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These BBQ chicken bowls are loaded with so much goodness: shredded BBQ chicken, seasoned cubed sweet potatoes roasted until crisp, a simple coleslaw, and quick homemade dill pickles. They’re paleo and filling and surprisingly quick and easy. Whole30 and paleo, too.
Why This Recipe Is So Good
- These paleo and Whole30 BBQ bowls are incredibly flavorful with seasoned sweet potatoes, cool and crunchy coleslaw, and tangy dill pickles. So filling and an amazing flavor combo!
- The homemade dill pickles are surprisingly simple, fast, and absolutely elevate this bowl to the next level!
- These BBQ chicken bowls with sweet potatoes and coleslaw are super easy to make thanks to an Instant Pot or slow cooker, but can easily be made without either one.
How To Make It Without An Instant Pot
- To make your chicken in a Crockpot, combine all your BBQ chicken ingredients in the slow cooker. Cook covered on High for 3 hours or Low for 5 hours.
- To make BBQ chicken without a slow cooker or Instant Pot, shred the chicken breasts with two forks, then place in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cover with 3/4 cup of BBQ sauce and stir until chicken is heated through and the sauce is absorbed. Add more sauce if desired.
Chef’s Tips
- Make sure to use Whole30-compliant barbecue sauce if you want true Whole30 BBQ bowls. My recipe is a great option if you want to make your own!
- When making the BBQ chicken, if you do not have Italian dressing, substitute 1 1/2 tablespoon oil, 1/2 tablespoon white or white wine vinegar, and a small pinch of Italian seasoning.
- You can substitute pickles bought from the store for the homemade ones (but I really, really recommend the homemade version). If you’re using store-bought pickles, use high-quality cold pickles, not the bright yellow sort from the aisles.
- You can store any leftover coleslaw mix to use in other dishes besides these Whole30 BBQ bowls. Drain excess liquid and save for another use in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
More Delish Recipes
- Mexican Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- How to Cook Nopales (Cactus Paddles)
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
- Instant Pot Carnitas
- Palmini Pasta
- Egg Roll in a Bowl with Creamy Chili Sauce
- Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
- Chicken Tikka Masala
- Whole30 Marry Me Chicken (Paleo, Dairy Free)
- Paleo Lime Bars (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)
- Grilled Adobo Chicken
BBQ Chicken Bowls with Sweet Potatoes, Coleslaw, and Pickles
A filling bowl of BBQ chicken, sweet potatoes, coleslaw, and homemade dill pickles. Surprisingly simple and quick to make but packed full of flavor. Whole30 and paleo.
bowls
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
For the BBQ Chicken
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 1 ¼ pounds
- ¾ cup Whole30 BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons Italian dressing see Notes
- salt to taste
- or about 2 1/2 cups shredded BBQ chicken or pork
For the Sweet Potatoes
- 2 sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- dash of cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon avocado or refined coconut oil
For the Quick Dill Pickles
- Sprig of fresh dill
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ English cucumber sliced thin
- Pinch yellow mustard seeds
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup white or white wine vinegar
- ½ tablespoon salt
- OR use ¼ cup sliced cold dill pickles See Notes
For the Coleslaw
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons coconut aminos
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 14-ounce bag shredded coleslaw mix see Notes
To Garnish
- Fresh chopped parsley
- Dry BBQ seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425º F. Make sweet potatoes: On a baking sheet, toss all ingredients and roast for 20 m. After 20 minutes, stir well, then return to oven. Bake another 10-15 minutes or until browning on edges but not too crunchy or crisp.
- Make the pickles: While sweet potatoes roast, combine all pickle ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Make BBQ chicken: Next, combine all ingredients in an Instant Pot. Seal and cook at High Pressure for 10 minutes. Quick release when time is up then shred chicken breasts with two forks or use a hand mixer on low speed. Turn on Sauté mode and heat for 5 minutes until chicken is coated in sauce. If you do not have an Instant Pot, see Note for regular shredded chicken or slow cooker directions.
