Crock-Pot Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
~ Looking for a quick and easy dinner that’ll have the whole family asking for seconds? These Crock-Pot Chicken Caesar Sandwiches are a snap to make, and the homemade Caesar dressing is packed with protein! Healthy and delicious! ~
Now that the kids are out of school, summer is already in full swing. This pretty much means that we’re on the run from sun-up to sun-down. And I love it! It’s a break from school and our regular schedule … with loads of really fun things to do!!
But all the activities can leave us a little hungry, ya know? Sure, we make Snack Bites like it’s our job. Those totally keep us going during the day.
But mealtime is when we seriously refuel. Healthy, nutritious, filling. Yeah … that’s what we need! Dinner!
“Well, gosh, Gretchen! I’m so busy during the day with trips to the zoo, baseball games, hanging at the pool, day camps, family bike trips … how can I possibly provide a wholesome dinner?” you say in your head (but I can somehow hear you).
You guys!! Remember?? The slow cooker!!
Seriously! Take a look at our little tutorial video for this recipe and see how ridiculously easy these Chicken Caesar Sandwiches are to make … in the slow cooker!
Video Tutorial
Are you feelin’ it now?!? The slow cooker is the answer!
Remember our 3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos (which you guys loooooved so much they’ve become one of our most popular recipes EVER)?!?! And what about our Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches and those North Carolina BBQ Chicken Sandwiches everyone keeps raving about? Oh, right … the slow cooker! … and all those possibilities for healthy, easy recipes that’ll totally make your busy life soooooo much easier! After you make these amazing sammies tonight, be sure to check out all Our Best Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes Ever for even more inspiration!
But anyway … back to these fabulous Chicken Caesar Sandwiches …
No, no. I know what time of year it is. And no, I’m not crazy. (Well … I guess that depends on who you ask!)
I know a lot of you hear crock pot and you immediately think of wintertime soups and chilis and stews.
But I’m not gonna stop with the crock pot recipes until every.last.one.of.you realizes how amazing those little electric gems are! Especially in the summer!
Sure, crock pots and stews go together like a stamp on a letter. Totally awesome for those chilly winter nights!
But … crock pots and effortless summer dinners go together like … ummm … pool days and flip-flops! Or sunshine and smiles! Errr … you know what I mean. Go with me.
Before I dash out the door, I can toss some chicken and spices in – and poof! Dinner is ready when we get home! It’s … simply magical!
Oh! And, the kitchen doesn’t get all heated up from the oven being on. Hot kitchen on a hot summer day … ewwww.
And clean up is a breeze. Absolutely simple. I love that. ‘Cause we certainly don’t slow down after dinner!
Ahh … yes … summer crock pot cooking is bliss!! Are you on board now??? It’s the most perfect solution for busy summer days!!
And as if life in the summer wasn’t super fun and exciting enough, I decided it was time to really amp things up around here … and my crock pots (yes, I own multiples) will play a key role in feeding us this summer.
Are you on the edge of your seat? What could it be?? What is this super fun-ness I’m adding??
Well, I’m stoked about my upcoming … total kitchen remodel!! Gahhhh!!!! I can hardly contain myself!!
Our kitchen now, just doesn’t really work for me. Sure there are things about it I like, but there are also things that drive me cuckoo. So we are (ahem, I mean, my trusty contractor will be) totally gutting the kitchen, down to the studs and starting from scratch!
Super exciting! And a teeeeeeensy bit stressful!
Even though I’ve been dreaming about a new kitchen since we moved here five years ago, I’ve been a little, shall we say, overwhelmed with all of the decisions that needed to be made.
Did you know there are approximately 4,823,098,492 shades of white/off white/cream? Good grief! And just as many choices for flooring! It’s definitely been a big project planning everything, but we’re incredibly excited for the outcome!
But … for the five weeks or so that my kitchen will be in various phases of unbuilding and rebuilding, I really won’t be able to use the stove. So we’ll grill a lot … and I’ll be using my slow cookers a TON!!
If one thing is certain, I know my family will request these Chicken Caesar Sandwiches several times over the course of the summer. These are a fave!
