Time to pull the cover off the grill, hopefully once and for all. Denver saw temperatures in the 70's this past weekend, and with no end to the sunshine in the near future, it's starting to feel a lot like Summer around here. And what's better on a hot day than a BBQ?
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Shredded, Saucy BBQ Chicken Sammies
Ingredients
1 cup chicken stock
1 bottle Mexican beer
4 pieces, 6 ounces each boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, eyeball it
1 tablespoon hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco)
2 tablespoons grill seasoning blend (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning, by McCormick)
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
4 tablespoons tomato paste
1 large sour deli pickle, chopped
6 to 8 slices sweet bread and butter pickles, chopped
6 soft sammy buns, such as soft burger rolls, split
Directions
Bring liquids to a simmer in a small to medium skillet and slide in the chicken breast meat. Gently poach the chicken for 10 minutes, turning once about after 5 minutes.
While chicken poaches, heat a second medium skillet over medium-low heat. To the hot skillet, add extra-virgin olive oil and garlic, and onion and gently saute until chicken is ready to come out of poaching liquids. Combine the next 5 ingredients in a medium bowl and reserve.
When the chicken has cooked through, add 2 ladles of the cooking liquid to the bowl, combining with the sauces, spices, brown sugar, and tomato paste. Once the liquids and seasonings are combined, remove chicken, slice it, and transfer to the medium bowl. Using 2 forks, shred the chicken and combine it with the liquids. Add the shredded chicken to the onions and garlic and combine well. Simmer together 5 to 10 minutes, using extra cooking liquids to make your chicken as saucy as you like.
Combine sour and sweet pickles in a small bowl. Split rolls and fill with scoops of shredded chicken. Top with pickle relish and serve.