easy delicious grilled pulled chicken recipe started with a flavourful rub then the chicken was barbecued until tender and juicy and then lastly coated with a homemade barbecue sauce.
This pulled chicken recipe has all the delicious flavours of a pulled pork dish. Whether you use chicken thighs or chicken breasts or a combination which would be a perfect fit for this recipe, the results are tender, delicious and juicy. Top with lettuce, cabbage, pickles, red onion, or caramelized onion. Serve with homemade fries and a cold beverage.
Helpful tips:
Chicken: there is the option to use only chicken breasts or thighs. For this recipe, I used both, since I love the flavour each offers, and when you add the rub and grill the chicken, surprisingly the breasts were tender and moist. The thighs not only add moisture but they have more fat and flavour. It is a personal choice for sure. But my suggestion is don’t over grill, it will only dry them out. Once the barbecue sauce is added, it will add amazing flavour and moisture to the chicken.
What happens if you don’t have an indoor or outdoor grill? There are other options to cook chicken for this recipe. You can place the seasoned chicken in the oven in a baking dish or sheet pan with some olive oil to avoid the chicken from sticking to the pan. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes. Pan-searing is another option. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet, and pan sear seasoned chicken 5-7 minutes on each side.
Ingredients for rub:
- chili powder
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- cumin
- paprika (I use Hungarian sweet)
- black pepper
- Himalayan or sea salt
- cayenne pepper is option, if you like a little heat add 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon
Ingredients for barbecue sauce:
- garlic
- ketchup
- apple cider vingear
- maple syrup
- molasses
- Worcestershire sauce
- dry mustard
- ground ginger
- chili powder
- Himalayan or sea salt
This may seem like a lot of ingredients, but the results are delicious. Some sweetness, some tang and some heat to balance the flavours. Remember, rubs and sauce can be altered and experimented with to get the flavours you are looking for and enjoy.
Easy Grilled Pulled Chicken with BBQ Sauce
Equipment
- Outdoor or indoor grill
Ingredients
- 4 hormone and antibiotic boneless skinless chicken thighs/breasts (option: 2 thighs and 2 chicken breasts)
Rub:
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Himalayan salt
Barbecue Sauce: makes 1/2 cup
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tbsp molasses
- 1 tbsp Worchestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp chili powder
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Heat grill to medium to high heat.
- Rub: In a small bowl, blend together the rub seasoning and then add to the chicken pieces and set aside.
- Place chicken on a hot barbecue grill or indoor grill and add chicken pieces. Cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side, or until cooked. Remove chicken from grill, cover and set aside.
- BBQ Sauce: In a saucepan, add and stir together minced garlic, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, ginger, chili powder and pinch of salt.
- Bring barbecue sauce to medium heat and then lower to a simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the flavours are well blended about 10 minutes and once the sauce becomes syrupy, remove from heat and set aside.
- While barbecue sauce is simmering, take each chicken piece, using two forks, start shredding. Once all pieces are shredded, add the barbecue sauce and mix in thoroughly into the chicken.
- Begin adding chicken to a hamburger bun, by start layering with pulled chicken, lettuce, sliced tomato, cabbage salad, or other favourite toppings of your choice.
Nutrition
How to make this recipe:
Options: there two options to shredding chicken, one is using two forks, as I mentioned in my recipe or using a mixer. I find the forks work perfectly and once the chicken is shredded, add the barbecue sauce. My recipe makes 1/2 cup so add the amount you so desire. Any remaining sauce can be used as a condiment at the table.
Super yummy with a generous amount of barbecue sauce on the shredded chicken to really indulge and enjoy the flavours. I used a sprouted wheat bun, and added romaine lettuce and my homemade cabbage salad (recipe on my blog) and found it was a perfect balance to really enjoy the delicious flavours of the chicken.
This super easy recipe is one of my favourites. It makes a perfect weekday meal made within 30 minutes and the flavours are incredibly delicious! Great for adults and kids alike, they will love it!