My littlest even requested that I serve them at her birthday party a few years ago! That’s huge coming from a kiddo! So I made these tasty sandwiches, as well as sloppy joes. It was a fantastic family party, and everyone loved the food!
Years ago, I’d seen a really simple recipe on Pinterest for Chicken Caesar Sandwiches. There weren’t even any spices! It called for bottled Caesar dressing, but I had trouble finding one that I loved the taste of, and that I felt good serving to my family. I thought my Chicken Caesar Sandwich days were over. Then one day, I was visiting Hidden Fruits and Veggies … and Kelly shared a recipe for homemade Caesar dressing! I coulda reached through my screen and hugged her!
So I knew it could be done! I could make my own dressing for these sandwiches! One that would make Caesar himself proud! I was inspired!
The dressing for these sandwiches is creamy with just a little zing from the Dijon mustard. Best part – this dressing is made with ingredients you’ve already got on hand! So that means no anchovies (even if you’ve got those, we won’t need ’em!). Also, many Caesar dressings contain raw egg – but not mine! Nope! We keep things simple, easy, and not questionable here at THK. 🙂
So even if your kitchen won’t be in a constant state of disarray this summer, I still highly recommend becoming besties with your slow cooker over the next few months. It’s the easiest, fastest, most amazing way to get a home-cooked meal on the table! And … psssst … you just might want to start with these chicken sandwiches!
Crock-Pot Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
These easy Crock-Pot Chicken Caesar Sandwiches feature a much healthier (and super delicious) homemade Caesar dressing!
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Dressing:
- 2 (5.3-ounce) containers nonfat plain Greek yogurt (or about a scant 1 1/4 cups)
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tablespoons smooth Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/16 teaspoon black pepper
For Serving:
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh flat leaf (Italian) parsley
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Whole wheat buns or whole wheat pita pockets
- Romaine lettuce
- Additional shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired
Instructions
- Place chicken in slow cooker and add water.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper on chicken.
- Cook for 4-5 hours on high, or 5-6 hours on low, until chicken is thoroughly cooked but still moist and fall-apart tender. (See note.)
- Meanwhile, stir together Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, vinegar, soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/16 teaspoon pepper. Mix until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. (You can make the dressing ahead of time and cover and refrigerate it until needed.)
- Near the end of cooking (and preferably about 30 minutes before serving), check chicken to be sure it's fully cooked and then shred cooked chicken (using two forks). Stir reserved Caesar dressing into chicken in crock pot, and then continue cooking for about 30 minutes more, to allow flavors to meld. (See note.)
- Immediately before serving, stir in fresh parsley and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
- Serve on whole wheat buns or in whole wheat pita pockets with Romaine lettuce, and garnish with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
Slow cooker variations: The exact heat and speed of cooking can vary between different slow cookers. Some slow cookers, especially newer models, may cook hotter and faster than others. Our research has also led us to believe that some models allow for imperceptible evaporation of liquid (although you’d expect that no liquid would be lost when using a slow cooker), which can leave your recipes less saucy and moist. Because this particular recipe uses very little liquid, it’s particularly sensitive to these variations. No need to worry – it’s delicious even when cooked until it’s a bit drier, particularly since the creamy Caesar dressing adds moisture. The key is simply to control the cook time and temperature to yield the most juicy, fall-apart-tender result.
Adding Caesar dressing: For best results, leave the Caesar dressing and chicken in the crock pot for 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to develop and meld together. You can eat the sandwiches immediately after stirring in the Caesar dressing, but the flavors may be stronger and more pronounced.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 servings Serving Size: 2/3 cup chickenAmount Per Serving: Calories: 277Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4g
Nutrition information is provided for chicken mixture only, as nutrition can vary for the bread/buns depending on what you choose to use. Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may additionally vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.
Have you added green onion?
I haven’t tried that, Shirley – but I bet it would be delicious! If you give that a try, I’d love to know what you think! ~Shelley
This was so delicious!! And super easy. I will 100% be making this again. I followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect, however I did make the chicken in the slow cooker the day before and then put it in the fridge, then the following day I put it on low to warm it up and then added the caesar dressing for 30 minutes. Worked out great! A little watery so next time I might “wring it out” a bit before adding it to my sandwich. I’ll be having leftovers atop a salad tomorrow!
