Smoked Turkey Barbecue Sandwiches Recipe

A hot, zingy Carolina-style sauce complements the turkey and crunchy coleslaw.

By Max Falkowitz
Updated November 14, 2022
Open smoked turkey barbecue sandwich topped with coleslaw.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Why It Works

  • Smoked turkey works as a leaner and smokier stand-in for pulled pork while preserving the sandwich's flavors.
  • Our coleslaw delivers cool crunch without watering down the sandwich.

Carolina-style barbecue means pork, but smoked turkey is a winning stand-in when dressed in a punchy vinegar- and chile-based sauce. Sandwiched in a chewy-sweet potato roll with a creamy layer of coleslaw, it makes a well-balanced and simple substitute for the Southern classic. (If you're looking for more ways to jazz up that smoked turkey, use it in place of bacon in a collard greens braise or toss it in a pot of red beans and rice.)

November 2014

This Carolina-style barbecue sauce recipe comes from Serious Eats: A Comprehensive Guide to Making and Eating Delicious Food Wherever You Are.

Recipe Details

Smoked Turkey Barbecue Sandwiches Recipe

Active 30 mins
Total 45 mins
Serves 8 sandwiches

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cider vinegar

  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

  • 2 tablespoons red pepper flakes

  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce (such as Frank’s)

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 pound smoked turkey, pulled or chopped

  • 8 steamed or toasted potato rolls

  • Creamy cole slaw

Directions

  1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together cider vinegar, sugar, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, and salt until sugar and salt are dissolved. Set aside to rest for at least 20 minutes.

  2. Heat turkey in a microwave or in a foil-covered skillet in the oven or toaster oven until warmed through. Transfer turkey to a bowl. Add sauce a few tablespoons at a time, tossing with your hands after each addition and tasting until desired level of acidity and heat is achieved.

  3. Split open potato rolls, add a small handful of turkey, then a small handful of cole slaw. Serve immediately.

Notes

The Carolina-style barbecue sauce recipe makes more than you need; leftover sauce can be kept in the refrigerator for months.

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
336Calories
10gFat
46gCarbs
15gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories336
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g13%
Saturated Fat 2g8%
Cholesterol 36mg12%
Sodium 1499mg65%
Total Carbohydrate 46g17%
Dietary Fiber 4g14%
Total Sugars 17g
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 17mg85%
Calcium 116mg9%
Iron 4mg20%
Potassium 468mg10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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