↑
  • Dinner Recipes
  • Breakfast Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes
  • Side Dishes
  • Recipes
    • Dinners
    • Slow Cooker
    • Appetizers and Sides
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Kid-Friendly
  • Blog View
  • About
    • Disclosure/Privacy Policy
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Blog View
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise/PR
  • DISNEY
  • DINNERS
  • DRINKS
  • DESSERTS

Mom On Timeout

Serving up real food for real families!

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Appetizers and Sides
    • Breakfast
    • Entree
    • Dessert
    • Beverages
    • Holiday Recipes
      • Christmas Recipes
      • Thanksgiving Recipes
      • Valentine’s Day Recipes
      • St. Patrick’s Day Recipes
      • Easter Recipes
      • Halloween Recipes
    • Bread
    • Kid-Friendly
  • 5 Ingredients
  • Appetizers
  • Favorites


You are here: Home / Recipes / Main Dish / Chicken / BBQ Pulled Chicken Recipe

BBQ Pulled Chicken Recipe

February 28, 2022

  • 1793
Jump to Recipe
two image collage showing bbq pulled chicken in a sandwich and bottom image in tongs. center color block with text ovelray.

Amazing BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches tossed with a glorious barbecue sauce made with root beer and molasses are sure to delight friends and family this summer! Chicken thighs are generously seasoned with a simple 4 ingredient rub recipe, grilled, and then tossed with an easy from-scratch barbecue sauce that will have you licking your fingers in delight.

Easy chicken recipes are the best! Here are a few more of our favorites: Chicken Marinade, Chicken Salad and this yummy Chicken Piccata Recipe!

bbq chicken sandwich made with pulled chicken. Sitting on a green and white napkin.

BBQ Pulled Chicken

We’re about 2 weeks into summer vacation and I’m already wishing it could last forever. There is just something incredibly magical about lazy days, eating ice cream at will, and grilling almost every night of the week. The first two my kids have covered… I’m in charge of the third.

Happily so, I might add. Except for days when the temperature soars past 100, I’m excited to do much of my cooking outdoors. I get to play in my garden while dinner is cooking and life just seems simple and easy in those moments.

This past week I had a craving for some pulled chicken sandwiches and took a cue from my ever popular Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches and incorporated some root beer into the barbecue sauce. Delish you guys! It adds great flavor and sweetness which I enhanced with just a touch of molasses.

Before heading outdoors to fire up the grill, I pulled together a quick 4 ingredient rub that is wonderful on chicken. It’s a combination of paprika, cumin, garlic powder and salt. Simple enough and yet it really does an amazing job of seasoning the chicken.

free email course

5 SECRETS TO GETTING DINNER ON THE TABLE...FAST!

grilled-chicken-rub

Side Dishes To Serve with this Pulled Chicken Recipe

These delicious sandwiches are amazing on their own but even better served with a few tasty side dishes. Here are some of our favorites:

  1. Twice Baked Potato Casserole
  2. Creamed Peas
  3. Baked Beans
  4. Green Bean Recipe
  5. Broccoli Salad with Bacon

What You’ll Need

For the Chicken

  • boneless, skinless chicken thighs – For this pulled chicken recipe, I opted for chicken thighs but, if you prefer, chicken breasts can also be used.
  • extra virgin olive oil – A quick drizzle of olive oil really helps the rub adhere to the chicken.
  • paprika, garlic powder, ground cumin, salt – this is the four ingredient rub I used on the chicken. You can apply the chicken rub up to 24 hours in advance.
small bowl with a seasoning blend mixed together ready to be rubbed on the chicken thighs. spoon with some of the seasoning is held above the bowl.

Root Beer BBQ Sauce

While the grill was heating up and the rub was flavoring my chicken, I made an incredible barbecue sauce to toss the chicken in.

  • extra virgin olive oil – to saute the onion in.
  • yellow onion – diced pretty fine, almost a mince. You don’t want large chunks in the bbq sauce.
  • chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne – lots of seasoning to give the sauce a kick.
  • root beer – this is one of the primary flavor components of the bbq sauce and gives it a nice sweetness.
  • ketchup – this is the base of the root beer bbq sauce.
  • fresh lemon juice – you can use bottled but fresh is best.
  • molasses – adds depth of flavor and pair well with with the root beer.

