Slow Cooker Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches (Shredded)


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Give these Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches in the slow cooker a try. Ultra-tender chicken breasts are cooked with Tabasco, brown sugar, and seasonings. The sandwiches are topped with cool ranch dressing and pickles.

Other fun summer recipes we love are slow cooker steak bites and slow cooker chicken, potatoes, and green beans.

one of the slow cooker nashville hot chicken sandwiches on a bun with the top off.
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Nashville hot chicken sandwiches often consist of fried spicy chicken breasts. Cooking the chicken breasts in the slow cooker instead of frying them makes this sandwich recipe much healthier.

After doing this blog for so many years, I’m so happy that I can still find new, exciting recipes for you to cook along with me. If this sandwich recipe is too spicy for you, try my Ohio chicken sandwich recipe instead.

Ingredients Needed

ingredients for slow cooker nashville hot chicken sandwiches on a table.
  • Chicken – Boneless skinless chicken breasts are best for the perfect-sized shred of chicken.
  • Hot Sauce– We use Tabasco, not the most common hot sauce used in chicken sandwich recipes, though along with my other perfectly crafted ingredients, Tabasco is the star of the show.
  • Brown Sugar – This sweetness in the recipe is necessary to reduce the harsh vinegar flavor of the hot sauce.
  • Seasonings – Onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper are all you need to spice these crockpot Nashville chicken sandwiches.
  • {The full recipe is in the recipe card below the images}

Variations

Other hot sauces that work well in this recipe are Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, Cholula, or Tapatio. I do not recommend Sriracha or Crystal hot sauce.

Boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used, but use caution when shredding, for they can shred too much and make for a soggy sandwich.

A whole diced white onion can be added to the pot for more flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

four images showing how to make slow cooker nashville hot chicken sandwiches.

Step One– To the slow cooker, add the chicken, tabasco hot sauce, seasoning, and brown sugar.

Step Two– Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7 hours.

Step Three– Shred the chicken with two forks, right in the slow cooker.

Step Four– Serve how desired and enjoy!

overhead of meat for slow cooker nashville hot chicken sandwiches.

How to Serve

  • Pile the shredded Nashville hot chicken onto toasted hamburger buns (or Hawaiian rolls). Top with ranch dressing and pickle chips.
  • Side dishes that are wonderful are crinkle-cut fries or barbecue potato chips. Also, macaroni salad or potato salad are great choices. If you have another slow cooker, make my crockpot mac and cheese.
  • Other fun ideas are to serve on biscuits and topped with coleslaw.
slow cooker nashville hot chicken sandwiches on buns with tops off.

Recipe FAQs

Are these sandwiches spicy?

Yes, they are very spicy. If you can find MILD buffalo wing sauce, that would cut down on the heat substantially.

How to store:

Store the leftover hot shredded chicken in an airtight container for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months. To reheat, for best results, put the leftover chicken in a small saucepan and reheat on the stovetop.

close-up of one of the slow cooker nashville hot chicken sandwiches.

More slow cooker sandwiches:

slow cooker nashville hot chicken sandwiches on buns with tops off.

Slow Cooker Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours
Total Time: 7 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 8
You can make shredded Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches in the slow cooker! These are spicy but have a hint of sweetness. Great topped with ranch dressing and pickles.

Ingredients 
 

  • 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 4 Tbsp. Tabasco hot sauce

For Servings

  • hamburger buns
  • ranch dressing
  • pickles slices
  • diced onion, optional

Instructions 

  • Add the chicken, brown sugar, seasonings and tabasco to the slow cooker.
  • Cook on low for 7 hours.
  • Shred the chicken with 2 forks right in the slow cooker.
  • Serve the shredded chicken and sauce on toasted buns with desired toppings.

Sarah’s Notes

  • No other liquid is needed for this recipe, the chicken will create juices and blend in with the tabasco and seasonings.
  • These are very spicy, if you can’t handle heat, you could use MILD buffalo wing sauce, that would cut down on the heat substantially.
  • Other serving ideas are to use biscuits or Hawaiian rolls. Coleslaw is also a great topping.
  • Nutritional values do not include buns or toppings.
Variations
  • Other hot sauces that work well in this recipe are Frank’s Hot Sauce, Cholula, or Tapatio. I do not recommend Sriracha or Crystal hot sauce.
  • Boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used, but use caution when shredding, for they can shred too much and make for a soggy sandwich.
  • A whole diced white onion can be added to the pot for more flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 600mg | Potassium: 448mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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2 Comments

  1. Linda Thien says:

    When you say you can sub mild buffalo wing sauce; do you still add the other ingredients. and just
    leave out the Tabasco sauce?
    The recipe sounds healthy and delicious!

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes! That will work great!