Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches Recipe

Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches are a true Midwest tradition. If you’ve ever been to a graduation party, church potluck, family reunion, or even a holiday gathering in Ohio or the surrounding states, chances are you’ve seen these creamy sandwiches sitting in a slow cooker, ready to be piled high onto a soft hamburger bun.

This recipe is Midwest comfort food at its best. It is simple, filling, and made with ingredients you probably already have on hand.

These sandwiches are an easy way to feed a crowd and bring back memories of hometown get-togethers. Whether you’re making a batch for a tailgate party or just need a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe works in a crock pot, Instant Pot, or right on the stovetop.

What Are Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches?

Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches are made with cooked chicken that’s shredded and mixed with a simple creamy base. The classic way to make them is with cream of chicken soup and a small amount of broth.

But what holds the mixture together, and thickens it so that it can be piled onto a bun, is crushed buttery crackers. However others use stuffing mix or even potato chips in place of the crackers.

The result is a soft, scoopable filling that’s both hearty and rich. It’s traditionally served hot on a plain (soft, not toasted) hamburger bun. Although you can also enjoy it in a few other ways (more on that later).

Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 (10.5-ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 sleeve crushed butter crackers (about 1¼ cups) – Ritz style
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Kosher salt, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose What Cooking Method Works for You

Crock Pot Method

The crock pot is the classic way to make Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches, especially if you’re making a big batch for a crowd. Add the chicken, soup, ¼ cup of chicken stock, and half of the crackers to the crock, then cook on low for about 4 hours.

After that, shred the chicken and stir in the rest of the ingredients (adjusting the amount of chicken stock to your texture preference). Let it cook another 30 minutes. You’ll end up with creamy, warm filling perfect for scooping onto buns.

Stovetop Method

If you’re in a hurry or don’t have a slow cooker or Instant Pot, you can make this dish on the stove in about 20 minutes using leftover shredded chicken, rotisserie chicken, or even canned shredded chicken (48 ounces).

For those who have fresh chicken breasts, making shredded chicken as a meal prep item is simple to do with my Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Recipe.

In a large skillet or pot, heat up the soup and chicken stock with your seasonings. Once it’s hot, add in the chicken and stir until everything is well combined. Add the crushed crackers to thicken, and adjust the texture with extra broth or more crackers as needed.

Instant Pot Method

Using the Instant Pot is perfect if you’re short on time and still want tender, flavorful chicken. Just add your raw chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, and chicken stock to the Instant Pot.

Lock the lid and set it to manual high pressure for 10 minutes. Once it’s done, do a slow manual release of the pressure and shred the chicken.

Stir in the crushed crackers, parsley, garlic powder, pepper, and salt. Let it sit on the “warm” setting for about 20 minutes so the mixture thickens. Add more crackers to thicken or extra broth if it’s too thick.

Ingredient Options and Swaps For Ohio Chicken Sandwiches

Chicken Choices

Fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts are great when you have time to cook them, but you don’t have to start from raw. You can make this even quicker by using rotisserie chicken, leftover cooked chicken, or even canned chicken. Just make sure to drain the canned chicken well before using. The flavor and texture work just fine, and it’s a great shortcut for busy weeknights.

Cream Soup Varieties

Cream of chicken is the traditional soup in Ohio Chicken Sandwiches, but you can mix it up. Many people like to use one can of cream of chicken and one can of cream of celery for a slightly different taste.

Cream of mushroom also works if you like a deeper flavor and cream of cheddar is always another great option. Use what you have in the pantry.

Thickeners

Crushed Ritz crackers are the classic thickener for this recipe. They add that buttery flavor and soak up the liquid perfectly. If you don’t have Ritz crackers, any buttery round cracker will do the job.

Some people like to use crushed potato chips for a saltier, crunchier flavor. Another option is dry stuffing mix – this version tastes like Thanksgiving dinner on a bun. It is a great way to use up leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.

