Cowgirl Chicken Sandwiches

Cowgirl Chicken Sandwiches feature a BBQ chicken breast, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese and caramelized onions.

Update: This recipe was originally shared in June 2013. The recipe and photos have been updated and republished in November 2023.

Anytime I can make a sandwich for dinner, I consider it a win. Don't get me wrong, I love cooking but sometimes you just need those easy nights where everything comes together quickly. These delicious Cowgirl Chicken Sandwiches allows you to move from step to step without a lot of waiting and down-time, with the total recipe coming together in a little over 30 minutes.

What are Cowgirl Chicken Sandwiches?

The "Cowgirl" part of this sandwich comes from the ingredients - combining BBQ sauce, bacon and cheese (typically cheddar). I added sauteed/caramelized onions, lettuce and tomato for the my idea of the perfect sandwich. You can grill, air fry or bake the chicken in this recipe - for this version I chose to use the air fryer.

Ingredients

sweet onion
unsalted butter
chicken cutlets, or breasts sliced thin
BBQ Sauce
BBQ rub or similar seasoning
bacon
cheddar cheese
lettuce
tomato
sandwich buns

Instructions

First, start off by sauteeing/caramelizing the onions. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and then add in the onions. Once softened, lower the heat to medium low. Cook for 25 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to ensure they don't burn or stick. (Note: true caramelized onions take 40+ minutes. This is a more-caramelized-than-sauteed quick version I make.)

Side by side image of onions in saucepan at beginning and ending stages of caramelizing.

Meanwhile, cook the bacon and prepare the chicken. Cook bacon in a skillet or microwave until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Blot excess grease with papers towels and set aside. Sprinkle BBQ Rub on both sides of each chicken cutlet and then brush with BBQ sauce.

Side by side image of chicken, one with seasoning and BBQ sauce and the other ready to go in the air fryer.

Then cook the chicken. Air fry chicken cutlets at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Remove chicken from air fryer and set aside.

Next, prepare the buns. Brush BBQ sauce on the top and bottom insides of the buns. Place a slice of cheddar cheese on the top part and secure with a toothpick. Air fry (or toast in oven or toaster oven) for about 2 minutes until cheese has melted.

Burger buns with top half brushed with BBQ sauce and bottom half with a slice of cheese waiting to be toasted.

Finally, prepare your sandwich. Place lettuce and a slice of tomato on the bottom part of a sandwich bun. Add the chicken cutlet, followed by a slice of bacon broken in half and a scoop of caramelized onions. Place other half of sandwich bun on top and enjoy immediately.

FAQ

What is a cowgirl chicken sandwich?

The name of this sandwich comes from the ingredients - the combination of bacon, cheddar cheese and BBQ sauce on chicken = cowgirl or cowboy.

How long do you cook chicken cutlets in the air fryer?

When cooking at 400 degrees , chicken cutlets should take 15-18 minutes. The thickest part of the cutlet needs to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F to be safe to eat.

What's the difference between caramelized and sauteed onions?

Time. To truly caramelize onions, you'll need at least 30 minutes. Caramelized onions are cooked low and slow, stirred frequently until they're dark brown and sweetened. Caramelized onions are cooked quicker, over high heat until golden brown. They'll be softened but not as sweet as caramelized.

Overhead image of sandwich without top bun, showing caramelized onions and bacon on top the chicken cutlet on lettuce and bottom bun.

Substitutions and Serving Suggestions

Cooking Techniques: a grilled chicken breast/cutlet would be more fitting with the theme of this sandwich. Ensure chicken is fully cooked through. Chicken can also be pan-fried or baked if desired.
Caramelized Onions - I prefer to caramelize sweet onions instead of yellow or cooking onions.
BBQ Sauce - Sweet Baby Ray's Sweet & Spicy is what I used for these sandwiches
Bacon - for a healthier option, use turkey bacon instead.
Cheese - not a fan of cheddar? American, Provolone or Swiss would all be delicious
Buns - a hearty bun like a brioche bun would be amazing on this sandwich
Add ons - guacamole, pickles, candied jalapenos or even onion rings/straws would be delicious on this sandwich

Serve these delicious BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with chips, fries, Amish Potato Salad, Cherry Chipotle Bourbon Baked Beans or any of my other delicious Potato or Vegetable sides!

Assembled sandwich sits on a black plate on a wooden background.

Efficient Cooking Tips

Melt the butter while you slice the onion. Start cooking onions first, completing all other steps as you stir them every 5 minutes. Preheat air fryer, season chicken cutlets with BBQ rub and sauce while it's heating up. While the chicken is cooking, cook the bacon, (Microwave is the fastest - paper towel on plate, wax paper on top) slice the tomato and lettuce. Spread BBQ sauce on buns, add cheese, toast buns/melt cheese and then assemble, leaving the onions for last so they can cook the longest.

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