Juicy & Flavorful: Your Ultimate Spicy Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwich Recipe
This Foster Farms® Spicy Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwich is the quintessential summer meal, combining everything you crave in one glorious bite: bold spice, rich meatiness, subtle sweetness, creamy avocado, and that irresistible char from the grill. Crafted with succulent and tender Foster Farms® Simply Raised® No Antibiotics Ever Free Range Chicken Thigh Fillets, this sandwich promises to be the star of your next backyard gathering. Just add a frosty cold beer, and your feast is complete!
This post has been sponsored by Foster Farms®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
While a classic burger has its place, this summer, my taste buds are singing the praises of chicken—specifically, the incredible Foster Farms® Simply Raised® No Antibiotics Ever Free Range Chicken Thigh Fillets. There’s something undeniably special about a juicy BBQ chicken sandwich that transports me straight back to warm summer evenings, filled with laughter, good company, and that perfect blend of sweet and spicy BBQ sauce happily dripping down my chin. It’s a sensory experience, a flavor explosion, and frankly, it’s my absolute jam!
More Grilled Chicken Recipes to Explore:
If you’re loving the grilled chicken vibe, be sure to check out these other fantastic recipes:
- Grilled Avocado Chicken Caprese
- Beer Brined Beer Can Chicken
- Tequila Lime Chicken Thighs
- Spicy Ginger Grilled Chicken Thighs
Why Chicken Thighs Are Your Grilling Secret Weapon
When it comes to grilling, chicken thighs are often overlooked in favor of breasts, but let me tell you, they are a game-changer! Thighs are naturally more forgiving on the grill because their higher fat content helps them stay incredibly juicy and tender, even if you slightly overcook them. This makes them perfect for absorbing all that delicious spicy BBQ sauce and achieving those beautiful charred edges without drying out. For this recipe, we’re using boneless, skinless thigh fillets, which makes them quick to cook and easy to eat in a sandwich, ensuring every bite is pure perfection.
The Foster Farms Difference: Quality You Can Taste
Let’s be real, the star of any great chicken sandwich is, well, the chicken! This sandwich’s success hinges entirely on the quality of the poultry you choose. That’s why I always reach for Foster Farms® Simply Raised® No Antibiotics Ever Free Range Chicken when I’m at Safeway. You’ll spot it easily by its distinctive green packaging.
When I pick ingredients for my recipes, I prioritize transparency and quality. Foster Farms aligns perfectly with this philosophy. They are a local, US-based family-owned business (headquartered in California) that stands by its commitment to never using antibiotics in their Simply Raised line. This dedication to animal welfare and natural farming practices resonates deeply with me. Furthermore, their chicken is always delivered fresh, never frozen, which is a crucial factor for superior taste and texture in recipes like this Spicy Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwich. You can truly discern the premium difference in every succulent bite, making those juicy thigh fillets the ideal centerpiece for a rich, carb-loaded bun.
Crafting Your Signature Spicy BBQ Sauce
A good BBQ sauce can elevate your grilled chicken from good to legendary. For this recipe, we’re taking your favorite BBQ sauce and kicking it up a notch with a simple addition of cayenne pepper and black pepper. This allows you to customize the spice level to your preference. Love a fiery kick? Add more cayenne! Prefer a milder warmth? Start with half a teaspoon and adjust after tasting. The goal is a perfectly balanced sauce that is sweet, tangy, and boasts a delightful spicy edge that complements the smoky grilled chicken.
How To Make This Spicy Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwich
This sandwich might look impressive, but it’s incredibly straightforward to make. Here’s a step-by-step guide to achieving grilled perfection:
Season Like a Pro
The foundation of any great dish is proper seasoning. After lightly coating your Foster Farms chicken thigh fillets, red onion rings, and tomato halves with olive oil, it’s time for salt and pepper. I always recommend using a “chef’s pinch” method. This means grabbing a small amount of salt or pepper between your thumb, forefinger, and middle finger. It usually amounts to about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon, and it’s a great way to season intuitively without fussing over exact measurements. Don’t be shy; proper seasoning enhances every other flavor!
Grill & Baste to Perfection
Get everything onto that hot grill! For your red onions and tomatoes, you’re looking for them to soften up and develop some beautiful char marks around the edges – this brings out their natural sweetness and a lovely smoky flavor. The chicken is where the magic really happens with the BBQ sauce. Each time you flip the chicken thigh fillets, brush them generously with your spicy BBQ sauce. This process not only infuses the chicken with incredible flavor, but it also helps to keep it wonderfully juicy and allows the sauce to caramelize, forming those irresistible charred spots that are the hallmark of fantastic grilled BBQ chicken.
