Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Servings 8

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A SUPER simple, flavorful meal with just a few ingredients! These Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches are perfect for summer picnics, busy weeknights, or serve the chicken and sauce over pasta for a hearty meal! Gluten free and paleo options.

chicken breasts in slow cooker with fire roasted crushed tomatoes

There are so many things I love about today’s recipe.

  1. It’s made in the slow cooker
  2. It only uses a handful of simple ingredients
  3. It has easy gluten free and paleo options
  4. It’s perfect for everything from summer picnics to winter pastas to busy weeknights any time of the year. Put it in a wrap, sandwich, serve with roasted veggies, with salad, on salad, in a taco, with rice…. the options are endless!
shredded italian tomato chicken breasts on a plate with Muir Glen tomato cans behind

In this recipe I used Muir Glen Organic Fire-Roasted Crushed Tomatoes (new to Canada!), chicken breasts, and a bit of pesto and salt to punch up the flavor — you really need nothing else! The flavor of these tomatoes is so intense and incredible. Muir Glen uses only the best, vine-ripened tomatoes and you can tell as soon as you crack the can. The smell is intoxicating!

slow cooker italian chicken sandwich on white sesame bun with shredded cheese and fresh basil

I wanted to show them off in a recipe that didn’t require a lot of ingredients, so that the fire-roasted flavor wasn’t lost under a bunch of other things.

Also, with a toddler and a preschooler I just don’t have a lot of time or patience for recipes with 27 ingredients and 8 pots. Do you?

*This post is generously sponsored by Muir Glen. I’ve been compensated for my time in developing this recipe but all opinions are, as always, my own!

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Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches

4.63 from 8 votes
A SUPER simple, flavorful meal with just a few ingredients! These Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches are perfect for summer picnics, busy weeknights, or serve the chicken and sauce over pasta for a hearty meal! Gluten free and paleo options.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Cuisine American
Course Main Course
Servings 8
Calories 112cal

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 28 oz can crushed Fire Roasted Tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon basil pesto
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • fresh basil leaves and buns to serve as desired

Instructions

  • Place chicken breasts in a 4-6 quart slow cooker. Add tomatoes, pesto and salt and stir until chicken is coated.
  • Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Shred chicken and serve on a bun with shredded cheese and fresh basil if desired.
  • This chicken is also great in wraps, on salads, over pasta, rice or potatoes — the options are endless!

Notes

*I cooked 3 chicken breasts in one 28oz can, and there was lots of sauce for serving over pasta or rice. You can easily cook up to 5 chicken breasts in one sauce recipe, but you won’t have as much leftover for serving, so it’s perfect for sandwiches.
*If you’re looking for a longer cooking time (say you work away from home all day), use frozen chicken breasts and cook for 6-8 hours on low.
*This recipe is gluten free, but be sure that you use gluten free rolls or serve or rice or potatoes instead.
*If seeking a paleo option, omit the pesto and add fresh basil and/or oregano to taste at the end of the cooking time. Leave off the shredded cheese and serve with roasted vegetables.
*Nutrition information is estimated and will vary depending on exact serving size, types and brands of products used.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 112cal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 2g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g

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Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

  1. Heather B says

    Unfortunately, this wasnโ€™t a winner for me. It turned out exactly like it was prepared; like I dumped a can of tomatoes, a tablespoon of pesto and some salt on 4 chicken breasts in a crockpot and set it for 6 hours on low. Didnโ€™t morph into anything more than that for me. โ˜น๏ธ

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe, Heather. The timing, ingredients, and flavor has worked well for myself (and others) so I wished it would of been a hit for you too!

  2. Colleen O'Connor says

    I made this wonderful chicken sandwich on a Friday night. I put everything into the crockpot went to my son’s high school football game. When I got back from the game cold and tired all I had to do was shred the chicken and eat. That was a lifesaver. Later on when my son got back with is friends they loved it. One teenager wanted to pay me to come to his house to make the chicken and even said it was better than “Popeye’s” chicken sandwich. (very high praise) LOL I will make this again and again.

    I did change one thing: We are not very fond of pesto in my family so I substituted garlic paste. Thank you for a wonderful sandwich that the whole team enjoyed.

    • Ashley Fehr says

      I’m so glad to hear that Colleen! I love my slow cooker in the fall and winter, too — it makes dinner time so much less stressful, especially when you’re out and about!

  3. chickie brewer says

    You have to be super organized.. You also have to Get your baby sitter to take your kids far away so your sweet kiddo’s won’t embarrass you! ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Karly says

    If being in love with a sandwich is wrong, I don’t wanna be right. I don’t see how any summer BBQ could go wrong if this recipe is involved! Love it!!

  5. Brenda Witherspoon-Bedard says

    I really try to make as much food before hand as I can – that way I less stressed on the actual day ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. SUMMER PLEWES says

    I love freezing fruit and using it as ice cubes in my drinks. I think it is awesome and works so well!

4.63 from 8 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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