Slow Cooker Shredded Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich has tender shredded slow-cooked chicken breast combined with the spicy Nashville Hot Chicken Sauce
Imagine if a Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich and a Slow Cooker Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwich had a baby; this recipe would be the result!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Nashville Chicken
- Spicy – This sandwich has the classic Nashville Hot Sauce that is normally on fried chicken breast sandwiches at Nashville restaurants.
- Easy Slow Cooker Recipe – Instead of pouring the sauce on fried chicken, we pour it on shredded chicken breasts that have been slow-cooked to bring out the flavor.
- Delicious – With the slow-cooked chicken and the Nashville Hot Sauce, these sandwiches are so delicious they will knock your socks off.
- Flavor Combo – This Nashville Chicken Sandwich has the perfect combination of flavors – spicy, sweet, and savory, for a delicious chicken sandwich!
What You’ll Need
Equipment
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Ingredient Notes
Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don’t have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.
Nashville Hot Chicken
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – you could also use chicken thighs or a mixture of white meat, and dark meat.
- Brown Sugar – I used light brown sugar. However, you could use dark brown sugar if you prefer, but it can affect the color of the dish.
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Cayenne Pepper – This brings the heat!
- Salt – To taste. If you are on a salt-restricted diet, you could leave It out.
- Butter – Use real butter. It truly makes a difference in taste.
Nashville Hot Chicken Sauce
- Butter – Use real butter.
- Brown Sugar – I used light brown sugar.
- Cayenne – This adds the spicy heat.
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Salt – To taste. If you are on a salt-restricted diet, you could leave It out.
How To Make Nashville Hot Chicken
How To MAKE THE CHICKEN
STEP 1 – Spray the body of a 6 or 8-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
STEP 2 – Add the chicken breasts to the bottom of the slow cooker.
STEP 3 – Sprinkle the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and salt all over the chicken.
STEP 4 – Add the slices of butter on top.
STEP 5 – Cook for 5-6 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.
STEP 6 – Shred the chicken with two forks in the slow cooker and mix with the juices. Keep warm while you make the sauce.
How To MAKE THE NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN SAUCE
STEP 1 – Add the butter, brown sugar, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt in a small saucepan.
STEP 2 – Place over medium heat and stir constantly so it doesn’t burn until it comes to a simmer. Take off the heat.
STEP 3 – Add the chicken on top of the bread of your choice and drizzle the Nashville Hot Sauce on top; serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
- Warm Sauce – Once the sauce starts to cool, it will separate, so you must keep it warm if you aren’t using it all at once. Just place it back on the stove and whisk until it comes back together.
- On The Side – I love to have that Nashville hot sauce on the side, so you can add as much or as little of the spicy sauce as you’d like.
- Oh The Sauce! – The shredded chicken itself is nicely flavored with a hint of heat, but the sauce is really the star.
What To Make With Shredded Hot Nashville Chicken
- Sandwiches / Sliders – Be ready for the big game with Nashville chicken sliders or sandwiches.
- Salads – Top your favorite salad greens with Hot Nashville Chicken.
- Tacos / Burritos – Hot Nashville Chicken makes a great filling for tacos and burritos.
- Dip – Stir it in some sour cream or cream cheese for a delicious dip.
- Pasta – Add it to hot cooked pasta for a tasty combination.
- Stuffed Shells – Stuff the shells with Hot Nashville Chicken for a wonderful flavor and texture combination.
What To Serve With Hot Nashville Chicken
- Serve with pickle chips and white onion slices for a full Nashville hot experience.
- Salad – Like our Fresh Chopped Vegetable salad!
- Ramen Noodle Salad
- Sweet Potato Fries / Sweet Potato Chips
- Potato Chips
- Tortilla Chips
- French Fries
- Slaw – like my Cajun Honey Jalapeño Slaw
FAQs
It’s as hot as you make it. Since it is a homemade sauce recipe, you can control how spicy it is. You can add a lot or a little cayenne to control the heat.
Add water to a skillet over medium heat and bring the water to a simmer. Once simmering, add the shredded chicken. Lower the heat and gently stir the chicken.
Add the chicken in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator.
Shredded chicken can last 3 – 5 days if stored in an airtight container.
Place the chicken in a freezer-safe, airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
More Slow-Cooker Recipes
More Shredded Chicken Recipes
- Slow Cooker Adobo Shredded Chicken Tacos
- Mexican Chicken Enchiladas Rancheras
- Creamed Chicken and Biscuits Casserole
If you love this Slow Cooker Shredded Nashville Hot Chicken, be sure to leave a nice written review and 5-star rating!
Recipe
Slow Cooker Shredded Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches
Equipment
Ingredients
For The Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter thinly sliced
Nashville Hot Chicken Sauce
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- 1 & ½ teaspoons cayenne pepper
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Spray the body of a 6 or 8-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Add the chicken breasts to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and salt all over the chicken.
- Add the slices of butter on top.
- Cook for 5-6 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.
- Shred the chicken with two forks in the slow cooker and mix with the juices. Keep warm while you make the sauce.
- In a small saucepot, add the butter, brown sugar, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
- Place over medium heat and stir constantly so it doesn’t burn, until it comes to a simmer. Take off the heat.
- Add the chicken on top of bread of your choice and drizzle the sauce on top, serve immediately.
Beth says
can I just add all of the sauce to the chicken and keep warm in the crock pot?
Michele says
Hi Beth,
Yes, after you shred the chicken in the slow cooker, you can add the sauce and keep it warm.
Thanks,
Michele