Assemble Your Masterpiece
Once everything is perfectly grilled, it’s time to build your sandwich! While straightforward, following a specific order can make assembly easier and ensure a stable, delicious creation. I recommend starting with your toasted Hawaiian bun, then adding the saucy grilled chicken thigh, followed by the sweet and savory grilled red onions, creamy avocado slices, and finally, the juicy grilled tomato halves. Don’t be afraid to add another drizzle of spicy BBQ sauce before topping it with the other half of the bun. If it’s a little tall, a gentle smush will help bring all those amazing flavors together!
Perfect Pairings for Your BBQ Chicken Sandwich
A sandwich this good deserves equally delicious companions! For a drink, nothing beats a crisp, cold beer to cut through the richness and spice. If beer isn’t your preference, a refreshing iced tea or a zesty lemonade would also be fantastic. As for sides, embrace the classic backyard BBQ vibe! Think creamy potato salad, vibrant coleslaw, a fresh corn and black bean salad, or even a simple bowl of crunchy kettle chips. Grilled corn on the cob, a fresh fruit salad, or some extra grilled vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini would also complement this sandwich beautifully, adding texture and freshness to your meal.
Ensuring Chicken Doneness for Food Safety
The most crucial step when grilling any poultry is ensuring it’s cooked through to a safe internal temperature. For chicken thigh fillets, insert a reliable digital meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken (avoiding the bone, if present, although these are boneless) before removing it from the grill. The chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat when it registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius). Never guess with poultry – a thermometer is your best friend in the kitchen and at the grill!
See how easy it is to achieve perfection with the video below!
Smart Shopping: Leveraging the Safeway Mobile App
Before you head out to grab your Foster Farms chicken and other ingredients for this amazing sandwich, make sure you download the Safeway mobile app! This app is an absolute game-changer for savvy shoppers. It’s where you’ll find exclusive deals, digital coupons, and personalized offers that can help you save significantly on your groceries. I rely on it every time I shop to ensure I’m getting the best value, and I highly recommend it for unlocking all the savings opportunities available at Safeway.
Pin This Spicy Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwich Recipe for Later!
Foster Farms® Spicy Grilled BBQ Chicken Sandwich
10 minutes
15 minutes
25 minutes
4
sandwiches
Equipment
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Traeger Lil Tex Elite 34 Pellet Grill
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Hickory Hardwood Grill Pellets
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Dreamfarm Clongs 12-Inch
Ingredients
- 1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper use more to taste if you want it spicier
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Olive oil
- Salt & pepper
- 4 Foster Farms® Simply Raised® No Antibiotics Ever Free Range Chicken Thigh Fillets
- 1 red onion peeled and sliced
- 2 medium tomatoes sliced in half
- 2 avocados pitted and sliced
- 4 Hawaiian burger buns halved and toasted
Instructions
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Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
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In a small bowl, combine ingredients for the spicy BBQ sauce (BBQ sauce, cayenne pepper, black pepper). Stir well and set aside.
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In a medium bowl, toss the sliced red onion rings with 1 tsp of olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper, then set aside.
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Remove the pulp from the tomato halves for better grilling. Drizzle the tomato halves with 1 tsp of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
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Drizzle the Foster Farms® Simply Raised® No Antibiotics Ever Free Range Chicken Thigh Fillets evenly with 1 tsp of olive oil. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
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Once the grill is preheated and ready, add the seasoned chicken thighs, tomato halves (cut side down), and onion rings to the grill grates.
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Grill the onion rings for 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are slightly charred and softened. Grill the tomatoes for 10 to 12 minutes, also flipping halfway, until they are soft and have a nice char. Remove onions and tomatoes from the grill once done.
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Grill chicken for 3 minutes on one side, then flip and generously baste with the spicy BBQ sauce. Continue cooking for another 2 minutes, then flip again and baste with more BBQ sauce. Flip the chicken every minute for an additional 4 minutes, making sure to baste with more sauce each time you flip. Cook until the thickest part of the chicken registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) on a digital meat thermometer. Remove from grill.
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To assemble the sandwiches, place one grilled chicken thigh fillet on each bottom half of the toasted Hawaiian burger buns. Layer with grilled red onion slices, then fresh avocado slices. Add one grilled tomato half on top of the avocado. Finish with an extra drizzle of spicy BBQ sauce for good measure. Top with the other half of the bun and serve immediately to enjoy the warm, juicy flavors!
Grilling
Sandwiches