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Jill McOwen
May 19, 2026

Italian Crockpot Chicken Sandwiches

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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!

plated italian crockpot chicken sandwich

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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.

italian chicken cooked in the crockpot and ready to serve, garnished with fresh basil

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 –

open faced crockpot chicken sandwich on a blue plate and garnished with fresh basil

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
These Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches have a fresh tomato flavor even when tomatoes aren't in season. Slow cooked Italian-flavored chicken is piled high on toasty garlic bread with melted Provolone cheese and fresh chopped basil.
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5 from 17 votes

Italian Crockpot Chicken Sandwiches

Italian crockpot chicken sandwiches are an easy dinner with big flavor. Delicious chicken piled high on toasty garlic bread.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Keyword crockpot chicken sandwiches, italian crockpot chicken sandwiches, slow cooker italian chicken sandwiches
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 473kcal
Author Jill McOwen

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
Start Cooking

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

Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 1244mg | Potassium: 833mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 468IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 217mg | Iron: 3mg

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Italian crockpot chicken sandwiches are an easy dinner with big flavor. Delicious chicken piled high on toasty garlic bread.

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Comments

  2. Beth says

    5 stars
    This sandwich looks and sounds so delicious! I love slow cooked chicken! It will be great on this sandwich!

    Reply

  3. traci says

    5 stars
    This looks super delish and I can’t wait to try it out! Just pinned…and I know it’s gonna be a hit. Thanks for the recipe inspiration!

    Reply

  5. Dana says

    5 stars
    This looks and sounds SO good. You see so many recipe like this that are BBQ-centric, and that’s cool and all, but I’m love the Italian flare here.

    Reply

  7. Camila says

    5 stars
    Love that you use garlic bread here!! Absolutely delicious!! My family would go crazy if I made this with my delicious garlic toasts made with my sourdough bread!

    Reply

  8. Veena Azmanov says

    5 stars
    I can not wait to try this Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches. It looks very tasty! I love slow cooked chicken! One of the BEST sandwich that I have seen so far. Thank you for sharing this great recipe! YUM!

    Reply

  11. Janet says

    5 stars
    Made this today for dinner and OMG!!!! Delicious!!! I mean like absolutely amazing!! The flavors were so great together and the garlic bread just added the icing to the cake!!!

    Reply

  17. Colleen says

    5 stars
    Made for dinner. Added more salt and garlic (my family’s preference). Was a hit! Made my life easier love the crockpot. Made a side of Alfredo and my husband put his chicken over the alfredo and had garlic bread on side!!! it was delicious

    Reply

    • foodtasticmom says

      I haven’t tried that. I think maybe it could be… like an Italian chicken salad? If you try it, please let me know what you think! Everyone’s tastes are different. So if you think it sounds good, go for it!

      Reply

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