Hi Carly! I’m just delighted to hear that you loved these sandwiches! As much as I know that Gretchen’s family and my own family adore this recipe, it absolutely makes my day to hear from a reader that they enjoyed it so much, too! Thank you for taking a moment to let me know! And also, I really appreciate that you delineated how you adapted the timing to make this mostly ahead – that kind of info is really valuable to other readers who might want to try your technique the next time they make these chicken caesar sandwiches. Thanks bunches – and have a fantastic week! 🙂 ~Shelley
Want to try this recipe. Was thinking it would be delish if it was chilled and put into a halved cantaloup. Is it good cold – like a chicken salad? Excited to try it either way.
Hi Karleene! Your idea with the cantaloupe sounds so wonderfully refreshing and summery! I have to be totally honest and tell you that I haven’t ever tried these Chicken Caesar Sandwiches cold, so I can’t be 100% sure if they’d be as delicious served that way. If I had to guess, I’d say it probably would work well, though. And now you’ve got me really curious to give it a try and find out! In the meantime, I’m wondering if any other readers have tried that and would share their experience? And if you do give it a shot, Karleene, I’d love to hear how it works! Thanks so much for the great question, and sorry I couldn’t be more definitive with the answer! Good luck! ~Shelley
I found your blog on Thrifty Frugal Mom, since there was a link on the article for no oven recipes. I’m doing some research on what to bring for lunch, and this recipe has the wheels turning in my head. I can’t to make the Crock Pot Caesar Chicken Sandwiches for lunch very soon!!!
Oh, I’m so glad you found your way to us! 🙂 I hope you’ll find lots of inspiration on our blog for great lunches you’ll actually look FORWARD to eating … and that’ll keep you feeling terrific and energized all afternoon! I remember those years when I worked in an office – a really fantastic lunch was a little bright spot I could look forward to all morning! Even better if it was nutritious and energizing, to help me avoid that sleepy mid-afternoon slump! ~Shelley
Calories?
Hi, Gabby! Let me offer a little explanation of why we have (at least thus far) opted not to include nutrition info (including calories) with our recipes and how you might more accurately calculate your own.
We’ve actually debated since the beginning of this blog whether or not we should supply nutrition info (and address it in our FAQ (http://twohealthykitchens.com/about/).
Especially with Gretchen’s (my original business partner’s) master’s degree in nutrition, she could easily have calculated that manually – plus there are loads of online calculators to use. However, for a variety of reasons, we have decided over and over again not to do that. One big reason is that we generally don’t specify exact brands (although on some occasions we need to), so the final nutritional profile of a recipe can vary widely, depending on the purchasing decisions our readers make. In the end, it could almost be a bit misleading to quote nutritional info, if readers make significantly different purchasing choices than we did in testing. Although that problem certainly wouldn’t be a big issue for some of our recipes, it actually could be a stumbling block for a lot of others. For example, the final nutritional profile of our most popular recipe ever – our very simple 3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos (http://twohealthykitchens.com/2014/01/08/3-ingredient-crock-pot-chicken-tacos/) – could vary tremendously (particularly, in this case, the sodium) depending on which taco seasoning and which salsa someone purchases.
My best suggestion would be to use your favorite online nutrition calculator, and plug in the exact brands you use to get the most accurate calorie information. Also – do you subscribe to our newsletter? A few months ago, we sent out a whole list of different recipe calculators in our newsletter. Too long to publish here (this is already such long answer! ? ), but shoot me an email if you’re interested, and I can send that along for you!
And lastly … having said all of this … I want you to know that we get questions like this from other readers from time to time, too. As a result, we’re always re-evaluating this very good question and exploring how we may be able to offer nutrition information in a way that we can feel good about – a way that’s truly helpful and not potentially misleading. So stay tuned …
Thanks so much for reaching out to us! I hope these explanations help you out at least a little!
Have a wonderful weekend! ~Shelley