BBQ Chicken Bowls with Sweet Potatoes, Coleslaw, and Pickles Recipe

If bold flavors and hearty comfort food make your heart skip a beat, get ready to fall in love with BBQ Chicken Bowls with Sweet Potatoes, Coleslaw, and Pickles. This vibrant bowl is a celebration of color and taste: smoky-sweet barbecue chicken, warmly spiced roasted sweet potatoes, tangy quick pickles, and crunchy slaw, all coming together in one delicious bite. It’s fresh, satisfying, and honestly—almost too fun to eat!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Don’t let the gorgeous end result fool you—the ingredients for these BBQ Chicken Bowls with Sweet Potatoes, Coleslaw, and Pickles are refreshingly simple and mostly pantry-friendly. Every element adds something special, from the smoky heat of chili powder to the cool, tangy zing of homemade pickles.

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: The star protein here—shreds beautifully and soaks up all that tangy BBQ flavor, but you can substitute with rotisserie chicken or even pork.
• Whole30 BBQ Sauce: Sweet, smoky, with a hint of zip—choose your favorite, homemade or store-bought, and let it shine.
• Italian Dressing: Just a splash bumps up the marinade and keeps everything tender (bonus: if you’re Whole30, avoid added sugar—see notes below).
• Sweet Potatoes: Naturally sweet and earthy, they roast up golden and spiced, bringing cozy vibes to each bite.
• Chili Powder & Cinnamon: This duo does the heavy lifting for flavor on the potatoes—don’t skip the cinnamon, trust me.
• Avocado or Refined Coconut Oil: These heat-friendly oils help the sweet potatoes roast evenly and develop lovely caramelized edges.
• English Cucumber, Dill, Garlic, Mustard Seeds, Vinegar, Water & Salt: For a super-quick homemade dill pickle that’s crunchy and perfectly puckery, although jarred pickles work in a pinch.
• Mayonnaise, Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut Aminos, Kosher Salt: The creamy, tangy backbone of your slaw dressing—coconut aminos keep it subtly sweet and umami-rich.
• Shredded Coleslaw Mix: Store-bought makes life easy (and cuts down on chopping); look for a mix with carrots for extra color.
• Fresh Parsley & BBQ Seasoning: Fresh parsley for brightness and a sprinkle of dry BBQ seasoning just takes the whole thing over the top at serving.

Variations

The magic of BBQ Chicken Bowls with Sweet Potatoes, Coleslaw, and Pickles is how endlessly adaptable they are. You can easily swap out proteins, mix up your veggies, or tailor the whole thing to your tastes or needs—make it yours every single time!

• Swap the Protein: Use pulled pork, rotisserie chicken, roasted chickpeas, or even smoked tofu for a vegetarian twist packed with flavor.
• Make It Low-Carb: Sub roasted cauliflower or broccoli for the sweet potatoes if you’re watching carbs, or double up on slaw for an ultra-refreshing bowl.
• Add More Veggies: Roasted corn, bell peppers, or even sautéed kale all fit right in if you want extra color and nutrition.
• Switch Up the Sauce: Drizzle with ranch, chipotle mayo, or your favorite vinaigrette if you’re craving something a little different over the BBQ or slaw.

How to Make BBQ Chicken Bowls with Sweet Potatoes, Coleslaw, and Pickles

Step 1: Roast the Sweet Potatoes

Preheat your oven to 425º F. Toss your peeled, cubed sweet potatoes with the chili powder, cinnamon, and oil right on a baking sheet—this gives every piece a coating of spice and helps them caramelize in the oven. After 20 minutes, give everything a good stir, pop them back in, and roast until deliciously brown at the edges but still tender (another 10–15 minutes). The smell alone will have everyone circling the kitchen.

Step 2: Make the Quick Dill Pickles

While your sweet potatoes are roasting, combine the sliced cucumber, minced garlic, dill, mustard seeds, vinegar, water, and salt in a small bowl. Stir it all together and let it sit—these pickles get perfectly tangy and addictive in just the time it takes to prep your other ingredients. No cooking needed!

Step 3: Shred the BBQ Chicken

Cooking the chicken couldn’t be easier—just add your chicken breasts, BBQ sauce, Italian dressing, and a pinch of salt to your Instant Pot. Pressure cook on high for 10 minutes, then quick-release and shred everything with two forks (or a hand mixer if you’re feeling fancy!). Switch to Sauté mode for 5 minutes to reduce the sauce slightly so every piece is glossy and coated. No Instant Pot? Use a slow cooker or simmer on the stove—see notes below for tips.

Step 4: Toss the Creamy Coleslaw

Whip up your slaw dressing by whisking mayo, vinegar, coconut aminos, and salt in a small bowl. Pour it all over your bag of coleslaw mix (extra points for tossing by hand!). Give it a moment to soak up all the flavor—the longer it sits, the better it gets.

Step 5: Assemble Your Bowls

Time for the best part—building your BBQ Chicken Bowls with Sweet Potatoes, Coleslaw, and Pickles! Divide everything between four bowls, nestling the sweet potatoes, BBQ chicken, nonchalant pile of slaw, and a few pickle slices together. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and BBQ seasoning if you’d like, and prepare for major dinner satisfaction.

How to Serve BBQ Chicken Bowls with Sweet Potatoes, Coleslaw, and Pickles

Garnishes

The simplest finish is the best: a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley for color and a dash of dry BBQ seasoning to tie in that smoky flavor. If you’re feeling playful, a drizzle of extra BBQ sauce or even a few sliced green onions can amp up both color and zip.

Side Dishes

These bowls are a full meal on their own but pair beautifully with extras like a warm corn muffin, a baked potato, grilled corn on the cob, or a crisp green salad—perfect for when you’re feeding a crowd or looking for a picnic platter vibe.

Creative Ways to Present

For fun, family-style serving, try setting out all the BBQ Chicken Bowl components and let everyone build their own. Or, pile everything into a large platter as a stunning centerpiece—nests of chicken, sweet potatoes, and slaw lined up so guests can dig in with tongs. Mini mason jars make adorable individual servings for parties or casual outdoor meals!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers of these BBQ Chicken Bowls with Sweet Potatoes, Coleslaw, and Pickles are seriously the gift that keeps on giving. Store each component in its own airtight container in the fridge, where they’ll keep well for up to 4 days. This way, everything stays fresh and you can build a bowl whenever the craving strikes.

Freezing

The BBQ chicken and roasted sweet potatoes freeze well—just let them cool, portion into freezer-safe containers, and freeze for up to 3 months. Skip freezing the coleslaw and pickles though; they’re best made fresh for that signature crunch.

Reheating

To reheat, gently warm the chicken and sweet potatoes together in the microwave or in a skillet over medium heat. Then build your bowl with fresh slaw and pickles for those bright, cool contrasts. You get the full, just-made effect every time!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

If you’re craving an easy meal that’s as nourishing as it is satisfying, BBQ Chicken Bowls with Sweet Potatoes, Coleslaw, and Pickles are an absolute must-try. Every bite is packed with bright flavor and comforting textures, bringing a little barbecue magic to your kitchen any night of the week—gather your crew and let the bowl-building begin!

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