Italian crockpot chicken sandwiches are an easy dinner with big flavor. Delicious chicken piled high on toasty garlic bread.
If you like this recipe, check out my Crock Pot Chicken Piccata next!
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For slow cooked chicken, the flavor of these sandwiches is lively and bright. You can make them anytime of year because they use canned tomatoes. Fresh chopped basil stirred in at the end “fools” you into thinking this chicken is flavored with summer tomatoes. This is a simple recipe your whole family is sure to love.
More crockpot chicken recipes
Ingredients for Italian crockpot chicken sandwiches
- Chicken – I tested this recipe using boneless chicken breasts. But you could probably substitute skinless chicken thighs.
- Flavorings – A combo of diced tomatoes, tomato paste, bottled Italian dressing, garlic, a little sugar, salt, red pepper flakes and fresh basil.
- Sandwich Fixings – Pile the chicken high on garlic bread slices (I use frozen for convenience). Plus melted provolone cheese.
- Variation – Feel free to add some diced onion to the chicken mixture before slow cooking.
Instructions
Put the chicken and all the flavoring ingredients (except basil) into a 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low power for 6 hours, until the chicken registers at least 165 degrees F. Use two forks to shred the chicken. Stir the fresh chopped basil into the cooked chicken.
Make sandwiches by piling the shredded Italian chicken onto slices of garlic bread topped with melted provolone cheese.
Serving suggestions
This is such an easy meal. Serve it with some veggies and dip or fresh cut fruit to keep it simple. Or here’s some more of my recipes to turn it into something a little fancier –
Storage directions
Store leftovers of the cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for three days. Or it will stay fresh in the freezer for one month.
Pro tips
- Look for sales on chicken breasts – purchase extra and freeze for future recipes
- A 6-quart slow cooker is plenty big for this recipe
- I use this brand of garlic bread for my sandwich bread
- Make open-faced sandwiches to save on calories
- Add the chopped, fresh basil right before serving – otherwise it will turn dark as it cooks
Italian Crockpot Chicken Sandwiches
Equipment
- 1 crockpot
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 15 oz can petite cut diced tomatoes drained
- 1/2 cup good Italian dressing I used Newman's Own brand
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped
- 4 slices Provolone cheese
- 8 slices frozen garlic bread
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in a 6-quart slow cooker. Pour the drained tomatoes on top of the chicken.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing, tomato paste, sugar, salt, red pepper flakes and garlic. Pour the mixture over the chicken and tomatoes.
- Put the lid on and cook on LOW power for 6 hours. Shred the chicken and turn the slow cooker to the WARM setting.
- Bake the garlic bread according to package directions. Place one piece of provolone cheese on each of four slices of bread during the last minute of baking time so the cheese can melt.
- Stir the fresh chopped basil into the shredded Italian chicken. Pile the chicken on top of the cheesy garlic bread slices. Top with the remaining garlic bread slices to make four sandwiches and serve.
Nutrition
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Crystal Conant says
Oh my goodness, where on EARTH are all those calories coming from though? It’s just chicken with some seasoning and dressing. No creams, almost 800 calories seems insane. Am I missing something?
Meghan says
I’m planning on making this for a party, do you have more of a bulk or larger recipe than this. I can 5x everything but looking for a simpler way,
Joan says
Made this for lunch today & it was Amazing & enjoyed by all of us! Thanks so much for sharing this delicious recipe!
Courtney says
I ended up serving these as open faced sandwiches, forgot the basil, and did about half the sugar. Very good, but needs just a bit more flavor. I’m thinking next time I’ll add some more herbs (basil, garlic and onion powder, maybe some Italian seasoning to really drive it home). I’ll also add sautéed peppers and onions!