Glistening pulled chicken piled high on a stark white plate, cloaked in deep purple blackberry barbecue sauce. The vibrant hues of the blackberries catch the light, while flecks of fresh cilantro add a splash of green. Served alongside, rustic hand-cut sweet potato fries provide a contrasting tinge of orange.

Blackberry BBQ Pulled Chicken

Name: Blackberry BBQ Pulled Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups fresh blackberries; 4 pieces boneless and skinless chicken breast; 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons mustard; 1 onion finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves minced; 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 4 large sweet potatoes cut into fries; 2 tablespoons olive oil; a handful handful of cilantro finely chopped; to taste salt; to taste pepper

Savory, decadent pulled chicken with blackberry BBQ sauce.

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 45 minutes

Style American

Technique Baking

Diet Friendly Gluten-Free

Daily recipe · August 29, 2024

A little about this dish

Inspired by the Southern American cuisine, this recipe features the juicy sweetness of seasonal blackberries in a savory context. Succulent pulled chicken intertwines with the rustic, warm flavors of blackberry barbecue sauce. It's an unexpected twist to a classic dish.

Ingredients (for 4)

Fresh blackberries — 2 cups
Boneless and skinless chicken breast — 4 pieces
Apple cider vinegar — 1/2 cup
Brown sugar — 1/2 cup
Mustard — 2 tablespoons
Onion — 1 — finely chopped
Garlic cloves — 2 — minced
Cayenne pepper — 1/2 teaspoon
Smoked paprika — 1 teaspoon
Large sweet potatoes — 4 — cut into fries
Olive oil — 2 tablespoons
Handful of cilantro — a handful — finely chopped
Salt — to taste
Pepper — to taste

Preparation

Step 1 — ☀️🔥🕗

Preheat your oven to 400F for baking the sweet potato fries.
Step 2 — 🍟🧂🥣

Toss sweet potato fries in a tablespoon of olive oil, seasoning with salt and pepper. Lay them evenly on a baking sheet.
Step 3 — 🥔🔥🥳

Bake your seasoned sweet potato fries in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until they become crispy.
Step 4 — 🧄🐔🥘

While fries are baking, simmer chicken breasts in a pot of water until thoroughly cooked.
Step 5 — 🧅🔪🌶

Sauté onion and garlic in a tablespoon of olive oil, then add blackberries, cider vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, cayenne, and smoked paprika. Let these ingredients simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Step 6 — 🌪🥣🔥

Blend the sautéed ingredients until your sauce is smooth. Return the sauce to the pan and heat it through.
Step 7 — 🐔🍴🍇

Once the chicken is cooked, shred it using two forks and mix it in the blackberry barbecue sauce.
Step 8 — 🍽🍗🍟

Serve the sauced shredded chicken with a side of your crispy sweet potato fries. Sprinkle some fresh cilantro on top for garnish.

A final fox tip

Surprise your guests with this recipe by not telling them what the secret ingredient in the sauce is. It's always fun to see their faces light up when they realize it's blackberries, not a traditional barbecue ingredient, but one that adds such a lovely depth of flavor and color. You could also substitute blackberries with other berries when they're in season.