This easy crockpot recipe is perfect for sandwiches or spooning over rice. It's great for busy weeknights!
Table of Contents
โค๏ธ Why you'll love it
- Easy meal for busy soccer practice weeknights
- Feeds the entire family with just minutes of prep time.
- Fussy eater friendly
Crock pot shredded chicken sandwiches taste so comforting after a long day at work or school.
When you don't feel like cooking this is the recipe for you! You just need five simple ingredients for this creamy chicken sandwich. Doesn't quite hit the spot?
Try these 3-ingredient root beer chicken sandwiches!
๐งพ Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
๐ Variations
- Instead of chicken breasts, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Dark meat is extra juicy..
- If you're out of cream cheese, you can swap it for a cream of chicken soup. Cream of mushroom is good, too, and adds a different flavor.
- If you don't have chicken stock, just use water and a bouillon cube, or just plain water (or skim milk) if you're really in a pinch.
- Sometimes, we'll add a little extra cheese depending on what I'm serving with the main dish. Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack pair super well with the chiles.
- Stir in some diced peppers or onions.
- Don't forget the garnish! Green onions, chives, and parsley pair really well with the flavors in the ranch dressing mix.
๐ช Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Place chicken in a
slow cooker that's been sprayed with no-stick cooking spray. - Add the cubed block of cream cheese and chiles.
- Top with the ranch seasoning mix and chicken broth.
- Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. Shred, stir, and serve.
๐ฅซ Storage
The creamy shredded chicken stores super well and is a great way to meal prep for busy days.
Once the leftover chicken sandwich filling cools, spoon it into an airtight container. It'll last in the refrigerator for up to four days.
To reheat the easy meal, spoon some chicken into a microwave-safe dish. Heat it in 30-second increments in the microwave until warm.
I don't recommend freezing this since creamy sauces often get a weird, grainy texture in the freezer.
๐ญ Things to know
Expert Tip: Use crock pot liners if you don't want to deal with any cleanup! I don't use them all the time, but it's a major help on busy weeknights.
- Ranch mix is often found near the dressing section. If you can't find it look for small packets in gravy and seasonings section. You need to use a ranch packet, not a bottle of ranch in this recipe.
- Use thick boneless skinless breasts. They don't dry out as quickly, so I know I'll have super tender chicken without worrying about the cook times.
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the
slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to theslow cooker and mix it with the creamy sauce. - Low heat works best but if you're in a hurry cook the chicken on high heat for 3-4 hours, until it becomes tender and easy to shred.
- If the sauce seems too thick add some chicken broth or a splash of water to thin it out.
- Serve the creamy shredded chicken on soft sandwich rolls or buns. Hawaiian rolls are especially yummy.
๐ฉโ๐ณ FAQs
There are a variety of opinions on this. I usually thaw them first.
"According to a representative from Crock-Pot the best practice is to plan on cooking the frozen chicken breasts for extra time in the
It should read 165F. The quote is from Today.com
I don't recommend it.
Not really! They'll add a bit of flavor, but the cream cheese helps to balance out and cool down any spiciness. The chiles are a Tex-Mex touch that makes this wonderful recipe extra scrumptious!
๐ Related recipes
I love easy crockpot recipes, don't you?
- Chicken Bacon and Ranch Pastaโthe title describes the easy recipe perfectly, in all its creamy, tender, flavorful goodness.
- Meat, potatoes, veggies, and sauce all cook together so you can feed the whole family in minutes with Crockpot Ranch Chicken with Potatoes.
- Super versatile for storage, making ahead, and freezing, King Ranch Chicken Casserole is a Southern family staple that everyone loves!
๐ฝ๏ธ Serve with...
These sandwiches are delicious with just a handful of potato chips or french fries for an easy lunch.
Dinner is generally a larger meal. Include Green Beans and Potatoes, Southern Cornbread Salad, and a No-Bake Banana Pudding Pie.
Sometimes, we'll spoon the creamy shredded Ranch chicken over a mound of rice and serve it with lots of veggiesโit pairs well with anything! Stir in some pasta if you like. Just add a little extra chicken broth or a splash of milk until the sauce mixture loosens up to coat the noodles, too.
It's similar to the ever popular angel chicken.
๐ The last word
The first time I made this chicken sandwich recipe I was not super impressed by the look of it but once I piled it on a sandwich roll I was totally hooked. Now it's one of my favorite sandwiches.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
๐ Recipe
Crockpot Creamy Ranch Shredded Chicken Sandwiches
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts, or thighs; boneless skinless
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 4 ounces chiles, undrained
- ยผ cup chicken stock
- 1 ounce Ranch seasoning
Instructions
- Cube cream cheese.
- Spray slow cooker with no-stick cooking spray.
- Add chicken breasts.
- Top with cream cheese ahd chiles.
- Add Ranch seasoning and chicken stock.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Serve in sandwich buns, over rice, or over mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Use crockpot liners for easy clean up.
- Ranch mix is often found near the dressing section. If you can't find it look for small packets in gravy and seasonings section. You need to use a ranch packet, not a bottle of ranch in this recipe.
- Use thick boneless skinless breasts. They don't dry out as quickly, so I know I'll have super tender chicken without worrying about the cook times.
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and mix it with the creamy sauce.
- Low heat works best but if you're in a hurry cook the chicken on high heat for 3-4 hours, until it becomes tender and easy to shred.
- If the sauce seems too thick add some chicken broth or a splash of water to thin it out.
- Serve the creamy shredded chicken on soft sandwich rolls or buns. Hawaiian rolls are especially yummy.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
First published January 20, 2023. Last updated June 8, 2023 for editorial improvements.
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