Carolina Pulled Chicken Recipes

PULLED CHICKEN SANDWICHES (CROCK POT)

Steps:

• Cut the onion in half and slice into thin half rings. Line the bottom of the crock pot with the onions.
• Trim the chicken breasts and place on top of the bed of onions.
• Mix all of the sauce ingredients together and pour on top of the chicken covering completely. (I make the sauce the night before so that it is a simple dump and run in the morning.)
• Cook for 6 hours on low setting. The sauce thickens and turns into a dark rich brown during cooking. At the same time the onions dissolve into the sauce.
• When the chicken is falling apart tender, take two forks and shred the chicken.
• Serve on top of split buns. I like mine toasted so they hold up better to the weight of the shredded chicken.
• Suggested sides include baked beans, corn on the cob, coleslaw or cucumber salad.

CAROLINA-STYLE BARBECUE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium. Whisk the yellow mustard, vinegar, brown sugar, mustard powder, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a bowl. Whisk in the butter.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then toss with about one-third of the mustard sauce in a large bowl until coated. Let sit at room temperature, 10 minutes.
• Brush the grill grates generously with vegetable oil. Put about 1/4 cup of the remaining mustard sauce in a small bowl for basting and reserve the rest for topping. Grill the chicken, covered, basting occasionally with the sauce, until well marked and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 170 degrees F, 10 to 12 minutes per side.
• Serve the chicken with the reserved mustard sauce, sliced tomato and macaroni salad, if desired.

CAROLINA-STYLE VINEGAR BBQ CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the first 6 ingredients. Place chicken in a 3-qt. slow cooker; add vinegar mixture. Cook, covered, on low 4-5 hours or until chicken is tender., Remove chicken; cool slightly. Reserve 1 cup cooking juices; discard remaining juices. Shred chicken with 2 forks. Return meat and reserved cooking juices to slow cooker; heat through. If desired, serve chicken mixture on buns.

SMOKY PULLED BARBECUE CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the Chicken and Rub: Mix together salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Season chicken halves all over with rub and refrigerate for at least 6 and up to 12 hours.
• For the Sauce: Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and browned around the edges, about 7 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in ketchup, apple juice, brown sugar, honey, vinegar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, soy sauce, and hot sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened, 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
• Puree sauce with an immersion blender, or transfer sauce to the jar of a standard blender, and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. If not using right away, transfer to a jar and store in refrigerator.
• Fire up smoker or grill to 225°F. Add wood chunk to smoker following manufacturer's instructions, or set wood chunk on top of embers if using a grill. Place chickens in smoker or on grill over indirect heat, and cook until breast meat registers 160°F on an instant read thermometer, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Remove from smoker and let chickens rest until cool enough to handle.
• Using hands or two forks, pull chicken into thin strands, discarding skin, cartilage, and excess fat.
• Measure out 3/4 cup of barbecue sauce and set aside. Reheat remaining barbecue sauce in a large saupan. Stir shredded chicken into hot barbecue sauce and cook until chicken is warmed throughout. Serve immediately on sandwich rolls with reserved barbecue sauce and coleslaw, if desired.

CAROLINA PULLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Stir onion, vinegar, garlic, and brown sugar together in 6 quart slow-cooker. Spread whole grain mustard over all chicken pieces. Place chicken, breast-side down, in slow-cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours, until chicken is fork tender.
• Remove chicken from slow-cooker and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Pour braising liquid through sieve. Transfer onion solids and 1/2 cup of the liquid to a large bowl. Add dressing ingredients (vinegar, yellow mustard, parsley, salt and pepper) to the onion mixture and whisk together.
• Shred chicken in large pieces and toss with dressing.
• Serve on toasted buns with coleslaw.

CAROLINA VINEGAR BBQ SAUCE

Steps:

• Add all ingredients to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer cooking for 2 minutes until sugar and salt dissolves.
• Remove from heat and let cool. Store in a covered jar or bottle in the refrigerator until ready to use. It can be stored for up to 3 weeks.

CAROLINA BBQ SAUCE (NECTAR OF THE SOUTH)

Steps:

• Add all ingredients together in a pan over medium high heat.
• Bring to a boil and cook for five minutes while stirring.
• Cool to room temperature.

CAROLINA BBQ RUB

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a small bowl, combine paprika, salt, white sugar, brown sugar, ground cumin, chili powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Use as a dry rub on pork, chicken, beef, lamb, and vegetables. Make sure that the rub has a fine consistency and that the brown sugar leaves no clumps.
• To apply the rub, gently pat it on all surfaces of the meat and cook as directed.

CAROLINA BBQ VINEGAR SHREDDED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Add all the ingredients to a slow cooker and mix well.
• Cook on low heat for 6 hours or on high heat for 3 hours.
• Use two forks to shred the chicken.
• Serve on buns.