Hands down Italian Chicken Sandwiches are a favorite quick and easy dinner recipe. Topped with melted provolone cheese and sautéed onions and mushrooms on top you will sink your teeth into these hoagie buns sandwiches and love it.
As a busy mom I quickly found that precooking chicken to shred either in the Instant Pot or Crock Pot / Slow Cooker was ideal for quickly throwing dinner together later. I strongly suggest you do the same and pre-cook chicken and package in a sealed container or ZipLoc bag to use for dinner later or even freeze. You will thank yourself, I promise.
Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches have always been a favorite growing up, so I took the recipe I grew up enjoying and elevating it with sauteed vegetables, a toasty bun, and adding mozzarella cheese
Ingredients
Chicken Breast: Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Seasonings: Garlic Cloves, Salt, Black Pepper, Italian Seasoning, Italian Dressing
Vegetables: Mushrooms, Onions, (Optional) Red Bell Pepper, Banana Peppers,
Bread: Hoagie Roll, Hamburger Buns
Cheese: Parmesan Cheese, Provolone Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese, or Pepper Jack Cheese
Additional: Butter
How to make Italian Chicken Sandwiches
There are a variety of ways to cook and prepare shredded chicken. Cooking chicken in the Crock Pot or Slow Cooker is super simple but will take 6-8 hours on low. You can also use the Instant Pot to pressure cook chicken which can easily be shredded. Both work great and it just comes down to personal preference and time.
Using a skillet or a cast iron pan sauté sliced vegetables with a little bit of butter over medium heat until onions are tender. Adding Bell Peppers is a fun addition to this recipe. When the cooking process is done place in a bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl combine shredded chicken with Italian Dressing and combine. Adding more or less dressing to taste.
The rest is super simple, toast hoagie buns or hamburger buns in the oven under the broiler to toast the bread a light golden brown. Top each bun with seasoned shredded chicken and top with sauteed veggies. You can also add Banana Peppers if you like too! Then add a slice of your favorite cheese and pop back into the oven under broil to melt the cheese.
That's it. When the cheese is melted pull your Hot Italian Chicken Sandwich out of the oven and prepare your tastebuds. It's going to be delicious!
What to Serve with Italian Chicken Sandwiches
Some of my favorite recipes pair so nicely with this easy dinner recipe. For starters what about a simple bag of Lays Potato Chips!
However, it's always a welcomed idea to pair with a homemade Potato Salad, or Deli Mac Salad. You can also serve with one of my favorite Orange Fluff recipe too. You can't go wrong!
Variations, Substitutions or Additions
Sometimes variations seem obvious, but I still love to list ideas out to help you made the perfect sandwich for you and your family.
Instead of pre-cooking chicken to shred, try grilled chicken breast or chicken cutlets. You can even use chicken thighs which will give you more moisture and dark meat.
Adding additional seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder or even some fresh basil will add a depth of flavor. Feel free to add some red pepper flakes when seasoning the chicken for a little extra kick.
The beauty of this recipe is how truly simple it is. Allowing everyone to make their own sandwiches is also an added bonus and a great way to ensure everyone is happy.
Feel free to dip chicken sandwich into additional Italian Dressing or even marinara sauce.
Italian Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Shredded Chicken
- 1 bottle Italian Dressing
Sauteed Vegitables
- 1 Sweet Onion - Sliced
- 1 pkg Mushrooms - Sliced
- 3 tablespoon Butter
Rolls
- 1 pkg Rolls - Hard rolls or hamburger buns
- ¼ cup Butter
- 8 slices Cheese - Swiss, Provolone, Jack
Instructions
CrockPot Shredded Chicken
- Place 3-4 chicken breasts in crock pot. Salt and pepper to taste, add 1 cup chicken broth, 1 garlic clove crushed and allow to cook on low for 6-8 hours. Remove chicken and shred, then follow the above directions.
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
- Add 3-4 chicken breasts to your Instant Pot. Add one cup water or broth to the bottom. Salt and Pepper chicken breasts. Add 1-2 teaspoon garlic. Cook on Manual for 18-22 minutes. Allow to natural release for 15 minutes and quick release the remaining. Remove chicken and shred. Then follow the above directions.
Italian Chicken Sandwiches
- Take 3 cups of shredded chicken and pour ½-3/4 cup of Italian Dressing on top and toss to coat chicken. Set aside.
Sauteed Vegitables
- In a large skillet and over medium heat, place sliced mushrooms and onions in 3 tablespoons of butter. Sauté until onions are transparent. Set aside
Rolls
- On a large cookie sheet, lightly butter rolls and place in oven under broiler to toast bread.
- Allow rolls to toast, about 2 minutes. Watch closely as they will brown quickly.
- Remove from oven and place ½ cup Italian chicken on roll and top with sautéed mushrooms and onions. Place cheese on top and place back into the oven under broiler to melt cheese.
- Cook in oven under broil for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and enjoy!
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
Trelva Schuck
Another winner. A very flavorful sandwich. I the extra tips you add to your recipes,such as putting butter on the rolls and broiling them.