Panera Bread Copycat Smokehouse BBQ ‘Chicken’ Sandwich

This copycat recipe is a plant-based version of Panera Bread’s famous BBQ Smokehouse Chicken Sandwich. My vegan-friendly recreation is piled high with slow cooked BBQ jackfruit, thinly sliced red onions and melty vegan cheese.

this …

PANERA BREAD BBQ SMOKEHOUSE CHICKEN SANDWICH

I used to love going to Panera Bread for their delicious sandwiches and bread bowls, and while they now have a few vegan options on the menu, this BBQ Smokehouse Chicken Sandwich is not one of them.

Whomp whomp.

So I decided to veganize it by creating a homemade version and it’s since become one of my all time favorite sandwiches!

Ingredients for Making BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches:

Jackfruit: Look for “Young” or “Green” Jackfruit canned in water, not brine. Rinse it well in the colander and drain well too (This is important for best results)

BBQ Sauce: Any BBQ sauce you like will work for this. I used Primal Kitchen’s Mango Jalapeño BBQ Sauce and highly recommend it! It’s naturally sweetened, not too fruity despite the name, and it has more of a peppery kick than a super hot spice, if you know what I mean. (I get it on Thrive Market to save a couple bucks)

Smoked Paprika: This is one of my favorite spices! I use it all the time and since it’s a bit more flavorful than sweet paprika, a little goes a long way. This is the ingredient that creates that smokey BBQ flavor in this recipe!

How to make Panera Bread’s BBQ Smokehouse Chicken Sandwich at Home!

Step 1: Simmer

The secret to my 2 Step BBQ Jackfruit Recipe is that the canned jackfruit is first simmered in BBQ spices like chili powder, smoked paprika, poultry seasoning, and a little brown sugar – and since I know some of you ask, coconut sugar or maple syrup will work in place of the brown sugar if you prefer!

Note: I think that brown sugar gives this an absolutely irresistible BBQ flavor so that’s what I recommend using for best results.

Then I add the BBQ sauce and water and let it simmer on the stovetop until all of the liquid absorbs into the jackfruit. We’re basically speed-marinating here!

At this point the jackfruit is nice and tender but the texture isn’t quite on point just yet...which brings me to step two: Roasting.

Step 2: Roast

Next I toss the jackfruit with a little more BBQ sauce and a very necessary tablespoon of olive oil to create the perfect texture while it roasts in the oven.

While roasting, the edges char slightly but the inside stays juicy and tender! That’s exactly what we want!

And at that point, it’s ready to serve as a sandwich or along side potato salad and grilled corn on the cob but we’re making sandwiches today so that brings me to Step 3: Assembly.

Step 3: Assemble

Toast a hamburger bun until lightly golden brown, then layer on your warm BBQ jackfruit, vegan cheese, thinly sliced red onions – or crispy fried onions like these – and top with a little more BBQ sauce for good measure!

Recipe FAQs

Can I meal prep BBQ Jackfruit?

Absolutely! This recipe makes about 6 servings which means I usually have leftovers (and I’m always VERY happy about that!) I like to reheat the leftover jackfruit on the stove or in the microwave with some more BBQ sauce. I typically use it to make more sandwiches again the next or turn it into BBQ Tacos with black beans, purple cabbage, corn, cilantro and a drizzle of my One Minute Sauce.

WHAT SHOULD I SERVE THESE SANDWICHES WITH?

GREEN POTATO SALAD

VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE

SCALLION, CHIVE AND GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

SWEET POTATO + BLACK BEAN BOWLS

If you like this recipe please leave a comment and rate this post below! And if you’re on Instagram, tag me in a pic so I can see your recreation! @nikkivegan

For more free vegan recipes, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel here.