Home » Food & Cooking » Barbeque » Barbeque Recipes

Not So Easy, But Well Worth It Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Ranked #19,549 in Food & Cooking, #350,071 overall | Donates to Squidoo Charity Fund

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

There are basically two parts to a great chicken salad sandwich. The first part is the chicken, and the second part is the bread.
The first part of this lens will cover how to cook the best chicken for your salad, and the second will cover how to make bread for your sandwiches.

Now then, chicken salad can be as simple or complex as you want it. I am a simple person so my chicken salad might seem a little lack luster for some folks. The thing you have to remember is, that it is chicken salad. The base of the entire dish is dependant on the chicken. The flavor of the chicken will determine the flavor of the dish.

Now let's cook some chicken!

Bar- B - Que Your Chicken First

I always start by Bar-B-Queing the chicken first. Yes, I said Bar-B-Qued not grilled. You can grill a chicken in a matter of minutes, but it takes about 2- 21/2 hours to Bar-B-Que a chicken. Now you are probably saying,"Oh Man! Who has time for that?" I am hoping that at some point during the summer you and your family will Bar-B-Que at least once!

Okay if you want to cheat you can buy a chicken already Bar-B-Qued at your local BBQ restaurant. Or, if you don't have access, use a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket, but WARNING it will not be as good!

The whole point is the make it yourself.

I usually cook two whole chickens because,

My sister LOVES Bar-B-Qued Chicken!

type=text

When you add wood chips to the charcoal, your chicken will have a great pink color like this. I tried to peel the skin away to show you.

Basic Bar B Que Supplies

Things you need to Bar B Que the Perfect Chicken

Loading

Prepare Your Grill

You want to put the charcoal on one side of the grill so you can use direct then indirect heat to cook the chicken.
If you layer the charcoal you will have an easier time time starting it and getting it to burn properly.
Most people make the mistake of lighting the lighter fluid right away, but it should be allowed to soak in before you light the charcoal.

  1. Pour in about a third of the charcoal and spread it out.
  2. Add the lighter fluid to this layer.
  3. Stack this layer on one side of the grill.
  4. Add another third, spread out and add lighter fluid.
  5. Put this layer on top of the first layer on one side of the grill.
  6. Repeat with the last layer.
  7. Wait a minute or so and light the charcoal.
  8. Quickly put the grill on.
  9. When your charcoal turns completely gray and you see coals it is almost ready.
  10. Clean the grill off with a wire brush or piece of foil. Wipe with damp towel if desired.
  11. At this point I like to add a few wood chips directly to the charcoal. To keep from adding too many I use small pieces that will fit thru the grill slots.

I Hope This Helps

Repeat layering.

Repeat layering.

Repeat layering.
Make a ball with foil and hold it with tongs.
When you get it all soaked and stacked then light, and quickly put on the grill.
Take a piece of foil and crumple it.
Use the ball of foil to scrub the hot grill and clean off any gunk.
Spread the charcoal out and add lighter fluid then stack against one side.

How to Bar-B-Que the Chicken

Well, this is how I do it

I usuaully just buy whole chickens at the grocery and split them myself, but some stores have them already split.

  1. Split the chicken in half and wash thoroughly.
  2. Dab the excess water off with paper towels.
  3. Salt and pepper generously on both sides. We are not going to eat the skin so don't be afraid you will get too much on.
  4. Take out and put on the grill.

Finally, Let's Cook The Chicken

Place the chicken over the coals and sear on each side. About 10-15 mins on each side.

Place the chicken over the coals and sear on each side. About 10-15 mins on each side.

Place the chicken over the coals and sear on each side. About 10-15 mins on each side.
Once searded, move back away from the coals. Let cook slowly for about 2-2 1/2 hours. Turn and rotate chicken every 15-20 minutes to get even cooking.
When the chicken is done, it wil pull apart easily. You can use a meat thermometer, but I always cook mine until you can twist the leg and it comes apart. That's when you know it's done!

Helpful Hint

Once your chicken is thoroughly cooked, remove from grill and wrap in foil. Let cool and put in frig overnight. Well, the part you are going to use for the sandwiches anyway.

Yeast Rolls

You Can Use Your Favorite Bread Recipe

This is my adaptation of recipe I found at All Recipes.com

  • 2 Cups Hot Water
    1/2 Cup Butter (softened)
    1/3 Cup Sugar
    2 Teaspoons Salt
    2 Teaspoons Instant Dry Yeast ( 2 pkgs)
    5 1/2 Cups Flour

    In a large mixing bowl combine hot water and butter. Add salt sugar and yeast. Now beat in eggs. Then mix in 3 cups flour. At this point it will look more like batter. Cover and place in warm area until doubled in size.

    With a spoon punch down and add remaining flour. You may have to add more flour to make a workable dough.

    Knead about 5 mins until smooth.

    Place in greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in size again.

    Once doubled I take half and make rolls and half to make a loaf.

    To make rolls pinch off 12-16 pieces, knead and place in 9x13 pan. Let rise until doubled.

    To make bread knead, then roll out lightly and fold it back over itself in thirds.

    Shape and place in loaf pan and let rise.

    The third rising may take longer,1-2 hours.

    Bake in a 375 degree oven for 35- 45 mins or until browned.

Southwest Ranch Chicken Salad Dressing

In a small mixing bowl combine the following ingredients.

  • 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
    2 Teaspoons DRY Ranch Dressing Mix
    1 Teaspoon DRY Taco Seasoning Mix
    1/2 Teaspoon Chili Powder
    Dash Of Cayenne Pepper Optional)

    At this point it is pretty concentrated. Now you can add some more mayo, sour cream, or plain yogurt.Whichever you prefer.

Mix All Together and Viola!

type=text

Take the chicken off the bone and chop. I like to chop mine fine, but you can chop it however you like yours.
Chop 1 stalk of celery.
Mix together in a large mixing bowl then add the dressing.
Stir together and let chill for a couple hours.
That's it.

Build your sandwiches and serve.

How Do You Make Chicken Salad?

If you have any questions feel free the ask.

  • KellydeBorda Apr 26, 2011 @ 7:53 am | delete
    I love to use leftover barbecue chicken for chicken salad - not so crazy about celery though! Great lens - liked and Angel-blessed. :)
  • lisakleinweber Apr 30, 2010 @ 2:36 pm | delete
    wow, it really isn't that easy to make them right, huh? I'll have to show this to my husband and see if he wants to bbq the chickens. I usually put them in the slow cooker overnight because it's easy.
  • kimsworld May 1, 2010 @ 6:00 am | delete
    It's not actually hard, it just takes a little extra time.
  • Wednesday_Elf Apr 29, 2010 @ 9:39 am | delete
    Yum! I usually just add chopped celery & onion to cooked chicken and mix with mayo for my chicken salad sandwiches, but this BBQ chicken looks like it would be very tasty! And the homemade BREAD looks delicious! I'm a big fan of homemade bread -- it MAKES a sandwich, in my opinion.
  • Kimsworld Apr 29, 2010 @ 9:55 am | delete
    It took me years before I actually made bread that you could eat, but now know I was making the process harder than it needed to be!!
  • Load More
Show All

Here Are Some Other Great Recipes!

Let's Get Cooking

Loading

About Kimsworld

I am just an idiot who likes to do things the old fashioned way! Most of the time just to see if I can do it.
Loading

by

Kimsworld

Hello world. My name is Kim and I do not live in a perfect world! I have a wonderful life, but things in my world don't always go according to plan. I... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags