Creamy slow cooked shredded chicken piled high on a bakery bun with pepper and pickle relish is pure Midwestern comfort food. Save this recipe for Slow Cooker Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches for all your festive fall gatherings.
I didn’t actually realize that the shredded chicken sandwich is considered to be an Ohio tradition until recently. I have published a few recipes over the years that are specific to Cincinnati. And I love Ohio’s famous candy – the buckeye. So when I found out that shredded chicken sandwiches are considered to be an Ohio “thing” it made sense for me to come up with my own version of these yummy sandwiches.
I started with a slow cooker because that makes the meat for these sandwiches easy to serve at a party – or even better – for tailgating. Most of the recipes for Ohio chicken sandwiches call for cream of chicken soup and Ritz crackers or stuffing mix. I decided to go a different direction. A little butter and chicken bouillon flavor the chicken while it’s cooking. And crushed potato chips and sour cream are stirred in at the end to thicken and provide a creamy base for the shredded chicken.
Tips for Slow Cooker Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches:
- The chicken can be made a day ahead and then reheated before stirring in the sour cream and potato chips for serving.
- The sandwiches can be served plain but I personally like topping them with a pepper and pickle relish like this one.
- Make a large batch of these sandwiches for a crowd and provide a “bar” of condiments to serve with them – cheese slices, the relish I mentioned, sliced onion, dill pickles slices, mustard, regular and gluten-free buns, etc.
- This is the brand of bouillon I use.
- Chicken broth is not necessary to add when cooking chicken breasts in a slow cooker – slow cooking steams and brings out the juices of the chicken naturally.
- The measurement of the potato chips is calculated after the chips have been crushed.
- I use kitchen tongs like these to shred my chicken right in the pot of my slow cooker.
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Slow Cooker Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp Better than Bouillon Chicken Base
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup crushed kettle cooked potato chips
- 1/3 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Place the chicken, butter, chicken base and salt in a slow cooker.
- Cook on LOW heat for 6 hours. Shred the chicken using two forks or kitchen tongs.
- When ready to serve, stir in the crushed potato chips and sour cream. Heat the shredded chicken on low until warmed through.
- Serve the chicken on bakery buns with pepper and pickle relish.
Danielle says
What a great twist on shredded chicken. I like that it has sour cream on it. You can never have too much sour cream.
foodtasticmom says
I totally agree about sour cream. I add it to a lot of foods!
Danielle says
This looks so simple and tasty! I also didn’t realize they originated in Ohio!
foodtasticmom says
Thanks Danielle
Catherine Brown says
Oh my! Definitely an interesting combination. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this before… but then I’ve never lived in Ohio. 🙂
foodtasticmom says
You can still try it 🙂 Bring a taste of Ohio to where you live!
Tara says
I didn’t know that this was an Ohio thing either! These sandwiches look wonderful. Such a great use of the slow cooker!
foodtasticmom says
Thank you Tara!
Jenni LeBaron says
I love the idea of adding the crushed potato chips in. I bet it gives these sandwiches a fun texture and flavor!
foodtasticmom says
Thank you! I know lots of people who put potato chips on sandwiches – so it made sense to use them as an ingredient.
Carol ruff says
I’m 55 and have lived in Ohio my whole life and never heard of this hmmmmm
foodtasticmom says
I know right?! But I’ve had several sources back up the claim that shredded chicken sandwiches are an Ohio thing.
Stella says
Yup Roots shredded chicken they are based in Fremont Ohio
Karin Anne Pinto says
yum Roots! I wish I could get it here in Indiana. My mom grew up in Fremont and we had ate Roots chicken sandwiches when I was a teen!
foodtasticmom says
You’ll have to try the recipe to satisfy your craving!
Kim says
My husband is from Ohio and his sister made these all the time at family gatherings
foodtasticmom says
They are good and can definitely serve a crowd.
Tom in Ohio says
Definitely not traditional Ohio shredded chicken but it sounds pretty good and worth trying.
foodtasticmom says
Right – I like putting my own spin on recipes. Let us know if you try it!
Phillip says
Oh my Tom not sure where you grew up in Ohio but it is very definitely a truly Ohio dish. It is served at weddings, funerals, reunions and every restaurant in the area I grew up in.
Chela says
This is the best shredded chicken I have ever made!!! Exactly how I like them to taste. No cream soup, no bread crumbs! So good!! So glad I stumbled upon your recipe!! Thank you!!!
foodtasticmom says
I love getting comments like this! Thanks so much for the taking the time to leave a positive review!
Rosey says
I didn’t know shredded chicken was an Ohio thing. My mom used to love them, and guess where we lived (Ohio). 🙂
foodtasticmom says
I didn’t know for a long time. I hope you try my recipe!
Linda says
I lived in Ohio my whole life. The shredded chicken sandwich Is very popular. I moved to Colorado two years ago and found out very quickly that they don’t have the large cans of chicken out here. Plus have never heard of shredded chicken sandwiches. WHAT?!!!
I am boiling chicken today to make the sandwiches. You do what you have to do to satisfy that craving! They are delicious.
PS- They have also never heard of an elephant ear at the fair! They looked at me like I was crazy when I asked about them. I love Colorado but come on!! Lol!!
foodtasticmom says
Your comment cracked me up Linda. Fresh chicken is better in these sandwiches anyway 🙂 But yeah, no elephant ears?? Come on!!
Joe mehling says
Root’s was my favorite, with crushed Ritz crackers. I really liked the spice mixture whatever it is.
foodtasticmom says
I’ve not tried the Roots version.