The Dish
This lighter version of the classic fast casual-style BBQ chicken sandwich is stuffed with better-for-you ingredients. The BBQ sauce is homemade, allowing us to infuse more wholesome ingredients into this recipe. Instead of using store-bought sauces, homemade options can use fresh ingredients, lower sodium seasonings, and less refined sugar components — which is exactly the case with this tasty BBQ sauce. Boneless skinless chicken breast is slathered in the BBQ sauce and baked until tasty and tender. Low-fat cheddar cheese, thick slices of tomato, and kale join our baked BBQ chicken breast between two slices of toasted whole wheat bread. To add a little twang to our sandwich, the kale is lightly seasoned with a little apple cider vinegar, balancing honey-sweetened BBQ sauce.
Hacking this Recipe
The BBQ sauce can be made 4–5 days in advance and stored covered and refrigerated until ready to use. The recipe makes just about 1 cup (240g) of sauce (2 tbsp or 30g per serving), allowing for oodles of use throughout the week.
Vegetarian and Vegan Modifications
Feel free to substitute the chicken in this recipe with tofu or your favorite vegan chicken alternative. The cheese can also be substituted with a dairy-free cheddar or a vegan cheese alternative. When making the BBQ sauce, use agave instead of honey.