You can’t go wrong with this BBQ chicken braid. Melted cheese, chicken, and tangy barbecue sauce all wrapped up in chewy, soft bread. Yum.

A very popular meal around my house is soft roll or bread dough rolled out and filled with simple ingredients (usually diced ham and cheese) and then braided together and baked.

It is simple, filling and a unique way to change up the old grilled ham and cheese sandwich appearance.

Braided bread loaf on a white plate.

In an effort to be creative with what I usually stuff inside the braided bread, I decided to make a simple variation on BBQ Chicken Pizza and make a bread braid out of it.

Since we’ve been salivating over this new BBQ sauce, what better way to put it to use? An easy, filling, delicious meal that my kids love to help with.

This particular version turned out fantastic! How can you go wrong with melted cheese, tender chicken, spicy red onions and tangy barbecue sauce all wrapped up in chewy, soft bread?

I’ve included pictures below the recipe for a quick how-to on cutting the dough strips and braiding the bread. I promise it’s easy!

Braided bread loaf cut open filled with chicken and cheese.

Two Years Ago: Mango Lassi

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BBQ Chicken Braid

Yield: 2 large braids
Prep Time: 1 hr
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
4.80 stars (5 ratings)
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Ingredients

  • 1 recipe French Bread Rolls
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 1 medium red onion, sliced into thin half moons
  • 1 ½ cups barbecue sauce
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • After the french bread roll recipe has gone through the first rise, split the dough into two parts. Lightly cover one portion and set aside. Roll the other portion into about an 11X17-inch rectangle (I roll mine out directly on a silpat liner to make for easy transfer to the baking sheet and oven). Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut 1-inch wide strips in towards the center, starting on the long sides. There should be a solid strip about 3 inches wide down the center, with the cut strips forming a fringe down each side.
  • Spread half of the barbecue sauce down the center strip. Top with the chicken, onions and cheese. Fold the side strips over filling, alternating strips from each side and pressing them into the dough on the opposite side, forming a braid. Pinch or twist to seal.
  • Place the braid on a lined baking sheet (or simply transfer the silpat liner to a baking sheet) and let rest for 15 minutes. While it is resting, follow the same steps above for the second portion of dough.
  • Bake the first braid for 15-20 minutes (while the second braid is resting), until golden brown and bread is baked through. Remove from oven and bake the second braid.
  • Let the braids rest for 5 minutes. Using a serrated knife, cut braid into sections and serve warm.

Notes

Ingredient Amounts: the amounts of chicken, onions, barbecue sauce, and cheese in the recipe can be altered based on your preference – simply add more or less to your liking.

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Recipe Source: My Kitchen Cafe

Braid How-To
With one half of the french bread roll recipe, flatten or roll the dough out to about 11X17 inches. I roll it out directly on my silpat baking mat for easy measuring and then transferring to a rimmed baking sheet. If you don’t have a silpat liner, use parchment paper or press the dough directly onto a lightly greased rimmed baking sheet.
bread dough flattened out on a Silpat liner

After the dough is rolled out, start cutting strips along each side, leaving a wide strip, about 3-inches across, in the middle. I use my pizza cutter to speed through this step.
bread dough flattened out on a liner with a few 1-inch pieces cut along the side

After the strips have been cut, layer all of the ingredients down the center strip and start braiding by folding alternate strips across and pressing them down to stick.
uncooked bread dough with fillings and dough starting to braid over it

As you get to the end, you’ll likely be wondering how to finish this whole thing up.
braided bread dough with fillings in it on a Silpat liner

Keep braiding like normal until you have two final strips extending one from each side.
braided bread dough with two strips that still need folded in

Fold one side over and press it into the other strip.
braided bread on a Silpat liner

Grab the final extending strip and bring it over to lay across the bottom of the braid and gently press it into the dough on the other side. It won’t look perfect, but that’s ok.
showing the process of bread being braided at the end of a loaf

Then, using your fingers, pinch the dough together to seal the long seam at the bottom of the braid and any other small seams you may see. It may look a bit lumpy but I promise you won’t care once it is baked to golden perfection.
the end of braided bread dough loaf

Finally, pick up the silpat or parchment paper and transfer it to the baking sheet. Ready to bake!
loaf of braided white bread dough

Other Recipes Like This:

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

Savory Spiral Stuffed Rolls

The Best BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches {Instant Pot or Slow Cooker}

BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches {Slow Cooker}