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.
There are so many things I love about today’s recipe.
- It’s made in the slow cooker
- It only uses a handful of simple ingredients
- It has easy gluten free and paleo options
- 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!
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!
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!
Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches
written by Ashley Fehr
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
*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
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Tally erp 9 says
Love this!! Can’t wait to try it!
Carol M says
I like to make a baked salmon with rice. Very easy and can mostly be prepared ahead of time.
In the summer I do a planked salmon. One tip is to make sure you soak your plank ahead of time. While entertaining, you don’t want a bonfire in your BBQ.
Maria Sarmento says
Around here fresh fruit ans something crispy like tortilla chips is a must!
Linda says
Best tip – prepare all the food beforehand so that you are free to clean the day of the party.
Steph says
Never run out of margarita mix!
Laura M says
I love making salsa with fire roasted tomatoes. I use the slow cooker for pulled pork sandwiches served outside. I usually plug it in outside or in the garage or Florida room, summer or winter so I’m not sick of the smell by the time to eat.
Heather says
Best tip … Have the dishwasher empty before the party starts. I always have extra plates and utensils because I always seem to run out. And of course, try to prep as much as you can ahead of time so you can enjoy your guests !
Bailey Dexter says
When I’m feeding a crowd I always make sure there are a lot of salads, meat trays and veggie trays so if anyone gets hungry while the meat is still grilling they can just help themselves. It always works for us here and everyone is always happy, full and content!
Jenny says
prepare as much food beforehand so you can sit and visit with your guests, instead of being stuck in the kitchen
diana says
have lots of ice
Krista M says
Hang decorative bug lanterns around the perimeter of the party area because as soon as the food & sugary drinks are served, it’s an open invitation for the wasps & pests which are unwanted guests!
Ashley Fehr says
Oh that’s a good one! Adding this to my list to try!
Christine says
Freeze fruit juice for any fruity drinks – makes great ice cubes that don’t water down your drinks.
jan says
My summer entertaining tip is to be prepared to host indoors or out depending on the weather. I once had everything planned for outside and the weather was so bad, but I wasn’t prepared for it to be inside!
Ashley Fehr says
That is a great tip!
Rachel Enns says
Go pot luck style. That way your guests can bring some food so you don’t have to do it all!
Ashley Fehr says
YES — so much less stress!
joanne darrell says
My tip is to have a potluck so you are not doing all the work yourself.
Ashley Fehr says
That’s definitely helpful!
ginette4 says
My best tip is to start making ice weeks ahead
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, we need to do that too! We rarely buy ice so it’s often refilling the ice cube trays a hundred times!
Jo Vanderwolf says
We fill small, inflatable kiddie pools with ice and place them on the table. They are perfect for keeping salads and other dishes cool in the heat, as well as drinks!
Ashley Fehr says
That is brilliant! I love that idea!
REBECCA says
LEMONADE & BBQ!
Ashley Fehr says
Yum!
Laura says
My entertaining tip is to prep what you can ahead of time – wash your greens and have them in the spinner in the fridge, dressing made, make ahead dishes when you can (quinoa salad, bean salad), keep the menu simple, and fruit with ice cream or frozen yogurt or a simple cake you have made ahead for dessert.
Ashley Fehr says
I love that about summer entertaining — so much can be made ahead!
Leah says
We rarely entertain with 1 and 4 year old boys, but when we do I always ensure we have lots of no cook appetizers and fresh veggies because kids are unpredictable. If dinner is delayed by a by the kids, at least no one is starving! We’re pretty low key.
Happy to see there are fire roasted tomatoes to buy now though. I LOVE my slow cooker and so many recipes call for fire roasted tomatoes which I’ve never been able to find.
Ashley Fehr says
That is so funny — we have 1 and 4 year old girls! Lol. We don’t entertain a lot either but in the summer it can be nice if everyone can be outside! We always keep things low stress too 🙂 And I am super excited about the fire roasted tomatoes coming here too!