Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches are a quick and easy summer grilling recipe! The chicken is marinated in BBQ Sauce, grilled to perfection, and sandwiched between a crispy lettuce bun. They're easily customizable and packed with flavor!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
What's not to love about a Grilled Chicken Sandwich?! They're packed with flavor and the topping options are endless! Plus, they only take about 15-20 minutes to make, and you only need a few basic ingredients.
I personally love using iceberg lettuce for buns because it's light and refreshing in the summer! Lettuce buns are also a great option for anyone on a gluten-free or low carb diet. (Feel free to swap for sourdough bread or your favorite gluten-free bun.)
Chicken Sandwiches are also great for serving a large crowd because you can easily double or triple the recipe by grilling more chicken! And best of all, your family and friends can easily customize them by using different toppings, sauces, or buns.
🍴Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Breast - I prefer using thicker pieces of chicken breast vs. thin chicken cutlets to make a heartier sandwich. Boneless chicken thighs will work with this recipe too!
- Iceberg Lettuce - For the lettuce bun I suggest using iceberg lettuce, but you can also use any larger leaf lettuce variety!
- Fresh Tomatoes - Thinly sliced tomato works best. (Use a sharp knife!)
- Red Onion - Thinly sliced red onion works best.
- BBQ Sauce - I used Primal Kitchen Golden BBQ sauce with no added sugar. I also love their Hawaiian BBQ Sauce! (Both are Paleo & Whole30 Friendly.)
- Pickles - I used Grillo's Dill Pickle Chips. You can find them at most grocery stores or Costco!
Other Chicken Sandwich Toppings
- Crispy Bacon
- Sliced Avocado
- Relish
- Honey Mustard
- Dairy-Free Cheddar Cheese (Or any kind of cheese!)
- Mayo - I love Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo.
- Ranch Dressing
- Extra Barbecue Sauce
- Hot Sauce
🍴Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Marinate Chicken Breast
Start by marinating the chicken breast in your choice of BBQ sauce for about an hour or overnight for maximum flavor!
Step 2: Grill Marinated Chicken
Place each piece of chicken breast onto a grill that has been preheated to about 375 degrees. Grill chicken for about 5-8 minutes on each side or until cooked thoroughly. (Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness.)
Step 3: Assemble Sandwiches
Assemble the chicken sandwiches by adding the juicy chicken to a lettuce bun with tomato slices, red onion, pickles, and extra BBQ sauce! Enjoy!
How To Make a Lettuce Bun
To make a lettuce bun, start by peeling off the outer layer of the iceberg lettuce. Then, cut about a half inch off the top and bottom. It should leave you with a large enough bun for a few sandwiches.
You can also cut the ball of lettuce into quarters and peel away what you need for buns.
Expert Tips
- Marinate the chicken in barbeque sauce overnight in the refrigerator for a stronger flavor. (Make sure you cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a reusable cover.)
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken has cooked through. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees.
- Don't overcook the chicken or it will become dry! Check the internal temperature and remove from the grill when it's done.
- If you have super thick cuts of chicken, use a meat mallet to thin them out to your desired thickness.
- Soak the red onion in water for 10 minutes before serving to dilute the flavor.
- If you don't have a grill, you can cook the chicken on a cast iron pan or grill pan instead.
Love BBQ Chicken?! Try my BBQ Chicken Stuffed Peppers!
Recipe Variations
- To switch up the flavor of this recipe, use a different marinade! Buffalo Sauce works great too!
- Caramelize red onions or sweet onions to serve on top.
- Swap the lettuce bun for a regular bun or tortilla! I suggest toasting the bun or tortilla before serving.
- Chop the romaine lettuce, red onion, tomato, chicken, and pickles, and serve as a chopped BBQ chicken salad instead!
- Instead of marinating the chicken, just add a little olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Serve with a generous drizzle of my delicious Spicy Burger Sauce!
Serving Suggestions
The best part about this recipe is that you can serve it with a variety of sides! I suggest preparing all of the toppings and sides ahead of time. Place them in individual bowls on a large tray or baking sheet so you guests can serve themselves.
- Chips
- Homemade Fries
- Grilled Corn
- Pasta Salad - My Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad would be great - just don't add in the chicken!
- Lemon Orzo Salad
For dessert, I suggest trying one of my refreshing homemade sorbet recipes! Peach Sorbet, Lime Sorbet, or Pineapple Sorbet would be a great addition to this meal.
How to store leftovers
Store leftovers separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
Do not assemble the chicken sandwiches ahead of time. Keep the chicken and toppings in individual containers.
More grilling recipes!
After you make this Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwich, make sure to leave a comment & rate the recipe!
Recipe Card
Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwich Recipe with Lettuce Bun
Equipment
- Outdoor or Indoor Grill
Ingredients
- 3 Pieces Chicken Breast
- 1 Iceberg Lettuce You can also swap for gluten-free sandwich bread!
- 1 Tomato
- ½ Red Onion
- ⅓ Cup BBQ Sauce I used Primal Kitchen Golden BBQ sauce with no added sugar.
- ¼ Cup Pickles I used Grillo's Dill Pickle Chips.
Instructions
- Start by marinating the chicken breast in your choice of BBQ sauce for about an hour or overnight for maximum flavor!
- Place each piece of chicken breast onto a grill that has been preheated to about 375 degrees. Grill chicken for about 5-8 minutes on each side or until cooked thoroughly. (Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness.)
- Assemble the chicken sandwiches by adding the juicy chicken to a lettuce bun with tomato slices, red onion, pickles, and extra BBQ sauce! Enjoy!
Notes
How To Make a Lettuce Bun
To make a lettuce bun, start by peeling off the outer layer of the iceberg lettuce. Then, cut about a half inch off the top and bottom. It should leave you with a large enough bun for a few sandwiches. You can also cut the ball of lettuce into quarters and peel away what you need for buns.Expert Tips
- Marinate the chicken in barbeque sauce overnight in the refrigerator for a stronger flavor. (Make sure you cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a reusable cover.)
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken has cooked through. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees.
- Don't overcook the chicken or it will become dry! Check the internal temperature and remove from the grill when it's done.
- If you have super thick cuts of chicken, use a meat mallet to thin them out to your desired thickness.
Nutrition
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