Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches

Have you ever found yourself staring at your freezer, wondering how to turn that bag of frozen chicken into a mouth-watering meal? If so, you’re not alone! Recently, I found myself in that exact situation and decided to get creative. With some planning, I managed to whip up delicious Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches and Chicken Enchiladas. Best of all, I didn’t need to buy any extra chicken for the entire week!

The Magic of Frozen Chicken

Freezing chicken is a fantastic way to extend its shelf life and ensure you always have a protein option on hand. I had a few pounds of shredded chicken tenders stored from a previous sale, and they became the heroes of my meal plan for the week.

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches

Here’s how I transformed those frozen tenders into a comforting, cheesy delight. The recipe includes cooking and shredding the chicken, but in my case, I’d already done that prior.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 to 2 pounds of frozen chicken tenders
• 1 cup of chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3/4 jar of your favorite tomato sauce
• 4 buns
• 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (1 1/2 tablespoons per sandwich)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella or 4 slices of provolone cheese (1/4 cup or 1 slice per sandwich)

Instructions:

1. Prep the Chicken: Season the frozen chicken tenders with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
2. Cook in Slow Cooker:
   • Place the seasoned chicken in the slow cooker, add the chicken broth, and cook on low for 4-5 hours (since it’s frozen, it needs a bit more time) or on high for 2.5-3 hours.
   • Once cooked, shred the chicken with two forks.
   Tip: You can also do this step ahead of time and freeze the cooked, shredded chicken. When you’re ready to use it, just defrost and continue with the recipe.
3. Add Tomato Sauce:
   • To the shredded chicken in the slow cooker, add 3/4 jar of tomato sauce. Mix well and let it warm in the slow cooker for an additional 5 minutes.
4. Preheat Oven:
   • Preheat your oven to broil.
5. Assemble Sandwiches:
   • Place 4 buns, split open, on a lined baking sheet.
   • Top each bottom half with a heaping spoonful of the shredded chicken mixture, spreading it to cover the entire bun.
   • Spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons of the tomato sauce from the slow cooker over the chicken on each bun.
   • Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese on each sandwich.
   • Top with 1/4 cup of shredded mozzarella or a slice of provolone cheese on each.
6. Broil:
   • Broil the sandwiches for about 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. Serve: Place the top half of the buns on the sandwiches and serve immediately.

Sticking to Your Budget

One of the key strategies I use to manage our grocery budget is shopping from our freezer. This not only saves money but also reduces food waste. My Stick to Your Budget Checklist has been instrumental in helping my family of five spend only $600 a month on groceries. This checklist includes tips and tactics like meal planning, stocking up, and utilizing what you already have, just like I did with the frozen chicken.

By following this strategy, we’ve been able to maintain a reasonable grocery budget without sacrificing delicious and nutritious meals. Shopping from the freezer is just one tactic among many that I use to achieve this goal.

Get Your Free Checklist!

To help you manage your grocery budget and make the most of what you have, I’m offering my Stick to Your Budget Checklist for free during the month of June. This offer expires in July, so hurry and get your checklist now!

[Download Your Free Checklist Here!]

It’s a WIN!

Utilizing frozen chicken not only simplifies your meal prep but also opens up a world of culinary possibilities. With a bit of creativity and some basic ingredients, you can turn frozen chicken into delectable dishes that your family will love. Plus, you can prepare the slow-cooked chicken in advance and freeze it for even quicker meal preparation later on.

I hope this inspires you to dig into your freezer and start cooking! What are your favorite ways to use frozen chicken? Let me know in the comments below.

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MORE SLOW COOKER RECIPES TO EXPLORE

• Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
• Ritz Ranch Chicken
• Shredded Mexican Beef

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