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Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches Recipe

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4 from 41 reviews

Delicious and easy Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches made with tender shredded chicken cooked in a flavorful Italian tomato sauce, topped with melted provolone cheese and served on crispy garlic bread. Perfect for a hearty and comforting meal with minimal effort.

  • Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 sandwiches

Ingredients

Chicken and Sauce

  • 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup good Italian dressing (e.g. Newman’s Own)
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 (15 oz) can petite cut diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

Assembly

  • 4 slices Provolone cheese
  • 8 slices frozen garlic bread

Instructions

  1. Prepare Chicken in Slow Cooker: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Pour the drained diced tomatoes evenly over the chicken pieces.
  2. Make Sauce and Pour: In a small bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes until well combined. Pour this mixture evenly over the chicken and tomatoes in the slow cooker.
  3. Cook Chicken: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on LOW for 6 hours until the chicken is fully cooked and tender enough to shred easily.
  4. Shred and Keep Warm: After cooking, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker. Stir to mix the shredded chicken with the sauce. Set the slow cooker to WARM to keep the chicken hot while preparing the garlic bread.
  5. Bake Garlic Bread and Melt Cheese: Bake the frozen garlic bread according to package instructions. About one minute before the bread is done, place one slice of Provolone cheese on each of four slices to allow the cheese to melt perfectly.
  6. Assemble Sandwiches: Stir the fresh chopped basil into the shredded Italian chicken. Pile the chicken mixture onto each cheesy garlic bread slice. Top each with a remaining slice of garlic bread to complete the sandwich.
  7. Serve: Serve the sandwiches hot and enjoy a comforting, flavorful meal perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.

Notes

  • Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for easy shredding and lean protein.
  • Draining the diced tomatoes prevents excess liquid from thinning the sauce too much during slow cooking.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes to taste for more or less heat.
  • Fresh basil added at the end brings bright herbaceous flavor and freshness to the dish.
  • If preferred, you can substitute frozen garlic bread with fresh sub rolls toasted with garlic butter.
  • Leftover shredded chicken can be used in salads, pasta, or wraps for another meal.
  • Author: Adeline
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 hours
  • Category: Sandwiches
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: Italian

Find it online: https://flavorhug.com/slow-cooker-italian-chicken-sandwiches-recipe/