Carolina Mustard BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Perfectly shredded chicken, topped with a tangy Carolina mustard bbq sauce and some peppery arugula. This easy recipe is packed with flavor and a perfect family dinner on busy weeknights.
We are in the doldrums of winter. And it’s cold. Like really cold. Specifically, -17 degrees cold. Now, I’ve lived in Minnesota my whole life, so I am not new to this winter game. But, it does get a little old sometimes.
So, when I found $85 nonstop, roundtrip tickets to Florida, I bought them immediately (not totally true – I talked to Matt about it first)! The boys were beyond pumped when we told them that we were headed to West Palm Beach. Neither Matt nor I had ever been to Palm Beach before, so we were excited as well.
The moment we stepped off the plane, we could just feel the temperature difference. It was pure magic. If you live in a cold weather climate, you know how a warm vacation in the middle of winter just hits a little different.
Every morning, we would wake up and head down to load up on the hotel breakfast. And when I say load up, I mean it. Jack and Will basically ate their weight in eggs, bacon, waffles, fruit, cereal and juice every single morning. They never cease to amaze me with how much food they can consume. Note to self for future vacations: always book a stay at a hotel that has a free breakfast (it is worth it’s weight in gold)!
After breakfast, we had the daily decision of pool or beach. While we frequented both throughout our trip, the boys typically liked to start our morning with a walk on the beach followed up by hours spent in the pool.
Prior to our trip, Jack and Will weren’t the best swimmers. Not only are they seasonal swimmers (hello, MN winters), but they haven’t been able to take swimming lessons (thank you, covid). We brought arm floaties for both of the boys but Jack really didn’t want to wear them. We told him if he could complete the “swimming challenge” (aka swim to the other side of the pool without touching the bottom), he didn’t have to wear the floaties.
Well, he definitely didn’t pass the swimming challenge on his first try. But, Jack has shown time and time again how dedicated he is. He worked relentlessly for the next hour and he did it! He was so proud of himself. It’s moments like that that you want to remember forever as a parent.
Whenever I get home, I always want to have simple meals that I can just throw together. This recipe definitely fits the bill – healthy, quick and easy. Plus, everyone in the family likes it. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
If you have the extra time, you can definitely make your California Mustard BBQ sauce from scratch. Self Proclaimed Foodie has a delicious recipe if you want to make a homemade sauce.
But, if you want to make this recipe extra quick, a store bought mustard bbq sauce will do the trick. My favorite mustard bbq sauce is from Trader Joe’s (the Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce). You can find this sauce here. I love this bbq sauce because it has the perfect amount of sweet, smoky and savory flavors.
If you don’t have access to a Trader Joe’s, here are some other Carolina BBQ Sauces that you could try:
Shredded Chicken
The base of this recipe is shredded chicken. You can definitely just use a rotisserie chicken but I have another idea!
This recipe stems from my hatred of breaking down a rotisserie chicken. I don’t like any of it – it takes too long, I don’t like dark meat and I hate constantly having to go to the store to buy another rotisserie chicken.
If you are like me, then you need to make shredded chicken in your Instant Pot! It’s so easy and incredibly flavorful. I always make a big batch of it and keep it in the freezer to have on hand.
It also freezes really well – just put a single layer in a reusable bag and lay it flat to freeze it. Then, when you are ready to use it, just break off the amount that you would like and heat it up!
Carolina Mustard BBQ Chicken Sandwich Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this delicious recipe:
- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- chicken broth
- Lawry’s seasoned salt
- Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
- brioche buns
- arugula
- french fried onions
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Healthy, Quick & Easy Recipes
Whenever I ask my readers what types of recipes they would like to see more of, the resounding answer is always “quick and easy dinners”. I always like hearing that answer because those are the kind of recipes that I want to make! So, whenever you come to Land of 10,000 Recipes, you will always be able to find recipes that are healthy, quick and easy!
Tips for Involving Kids
- Let your kids help you assemble the sandwiches. Set everything out and then let them make their own. I’m always surprised at all the new things that they wouldn’t otherwise want to try.
- There is always going to be a mess when you cook with your kids but, like my little guy Will (3 years old) says, “It’s okay Mom, chefs make messes and then they clean it up.” Have fun cooking with your kids!!
Carolina Mustard BBQ Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 1 cup Trader Joe’s Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
- for serving: brioche buns, arugula and crispy fried onions
Instructions
- In a saucepan heat the shredded chicken and bbq sauce over medium low heat.2 cups shredded chicken, 1 cup Trader Joe’s Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
- When ready to serve, evenly divide the chicken mixture between the buns.
- Top each sandwich with arugula and crispy fried onions. Enjoy!for serving: brioche buns, arugula and crispy fried onions
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