Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches are an easy, spicy dinner idea made right in the crock pot. Pulled chicken cooked in a hot honey sauce and then piled onto your favorite bun. The perfect slow cooker meal for any time of year!
Crockpot Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches
I’m always on the lookout for a new chicken recipe to make in the slow cooker. They’re easy, delicious, and the whole family generally likes them.
I make bbq chicken sandwiches, buffalo chicken sandwiches, and now hot honey chicken sandwiches.
You can easily adjust the amount of heat to suit your family. I still have little kids who think even black pepper is spicy so we save this one for the adults, but if your kids are a bit more adventurous, you’ll be just fine.
The tangy sauce is the perfect mix of spicy and sweet. I like to load up a brioche bun (my favorite) with the cooked chicken, some pickles, and serve with a side of french fries and some fresh fruit.
It is the perfect meal for a BBQ or summer get-together.
Why you’ll love this hot honey chicken
- Quick and easy – This one only takes 5 minutes of prep and can be done in as soon as 2 hours.
- Some like it hot – If you’re into spice, you’re going to like this one, but it’s easy to adjust to your family’s liking.
- Great for a crowd – Because you’re piling the shredded chicken onto sandwiches, it is great to feed a crowd. You can easily feed 6-8 with this recipe.
Helpful Tools
- Slow Cooker – this is my slow cooker of choice, you’ll need at least a 6 quart for this recipe.
- Meat Claws – you can use forks to shred the chicken or get fancy with these claws.
- Tongs – I always like using tongs to handle meat.
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- CHICKEN – I prefer boneless skinless chicken breasts but you can use thighs if that’s what you like.
- CAYENNE PEPPER – Start with 1 tablespoon and build up if your family likes more heat.
- SMOKED PAPRIKA – Smoked paprika adds a rich, smoky flavor.
- GARLIC SALT – Garlic salt is just that – a mixture of 3 parts salt to 1 part garlic powder.
- BROWN SUGAR – Brown sugar helps to balance the heat with some sweetness. You can use light or dark.
- HONEY – More sweet to balance the heat. A local honey is always best but use what you have.
- VINEGAR – You can use either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- BUTTER – I like to use salted butter but unsalted works as well. It will add moisture to the chicken and sauce.
- BUNS – Choose your favorite buns for piling the shredded chicken onto.
- PICKLES – Dill chips are the perfect topping. I really like Grillo’s Pickles.
How to make Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Jump- STEP ONE: Prep. Spray your slow cooker with non-stick spray and lay the trimmed chicken breasts in the bottom.
- STEP TWO: Season. Mix up the seasonings and sprinkle evenly over the chicken. Then, top with the brown sugar, drizzle on the honey, pour in the vinegar, and top with pats of butter.
- STEP THREE: Cook. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours.
- STEP FOUR: Shred Chicken. After the cook time is up, use two forks to shred the chicken right in the juices.
- STEP FIVE: Serve. Pile some shredded chicken onto a bun, top with pickles and enjoy!
Every slow cooker runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own slow cooker and adjusted as needed.
🔥 Heat Tip
Start with 1/2 tablespoon of cayenne and move up from there to suit your family. You can always add more heat but you can’t take it out!
What to serve with them
Toppings
- Use your favorite buns – brioche, hamburger buns, pretzel buns, slider buns, Hawaiian sweet rolls, etc.
- To cool them down, top with dill pickle chips, creamy coleslaw, or ranch dressing.
- Some people like to add a slice of cheese like pepper jack or cheddar to the top.
- Make it a deluxe by adding some crispy bacon.
Sides
These chicken sandwiches make a really easy dinner idea. You can pair them with sweet potato fries, waffle fries, potato chips, macaroni and cheese, baked potato wedges, or baked beans.
- You can use boneless breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Don’t want to have a pulled chicken sandwich? Try serving the shredded chicken with a side of rice or stuff it into a baked potato!
- White vinegar or apple cider vinegar will work.
Storage & Leftovers
How to store leftovers
Leftover chicken can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze it?
Absolutely. You can freeze the cooked chicken in freezer safe containers (I like Souper Cubes) or make this a freezer meal.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Prep the recipe as written but place the ingredients into a large freezer bag and squeeze out excess air. Label the bag with the name and cooking instructions and place in the freezer for up to 6 months.
When ready to cook, move the bag to the refrigerator overnight to thaw or for a quicker option, place the entire bag in a large bowl of cold water for approximately 1 hour or until thawed enough to pour into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours.
How to reheat hot chicken
Reheat individual portions in the microwave or if you have enough, pour the entire portion back into the slow cooker to heat through.
FAQs
Do I have to add liquid to the slow cooker?
Nope. The chicken will give off moisture as it cooks so you don’t need to add additional cooking liquid.
Can I put frozen chicken in the slow cooker?
The safe answer is no, you shouldn’t. Plenty of people will tell you they do it all the time and are fine, but the official recommendation, per the USDA, is to thaw it first. A slow cooker cooks…slow, which means meat stays at an unsafe temperature for too long.
