BBQ Chicken Salad Sandwiches

The idea for this sandwich came from my sister-in-law. I have not tried her version and I don't totally remember how she makes hers. I know she uses red onion (I used green) and she doesn't do the coleslaw. So, they are pretty different, but the inspiration comes from her anyway.

Ingredients:

shredded chicken (I used 2 breasts and 2 thighs from a left over rotisserie chicken)
2 Tbsp Mayo
1/4 cup bbq sauce
2 Tbsp sour cream*
1 Tbsp milk*
2 celery stalks, peeled, chopped
1 green onion stem, chopped

2 cups shredded cabbage (or coleslaw mix)
2 Tbsp Mayo
2 Tbsp sour cream
2 Tbsp milk
1/2 tsp each garlic powder, salt, pepper, onion powder

Sub rolls

Directions:

Shred up chicken. You can use breast meat only or whatever leftover chicken you may have or canned chicken. Stir in 2 Tbsp Mayo (for 2 breasts and 2 thighs worth of chicken) to barely coat.

Next, you'll add the bbq sauce. The sauce I used was a spicy chipotle bbq sauce. It was very spicy and very thick. So, I thinned it out (and cooled it down) with 2 Tbsp of sour cream* and 1 Tbsp of milk*. If I was using a thinner, mild bbq sauce (more like the bbq sauce I am used to), I would not do this step. Stir in the bbq sauce to the consistency you like for your chicken salad or tuna salad.

Then add the celery and green onions

Before you chop up the celery, peel it. This is one of those things I think everyone knows, but given the number of times I get celery strings in my food either at a restaurant or a potluck or whatever, I'm guessing everyone does not know this. So, peel your celery people! It is quick and well worth the extra step!

Next, make an easy ranch coleslaw. In a bowl, combine 2 Tbsp mayo, 2 Tbsp sour cream, 2 Tbsp milk and 1/2 tsp of each: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder. Stir well and pour over 2 cups shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix. You could also just use your favorite premade ranch dressing (but this is better, trust me).

Do this step just before serving so the cabbage stays crunchy.

Stuff your sub roll with the bbq chicken, then top with ranch slaw and stuff it in your face!

The amount of chicken in this recipe made a lot. We made 4 big subs and used only about half the chicken mix (but all of the coleslaw). So, cut the chicken recipe in half if you want to make 4 sandwiches. Or double the coleslaw recipe if you want enough to cover all the subs you can make with all of this chicken.

The whole family loved these. This is one recipe I was a little worried as I made it about how it would go over with everyone. I was even a little concerned I might not like it. But, it was a hit. Every.Last.Bite was eaten by all. And those were some big 'ol sandwiches.

Hope you all enjoy it too :-)





P.S. Congrats Sun Devil Softball!!!