TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes
SERVES: 4
Protein
4 chicken breasts
Milk & Dairy
4 slices old white cheddar
Pantry
4 brioche buns
1/2 cup mayo
1 cup ketchup
1 cup apple sauce
1/4 cup soya sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1/2 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Produce
1 head fennel
1 granny smith apple
1 lemon
1 clove garlic
pre-recipe prep
Julienne 1 apple
Thinly slice 1 head fennel
Mince 1 clove garlic
Cook your chicken. To your pot, add all bbq sauce ingredients and stir: 1 cup ketchup, 1 cup apple sauce, 1/4 cup soya sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar. Add chicken breasts and stir to cover them in sauce.
Instant pot (will give you more tender chicken so use it if you've got it!) : Cook on high for 15 and slow release.
Stovetop: Cook covered on medium high with the lid on for 15-20 minutes until internal temp reaches 165F.
Make your slaw. While the chicken cooks, add 1 clove minced garlic to a large bowl with the juice of 1 lemon. Let sit for a few minutes to macerate the garlic (gets rid of the aggressive aftertaste). Then add 1/2 cup mayo and mix well. Add in 1 julienned granny smith apple, 1 thinly sliced head of fennel, mix well and set aside.
Shred your chicken. Once chicken is done cooking, remove about 1 cup of the bbq sauce and reserve. Shred your chicken by placing hand mixer ends in the pot, cover your pot with a dishtowel, and blend on low for 10-15 seconds. You can also use 2 forks and shred manually. Add back sauce until you reach your desired sauciness.
**If using instant pot - in a small bowl, add 1 tsp cornstarch to 1 tbsp water and mix well. Add to chicken mixture to thicken the sauce and use the saute function to cook for 5 minutes.
Assemble. Grill your buns on a hot, dry frying pan for 1 minute or until browned. Add 1 slice cheddar, top with shredded chicken, fennel slaw, and pickled anything (I use red onions)!
Questions? Drop a comment below if you have any questions, and don’t forget to let me know if you make it!