For the BBQ Chicken Sandwich

  • rolls or buns – use your favorite. Brioche, kaiser, sesame seed buns – all are good options.
  • coleslaw – optional, but I love the addition of creamy, crispy coleslaw on my bbq pulled chicken sandwich.

How To Make this BBQ Pulled Chicken Recipe

Prepare Pulled Chicken

  1. Prepare rub in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Drizzle olive oil on chicken and generously season both sides with the rub.
  3. Grill over direct heat until cooked through, flipping once or twice.
  4. Let chicken cool for a few minutes and then shred the chicken.
  5. Toss with barbecue sauce.
pulled chicken about to be stirred into a pot of root beer bbq sauce.

Prepare Root Beer BBQ Sauce

Note: the barbecue sauce only gets better with time. Feel free to make in advance, up to 3 days, and keep refrigerated until needed.

  1. Sauté diced onion in olive oil until soft and translucent.
  2. Stir in chili powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper.
  3. Pour in root beer and stir to combine.
  4. Stir in ketchup, lemon juice and molasses.
  5. Bring sauce to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until sauce has thickened. 
  6. Top toasted buns with chicken mixture and coleslaw if you like.

I grabbed some rolls and lightly toasted them on the grill before piling high that saucy pulled chicken. Toasting the buns helps keep them from absorbing too much of the moisture. Not a deal breaker but a good idea if you happen to think of it.

Storage Information

Refrigerator: Pulled chicken should be cooled and then stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Chicken can be reheated on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave.

Freeze: To freeze, cool the bbq pulled chicken and transfer to a freezer-safe, ziploc bag. Chicken can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then reheat on the stovetop or microwave.

bbq pulled chicken held above the saucepan with tongs.

Trish’s Tips and Tricks

  • I love using chicken thighs because they just have so much more flavor and don’t dry out quickly like chicken breasts can do.
  • It’s all about the layers of flavor here. I start with the chicken rub and that creates a base flavor. Grilling adds even more flavor and then that root beer bbq sauce – yassss!
  • Let the chicken cool for a few minutes before pulling. It makes it a little easier and if you prefer to pull by hand instead of with two forks, you definitely will want it to be cool enough to handle.
  • If you are short on time, both the rub and bbq sauce can be made ahead of time. In fact, I recommend it 🙂
  • This recipe is great for a crowd as it can easily be doubled or triple to feed a small army. Definitely a summer staple and already on the menu for the 4th of July!

Let me know if you give it a try and what you think in the comments below OR tag me on social media if you take pics – I’d love to see what you’re making!

bbq pulled chicken recipe on a toasted bun with a toothpick through the top bun.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

  1. Crispy Chicken Sandwich
  2. Homemade Chicken Nuggets
  3. Chicken Enchilada Soup
  4. Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast
  5. Chicken Piccata
  6. Chicken Salad
  7. Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
  8. Chicken Marinade

How To Make Pulled Chicken

bbq chicken sandwich made with pulled chicken. Sitting on a green and white napkin.
Print Pin
5 from 9 votes

BBQ Pulled Chicken Recipe

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches tossed with a glorious barbecue sauce made with root beer and molasses are sure to delight friends and family this summer! Chicken thighs are generously seasoned with a simple 4 ingredient rub recipe, grilled, and then tossed with an easy from-scratch barbecue sauce that will have you licking your fingers in delight!
Course Dinner, Entree, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword bbq chicken sandwich, bbq pulled chicken, how to make pulled chicken, pulled chicken, pulled chicken recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
10 minutes minutes
Total Time 30 minutes minutes
Servings 8
Calories 226kcal
Author Trish – Mom On Timeout

Ingredients

Pulled Chicken

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Root Beer BBQ Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ large yellow onion diced
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • â…› teaspoon ground cayenne pepper optional
  • ½ cup root beer
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 8 rolls or buns
  • coleslaw optional

Instructions

Pulled Chicken

  • Heat grill to 400°F.
  • Combine the ingredients for the rub in a small bowl and set aside.
  • Drizzle chicken with olive oil and generously season both sides with the rub. Chill until ready to grill or make immediately.
  • Place chicken on the prepared grill and grill over direct heat until cooked through, flipping once or twice. Keep the lid closed while grilling. Juices should run clear when done.
  • Let chicken cool for a few minutes and then shred the chicken.

