Description
These Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches combine tender, slow-cooked chicken breasts with a spicy and sweet hot honey sauce. Perfectly seasoned with cayenne, smoked paprika, garlic salt, and brown sugar, then drenched in honey and vinegar and finished with butter, this recipe yields juicy, flavorful chicken that’s shredded right in the slow cooker. Served on buns with tangy pickles, these sandwiches are a delightful balance of heat, sweetness, and savory comfort perfect for any casual meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
Sweet and Tangy Sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon vinegar (apple cider vinegar recommended)
- ¼ cup butter
For Serving
- Buns for serving
- Pickles for topping
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Spray the slow cooker with non-stick spray to prevent sticking, then place the boneless skinless chicken breasts inside the slow cooker.
- Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, combine cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic salt. Evenly sprinkle this spice mix over the chicken breasts to impart a smoky and mildly spicy flavor.
- Add Sweetness: Sprinkle the brown sugar over the seasoned chicken to add caramelized sweetness. Drizzle the honey and vinegar evenly atop the chicken for a balanced sweet and tangy profile. Finally, place the butter on top to enrich the sauce as it cooks.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Set to LOW and cook for 4 hours or choose HIGH and cook for 2 hours until the chicken is fully cooked and tender enough to shred.
- Shred the Chicken: Once cooking is complete, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, mixing it thoroughly with the hot honey sauce so it absorbs all the flavors.
- Serve: Spoon the shredded, flavorful chicken onto buns and top with pickle slices for a perfect balance of heat, sweetness, and acidity. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- Adjust the cayenne pepper amount to control the heat level to your preference.
- Apple cider vinegar adds a subtle fruity tang, but white vinegar can be used as an alternative.
- To make the sandwiches less sweet, reduce the amount of honey or brown sugar slightly.
- These sandwiches pair well with coleslaw or crispy fries for a full meal.
- Leftover shredded chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for meal prep.