- Make coleslaw: Mix all ingredients besides coleslaw mix in a small bowl. Place coleslaw mix in a medium bowl and pour dressing over. Combine well, using hands if desired.
- Assemble bowls: Divide sweet potatoes, BBQ chicken, and coleslaw evenly among 4 bowls. Top with a couple pickle slices. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
- Cooking chicken in a Crockpot: Combine all your BBQ chicken ingredients in the slow cooker. Cook covered on High for 3 hours or Low for 5 hours.
- To make without a slow cooker or Instant Pot: Shred 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts with two forks, then place in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cover with 3/4 cup of BBQ sauce and stir until chicken is heated through and sauce is absorbed. Add more sauce if desired.
- Whole30: Make sure you are using Whole30-compliant BBQ sauce.
- If you don’t have Italian dressing for BBQ chicken: Substitute 1 1/2 tablespoon oil, 1/2 tablespoon white or white wine vinegar, and a small pinch of Italian seasoning.
- Using store-bought pickles instead of homemade: Use high-quality cold pickles, not the bright yellow sort from the aisles.
- To save extra coleslaw: Drain excess liquid and save for another use in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Serving Size: 1bowlCalories: 503calProtein: 15gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 2500mgPotassium: 780mgTotal Carbs: 46gFiber: 6gSugar: 26gNet Carbs: 40gVitamin A: 9797IUVitamin C: 42mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 2mg
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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Delicious. Everyone in the family enjoyed it. I reduced the liquids left in Instant pot to make a sauce, and added extra BBQ sauce to it. Then poured over the pulled chicken. Yum.
Yum! So glad the whole family enjoyed! Thanks so much for your review!
I have made this multiple times already during my whole30! And this is one that I will continue to make when Im done. Its easy, tasty and the leftovers are great for easy lunches during the week. Thank you for your recipes!
That’s great to hear, Becky! Glad you enjoy! Thanks so much for your review!
This was a big hit with my husband and kids! Very tasty and super healthy.
Thank you, Korey!
I would omit the salt, due to soy sauce being salty if you don’t use the coconut amino’s. Had to add a little sugar.
Totally right, Vicki – if you’re not making this recipe Whole30 as it’s written, you’ll need to make a few minor adjustments to accommodate the non-compliant ingredients you use. If you’re on a Whole30 round, though, definitely don’t use soy sauce or sugar!
This is SO good and flavorful, with varying flavors/texture/temperatures. A winner! It’s on my repeat recipes and I’ve made it several times.
Note: if you use soy sauce instead of coconut aminos, go down to 1 tablespoon or less!
Great tip, Sarah! Just remember – no soy sauce if you’re on a Whole30 round!
Loved this recipe. I ended up grilling the chicken using primal kitchen golden bbq sauce. I also added a little vanilla bean powder to the sweet potatoes. But this was amazing even if you aren’t on whole 30
So happy you enjoyed it, Anna! Thanks so much for your review!
Great tasty and easy recipe I go to all summer. I usually just use rotisserie chicken to keep it simple.
That’s a great way to do it! Thanks so much for leaving a review, Caroline!
Excellent recipes! We tried all of them except for the coleslaw because I couldn’t find any in the grocery store. Everything went so well together. We especially loved the homemade pickles & will definitely keep this on our rotation of dinners. Thank you!!
Thrilled to hear this!
Was skeptical, but now one of my favorite dishes!
So glad to hear it!
Overall I loved the concept. The chicken turned out really good. LOVED the sweet potatoes. The Cole slaw was not good. The coconut aminos I think is what threw it off for me. I will definitely be making this combo again though.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your feedback, Amy! I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe despite the coleslaw. Let us know what adjustments you make next time and how it turns out!
This was so delicious!! I’ve been sort of turning my nose up at all the bowl recipes that I see online, cause there always seems to be one or two ingredients that I don’t like. I saw this and decided to take the plunge. I’m not keto or whole30 or of those diets so I used regular soy sauce. I could not find coleslaw mix anywhere so I used broccoli slaw instead. Oh. My. Goodness!! This was so good that even my son who hates coleslaw ate two helpings! I’ll be making this many times in the future!!
So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