Root Beer BBQ Sauce

  • Meanwhile, or even before cooking the chicken, prepare the barbecue sauce. Heat olive oil in a 3 quart saucepan over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent.
  • Stir in chili powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper.
  • Pour in root beer and stir to combine.Stir in ketchup, lemon juice and molasses.
  • Bring sauce to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes or until sauce has thickened. 
  • Add the pulled chicken to the barbecue sauce and stir to combine.
  • Top toasted buns with chicken mixture and coleslaw if you like.

Video

Notes

Storage Information
Refrigerator: Pulled chicken should be cooled and then stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Chicken can be reheated on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave.
Freeze: To freeze, cool the bbq pulled chicken and transfer to a freezer-safe, ziploc bag. Chicken can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then reheat on the stovetop or microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 673mg | Potassium: 478mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 518IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2mg

Originally published June 30, 2018.

  • 1793

By Trish - Mom On Timeout February 28, 2022 30 Minutes or Less, 4th of July, BBQ and Grill, Chicken, Chicken, Holiday Recipes, Ingredient, Main Dish, Method, On the Grill, Poultry, Recipes, Summer

Previous article:
« Cotton Candy Cupcakes
Next article:
Jello Shots Recipe »

Comments

  1. Kim says

    October 10, 2019 at 4:39 PM

    Love rootbeerandthis recipe sounds good. .I will be trying it. Yummmo!!!!!!!

    Reply
  2. Sharon Wenzel says

    June 30, 2018 at 6:00 PM

    Your Pulled Chicken Sandwich with Root Beer BBQ Sauce recipe does not have the amount of required root beer listed.

    Reply
    • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

      August 30, 2018 at 1:58 PM

      Hi Sharon! It’s a 1/2 cup of root beer. Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Georganne Norton says

    June 30, 2018 at 4:53 PM

    Root beer was not in the ingredient list above. How much root beer do you use for the sauce? For the Pulled Chicken Sandwiches.

    Reply
    • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

      August 30, 2018 at 1:57 PM

      Hi Georganne! It’s a 1/2 cup of root beer. Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Carolyn White says

    June 30, 2018 at 11:41 AM

    The Root Beer sauce for the pulled chicken is just the name. It does not really have Root Beer in the sauce? If so I did not see how much.

    Reply
    • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

      August 30, 2018 at 1:58 PM

      It does! It’s a 1/2 cup of root beer. Enjoy!

      Reply
5 from 9 votes (9 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hi, I’m Trish!

Welcome to Mom On Timeout where I’m serving up real food for real families! Dinners, desserts, and everything in between!
Read More…

categories

archives

Popular Posts

white bowl with handles filled with zuppa toscana soup and topped with cheese. Kale, sausage and bacon can be seen in the soup.
crockpot chili in a ladle held above the crockpot and the rest of the chili.
chicken-stir-fry
best-tater-tot-casserole-recipe-hamburger-green-beans

Some of my favorites…

Strawberry Cake Roll with one slice cut off at the end sitting on wood board topped with powdered sugar and fresh strawberries.
Slice of hummingbird cake recipe on a white round plate sitting in front of cake stand with rest of cake on it.
Top down look at croissant french toast bake in baking dish made with blueberries and topped with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Top down view of recipe for cream cheese mints on parchment paper flattened with the tines of a fork. Four pastel colors are shown: pink, blue, green and yellow in a symmetrical grid layout.
Close up of Strawberry danish with cream cheese topped with a glaze and fresh strawberries.

Copyright ©2025, Mom On Timeout. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.