One recipe I always make in my slow cooker is this slow cooker chicken Italian sandwiches recipe. It is a super budget-friendly dinner that you can throw together in no time.
There are no weird ingredients needed, so if you’re not sure what to make for dinner, you probably have everything in your pantry to make this crockpot chicken recipe. Just get out the ingredients and get to work!
This is also a great recipe for leftovers so you can bring what’s left to work the next day or enjoy it as dinner the next evening. I tend to think it might even be better the next day after all the flavors set in more too!
Since the slow cooker is doing a lot of the work, why not prepare either our Instant Pot Green beans, cheesy ranch potatoes, or air fryer sweet potatoes! They are all delicious and would go great with this slow cooker chicken recipe.
Ingredients You’ll Need For Our Slow Cooker Chicken Italian Sandwiches Recipe:
- Boneless skinless chicken breast
- Can if petite diced tomatoes
- Italian dressing
- Tomato paste
- Sugar
- Salt
- Red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil
- Hamburger buns
Equipment Needed
For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:



How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Italian Sandwiches:
- Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Dump the canned tomatoes on top.
- In a small bowl. mix together Italian dressing, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes.
- Pour mixture on top of chicken.
- Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Shred chicken with two forks and stir in fresh basil.
- Serve chicken on buns and enjoy.

Make this into a Freezer Meal:
In a gallon-sized freezer meal bag, add chicken breasts, canned tomatoes, Italian dressing, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes. Mix together and place in the freezer for up to 60 days.
When ready to use, dump frozen ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours (depending on your slow cooker, it could possibly be done in 5 hours – just start checking at 5 hours so that you don’t overcook your chicken).
Follow the rest of the instructions as written.
Enjoy Fresh Hamburger Buns With This Chicken Recipe
If you have them, marking your own hamburger buns for this recipe will compliment them perfectly. There is nothing like some fresh buns to make for a great meal.
You can make Taste of Home’s 40 minutes hamburger buns recipe, and have fresh rolls in no time!
But if you don’t have time to make your own buns, store-bought works just wonderful too!
Enjoy More Delicious Sandwich Recipes
From sandwiches to burgers, to wraps, hand-held meals are great for lunch, picnics, and family dinners. Check out our comprehensive collection of sandwiches, burgers, and wraps here.

Slow Cooker Chicken Italian Sandwiches Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 15 ounces diced tomatoes, drained
- ½ cup Italian dressing
- 2 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- 6 Hamburger Buns
Instructions
- Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Dump the canned tomatoes on top.
- In a small bowl. mix together Italian dressing, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes.
- Pour mixture on top of chicken.
- Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Shred chicken with two forks and stir in fresh basil.
- Serve chicken on buns and enjoy.




















I made this recipe tonight in my ninja foodie and it was delicious! I will definitely be making this again. I topped it with a rosemary basil assagio cheese and it really made it Italian!
This made a great freezer meal for family member going tgrough chemo. Made small portions and she cooked off when convenient. Have enjoyed as a weekend lunch too on lightly grilled buns and topped with provolone cheese as suggested.
I’m thinking I would want to freeze it after it’s cooked and shredded for a quick weeknight meal! Sounds delicious!