Need more slow cooker chicken recipes recipes? Try these:
Crock Pot Honey Bourbon Chicken
Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Alfredo
Slow Cooker Chicken Potatoes & Green Beans
Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwiches
Slow Cooker Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches
Click here for my entire collection of slow cooker recipes.
Did You Make This?
If you made this recipe, I’d love to know how it went in the comments section below.
You can also tag me on Instagram – @melissa_ppplates or share a pic in the Persnickety Plates Community Facebook group. I love seeing what you’ve tried!
Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- ¼ cup butter
- buns for serving
- pickles for topping
Instructions
- Spray the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker with non-stick spray and lay the chicken breasts in.2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- In a small bowl, mix up the cayenne pepper, paprika and garlic salt.1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- Sprinkle the seasoning all over the chicken.
- Sprinkle on the brown sugar.2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Drizzle the honey all over the top of the chicken.1 cup honey
- Pour in the vinegar.1 tablespoon vinegar
- Place the butter on top.¼ cup butter
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours.
- Once cooked, use two forks to shred the chicken right in the slow cooker.
- Serve on soft buns with pickle slices.buns for serving, pickles for topping
Notes
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- This is a spicy recipe – to tone it down, reduce the cayenne pepper to 1/2 tablespoon. If you like extra spicy, increase the cayenne to 2 tablespoons.
- Serving suggestions – brioche buns, hamburger buns, or pretzel buns.
- Optional toppings – ranch dressing or cole slaw.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag me on Instagram @melissa_pplates so I can see!Originally published June 20, 2022; photos updated January 29, 2024
This recipe was really good! I used apple cider vinegar and when the meal was done I took the liquid from the crock pot and thickened it up into a sauce. I strained the chicken fat out to help it from being greasy though, it was such a hit!
This is fantastic! I will make this again and again. I changed nothing. It’s perfect as written.
Thank you, Jessie!
This was everything I hoped it would be and more! Family loved it! Definitely will make again!
Yay, love hearing that!
Made this for dinner, everyone loved it!! It’s a keeper!!
Love when that happens 🙂
If you want your children, and your spouse, and your guests, and yourself to be absolutely amazed then I would recommend this recipe. I’ve already shared this with my nurse friend whose husband gets home 4 hours after her (perfect for low setting) and my stay at home parent friends. It’s been a long time since I’ve made a recipe where I was sad I got full and wanted more but couldn’t do it.
That makes me so happy 🙂 thank you for reporting back!
I wanted to like this, but it was dry and not a lot of flavor 🤷🏼♀️
Sorry to hear that, it sounds like you overcooked it 🫤
Such an easy and delicious recipe! The entire family approved. I foolishly forgot to buy cayenne, so we subbed chili powder, and it was still wonderful. Looking forward to making it again, as printed.
Happy to hear that!
This sounds great but I don’t have honey. Any substitution? A little corn syrup or maple syrup?
Honey really is the star of the show here so I’d wait to make it until you have some 🙂
My 1st time leave any review since I cannot stop eating this!
I did 6hrs on low for 4 chucken breast’s for my slow cooker. I then just ate it as is in a bowl! Tomorrow I will have in lettuce cups with Pickles. My new fave!
My 1st time to leave any review since I cannot stop eating this!
I did 6hrs on low for 4 chicken breast’s for my slow cooker. I then just ate it as is in a bowl! Tomorrow I will have in lettuce cups with Pickles. My new fave!
Honored to be your first review! Thanks so much for reporting back & I’m glad you loved it 🙂
This was awesome! My go to. For sure!!
Thanks, Mary!
This is one of my favorite meals! But instead of pickles I do cole slaw on top 😍 OBSESSED!
Love that!
Made this and it was fantastic! Even my picky husband loved it!
Flavor was good but very runny and made my buns soggy!
Sorry your buns were soggy – sounds like you put too much sauce on them, but as written, the recipe shouldn’t be runny.
These were so good! It was a nice switch up from traditional chicken cheesesteak sandwiches. The flavor is super yummy. I whipped up some homemade rolls to go with them!
Love homemade rolls! Thanks, Marissa 🙂
My husbands absolute favorite dish! He requests it at least once a month. So easy to make and I always have all the ingredients on hand so it’s a win!
I love that, thank you for letting me know!
Love the easiness of this recipe. I am not a fan of cayenne so I substituted New Mexico Chili Powder with a half tsp. of cumin. Such a nice savory flavor. This is a keeper.
I love being a ‘keeper’ =)
Very flavorful and tasty! A little too sweet for my own personal taste, so I will probably just do less honey and/or brown sugar next time. I would definitely recommend making as written the first time though and making personal preference adjustments as needed (: Thanks for the recipe!!
Thanks, McKenna!
I made this for Super Bowl Sunday and am glad we didn’t have guests. I cut the cayenne pepper and brown sugar in half, and still the chicken was too spicy and too sweet. I removed the chicken from the sauce with hopes of salvaging it somehow in the next day or so.
I’m sorry you didn’t like it – as the name implies, it is both spicy & sweet.
This is THE BEST chicken sandwich I’ve ever had. We have it at least once a week❤️
Yay, thank you, Debra!