Shredded Chicken Sandwiches

Meaty shredded chicken seasoned with a box of stuffing mix and creamy soup makes the best Shredded Chicken Sandwich recipe.

If you like this recipe you may also enjoy our Chicken and Noodles for A Crowd or Shredded Beef in a Roaster recipe.

Shredded Chicken Sandwich Recipe

Growing up in Ohio it seems like shredded chicken sandwiches have always been served in concession stands, at fundraisers and big family meals. That may be why this recipe is also called Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches.

Only a few minutes to prep and they hold for hours in a warm slow cooker this is the perfect recipe to feed a crowd. A full crock pot can hold enough chicken for about 50 sandwiches.

Canned chicken is already cooked and deboned so it’s stress free to use.  Drain the chicken and fluff it up with a fork to help separate larger pieces of meat.

Whether it’s the creamy flavors in these warm creamed chicken sandwiches or the rich flavors in our Buffalo Chicken Dip precooked and canned chicken saves so much time!

When cooking know that fat equals flavor. Dark meat has more fat and this more natural flavor. We prefer white breast meat in this recipe because we’re adding herbs and seasoning with the Stove Top Stuffing mix. The blend of white and dark poultry can be adjusted to suite your personal preference!

Step By Step Instructions

Open cans of chicken and pour into a strainer to drain the juices. I find that leaving the lid on and pushing on the chicken doesn’t separate as much juice as using a colander.

Place meat in a lined or greased 6 to 7 quart slow cooker.

Use a fork or two to fluff the meat and separate larger chunks into smaller pieces.

Pour cans of cream of chicken and cream of celery over the chicken. Stir very well.

Add chicken broth. Sprinkle stuffing mix on top and stir well.

Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.

Stir every 45 minutes to hour and add chicken broth as needed to keep mixture moist.

We prefer to cook on low to allow more time for the flavors to blend and to decrease the chance of the edges burning.

Best Type of Buns

After testing a variety of bread, Sesame Seed buns and Honey Buns were voted best to complement these creamed chicken sandwiches.

The cheapest store brand buns can tend to be a bit more dried out and are less likely to complement the chicken.

How Much Shredded Chicken for 50 Sandwiches?

4 1/2 to 5 pounds of chicken mixed with cream of chicken soup, stuffing mix and some broth should yield 40 – 50 sandwiches with 1/3 cup of meat each.

This recipe takes 75 ounces of canned chicken and makes about 13 cups of shredded chicken mix.

When choosing buns be sure to take into account the size of the bun as this will have a big impact on how many sandwiches can be made.

Slider rolls will make 3 to 4 times as many sandwiches as a premium large sized bun.

If serving a crowd at a party or over a couple hour time frame be sure to have extra chicken broth available to keep the mixture moist.

Ingredients Needed:

• Canned Chicken – we prefer white breast meat. You can choose a combination of cans of white and dark meat. Canned turkey can easily be substituted.
• Cream of Chicken Soup – adds a warm creaminess with a complimentary chicken flavor. I do find that Campbells soup is a bit smoother and purer than store brand, but it all works fine.
• Cream of Celery Soup – adds a little veggie flavor and diversity to the cream of whatever soup combination.
• Stove Top Stuffing Mix – this provides all of your seasonings and makes the recipe a little heartier. We prefer the stuffing mix for chicken, but turkey works fine too.
• Chicken Broth – I like to have a box (which holds 4 cups) of broth ready since I don’t know when or how much will be used.

Ingredients in the picture will make about 20 chicken sandwiches. We typically double the recipe and use a 6 or 7 quart slow cooker to cook it.

How to Thicken Shredded Chicken?

Add additional dried small bread cubes, crumbled Ritz crackers or stuffing mix to help thicken a chicken mixture.

Be sure to keep a good ratio of meat, so additional well drained chicken may need to be added too.

Is Canned Chicken Good?

Canning chicken is a great way to preserve meat for future use without the need of continuous freezing or refrigeration. As long as you begin the process with good quality meat, the product that comes out of the can will be good too!

Meat is cooked before canning and then sealed to remain safe for a year or two. Once the can is open the meat should be eaten or refrigerated within a couple hours.

Keeping canned meat or chicken in the pantry gives you more meal options if the electricity goes out since no cooking is required.

I used to be hesitant about eating canned meat but I learned that you need to read the label. There are options from cans of all breast meat or all dark meat. Different cuts of chicken create different flavors, so know that not all cans are the same. Purchase what you want for the recipe you plan to make and cans of chicken can taste just as good as fresh cooked and shredded chicken.

Recipe Tips & Tricks for Creamed Chicken

• We use canned chicken for convenience, but can make your own shredded chicken if you prefer.
• There is more flavor in homemade broth or when using Better Than Bouillon, but I find the box of broth more convenient when serving over a couple hour time period and not knowing exactly how much broth will be necessary.
• Broth can be stirred into warm chicken and served quickly.
• If you need to add more soup or stuffing mix, the recipe will need to cook for a couple more hours with stirring done often.
• Spend time separating the chicken so that the delicious creamy mixture can surround every shred of meat!
• If you like this recipe you may also love our BBQ Kielbasa in the Crock Pot that makes great sandwiches.

Recipes to Feed A Crowd & Serve With Chicken:

Big Batch Cheesy Potatoes are popular all year around with almost any meal, especially when served with chicken or turkey.

Macaroni Salad and Black Bean Salad are great cold side dishes for a potluck or picnic.

Macaroni & Cheese makes a big batch of warm and cheesy pasta that’s a perfect side for chicken.

Brisket in a Roaster is so tender, makes great sandwiches and gives diversity to the meal options at a party.