Make It Your Own

One of the best things about Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches is how easy they are to customize. Here are a few popular variations:

• Add a slice of cheese on top of your sandwich while it’s hot for a gooey twist.
• Stir in diced onion, garlic, or celery for extra flavor and a little texture.
• Swap in leftover turkey for the chicken – especially after Thanksgiving or Christmas.
• Top with pickle chips or coleslaw for a bit of crunch and contrast.
• Add a dash of hot sauce or a spoonful of ranch dressing if you want to play with the flavor.

Serving Suggestions

Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches are best served hot on plain hamburger buns, but you can also serve them on slider rolls for parties or smaller servings. A simple dinner roll works well too.

The sandwiches pairs nicely with:

• Fresh fruit
• Potato chips or pretzels
• Macaroni salad
• Baked beans
• Pickles
• Coleslaw
• Potato wedges

However you can also eat the shredded chicken as a stand alone main dish. But I also like to get creative and serve the meat on top of a baked potato or as a unique twist when making nachos.

How to Store and Reheat Ohio Chicken Sandwiches

This recipe makes enough to feed a group, but if you have leftovers, they store really well. Keep the shredded chicken mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to eat, reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until hot.

To freeze, let the mixture cool completely, then add it to a freezer-safe container. Label and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. You may need to stir in a little extra broth if the mixture thickens too much after freezing.

Whether you’re serving it up at a party or just need something warm and simple for dinner, Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches are one of those timeless Midwest meals that never go out of style. They’re quick to prepare, budget-friendly, and always a crowd-pleaser.

You can keep it traditional or make it your own, but either way, this is a dish that keeps people coming back for seconds.

Enjoy! Mary

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Yield: 10 servings

Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwiches

Print

Creamy Ohio shredded chicken sandwiches made with fresh chicken, cream of chicken soup, crushed crackers and seasonings. A classic recipe served at every Ohio friends and family event.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours 30 minutes

Total Time 4 hours 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
• 2 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup, low-sodium
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 sleeve crushed Ritz butter crackers, about 1-1/4 cup
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, more to taste
• kosher salt, to taste
• red pepper flakes, to taste

Instructions

1. Add chicken breast, 1/4 cup chicken stock, condensed cream of chicken soup, crushed ritz crackers into a 4 quart or larger slow cooker.
2. Cover, place on "low" and let cook for 4 hours.
3. After 4 hours, remove the chicken, shred, and add back to the slow cooker.
4. Stir in the dried parsley, garlic powder, and black pepper. Taste, and add kosher salt and crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
5. Cover, and let the mixture cook for another 30 minutes.
6. If it's still thinner than desired you can add more crushed crackers to help thicken the mixture. If it's too thick thin out with chicken stock.

Notes

Stove Top Instructions:

• *Use pre-cooked, shredded chicken. 3 pounds of raw chicken breasts equals approximately 5 1/2 cups of cooked and shredded chicken. This recipe is forgiving, so you can use a standard grocery store rotisserie whole chicken for this recipe which usually equals 4-5 cups of shredded chicken.
In a large stock pot, set over medium-high heat, add condensed soup, 1 cup chicken stock, and seasonings. Stir to combine.
Once warmed, add in the shredded chicken and stir to combine.
Heat for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Then add in the crushed crackers to help thicken the mixture. If it's too thick, thin out with chicken stock, or if it's too thin, you can thicken it with more crushed crackers.

Instant Pot Instructions:

• Add chicken breast, chicken stock, and condensed soup to the Instant Pot.
• Place the lid on the Instant Pot, close to lock, and make sure the vent is on the sealed position.
• Cook on "manual" for 10 minutes with high pressure.
• When fully cooked, slowly release the pressure and unlock the lid. Leave the Instant Pot on the "warm" setting.
• Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot (leave the juice in the pot) and shred. Add the shredded chicken back to the Instant Pot. Stir in your crushed Ritz butter crackers, dried parsley, garlic powder, and black pepper. Taste, and add kosher salt if needed.
• Let the mixture set up for 20 minutes. If it's still thinner than desired you can add more crushed crackers to help thicken the mixture. If it's too thick thin out with additional chicken stock.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 249Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 117mgSodium: 261mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 43g

Nutritional Information is to be used as a general guideline only . Nutritional calculations will vary from the types and brands of the products used.