The Best Pulled Goose Sandwiches

Hunting geese plays a vital role in conservation and crop protection by helping to control their populations and prevent overpopulation, which can lead to the spread of disease, habitat degradation, and food scarcity. Overabundant geese can also become a nuisance to farmers by damaging crops and contaminating their water, and to people who enjoy parks and golf courses where geese often gather. Ethical hunting not only supports these management efforts but also ensures that harvested animals are used responsibly. While cooking with Canada or Snow Goose can be intimidating due to their unique flavours and textures, this simple and flavourful recipe is a fantastic way to prepare the breasts or thighs, making the most of your harvest while enjoying a delicious meal.

Ingredients

For the Goose

4 Canada goose breasts

2 tbsp olive oil

Spice Rub

2 tsp salt

1 tbsp pepper

1 tbsp cumin

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp chili powder

2 tsp celery salt

1 tbsp dry mustard

Homemade BBQ Sauce

1 cup ketchup

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tsp paprika

1 tsp onion powder

½ tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Equipment

1 slow cooker

Start by coating the goose breasts with olive oil. This helps the spice rub set on better and enhances the flavour during cooking.

In a small bowl, combine all the spice rub ingredients: salt, pepper, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, celery salt, and dry mustard. Mix well, then generously rub the mixture over each goose breast, ensuring every surface is coated.

Place the seasoned goose breasts into your slow cooker. There's no need to add liquid unless you're particularly worried about dryness (check partway through cooking and add a bit of water if it looks dry), the steam and condensation inside the slow cooker will keep the meat moist.

Set the slow cooker to low and let the goose cook for 8 hours. The long, slow cooking process ensures the meat becomes tender and shreds easily with a fork.

When the goose breasts are fully cooked, remove them from the slow cooker and shred the meat using two forks. This process should be effortless if the meat is properly cooked, some breast will take longer to cook through than others. Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker to keep warm.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the ingredients for the BBQ sauce: ketchup, Dijon mustard, orange juice, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly until the sauce is smooth and well blended.

Pour the BBQ sauce over the shredded goose in the slow cooker. Mix everything together until the meat is evenly coated in the sauce. Let the mixture cook on low for an additional 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure every bite is packed with flavour.

Toast your favourite buns until golden brown. Pile the pulled goose high on each bun. They're great like this, but you can also add your favourite toppings like shredded cheese, crispy onions, coleslaw, extra BBQ sauce pickles. Serve and enjoy!