A new way to use gochujang? In a saucy, spicy, sweet, absolutely delicious sandwich made right in your slow cooker? SAY LESS.
I’ve been finding fun ways to add gochujang to unique, savory recipes for a few months now and dreamed up these sandwiches when I was brainstorming a new main dish for you to make for your BBQs, parties, and weeknight dinners this summer. These easy slow cooker gochujang chicken sandwiches are a hot new take on my famous Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches and let me just say, they are out-of-this-world delicious.
I love a good slow cooker recipe especially in the summer because it means there’s no need to heat up your house with the oven or even the stove! Add everything to your crockpot, let it do it’s thang, then pile these high with my BRAND NEW cucumber jalapeño cabbage slaw on your favorite hamburger buns. I’ve included some other great ways to serve the chicken as well, plus plenty of side dishes to pair that I know you’re going to love.
Everything you’ll need to make these gochujang chicken sandwiches
I LOVE a good, easy slow cooker protein that can be served many different ways. You’ll cook chicken directly in a delicious, sweet and spicy sauce until it’s tender and easy to shred. Here’s what you’ll need:
- For the sauce: you’ll mix together chicken broth, soy sauce, gochujang (the star for that wonderfully spicy flavor), toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, a little brown sugar (or coconut sugar), fresh grated ginger, garlic, and cornstarch or arrowroot starch right into your slow cooker.
- Chicken: I like to use boneless skinless chicken thighs because they get extra tender when they’re slow cooked.
- To serve: top each sandwich with my NEW cucumber jalapeño cilantro cabbage slaw and pile everything onto your fav hamburger buns!
What is gochujang?
I’ve been loving adding gochujang to recipes lately because it adds an incredible depth of flavor, unlike any other condiment. Gochujang is a Korean red chili paste that’s sweet, spicy, and savory all at the same time. It’s perfect for sauces, marinades, and more! Use it in these sandwiches and in my:
Make these sandwiches gluten-free
Yes, you can easily make this recipe gluten free by using your favorite gluten free hamburger buns and swapping the gochujang for a gluten free sambal oelek. Gochujang typically isn’t gluten free!
How to make gochujang chicken sandwiches in your slow cooker
- Mix the sauce. Start by whisking all of your sauce ingredients together in your slow cooker so everything is well combined.
- Add your chicken. Place your chicken thighs in the sauce, turn them over to coat them, then place the lid over the slow cooker and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 6 hours.
- Shred the chicken. Once the chicken is cooked, remove the thighs from your slow cooker with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the chicken, then stir the shredded chicken back in with the sauce and turn the slow cooker to the “warm” setting.
- Make & serve the sandwiches. I like to toast my hamburger buns, then top with the chicken and this fresh slaw! You could also add a slice of cheddar cheese for an extra savory sandwich. SO GOOD.
More ways to serve the gochujang chicken
The sandwiches, of course, are absolutely delicious, but the slow cooked chicken would also be delicious:
- With my homemade Coconut Rice and a cucumber salad (or some of the slaw!)
- Scooped into zucchini boats
- With quinoa, cauliflower rice, or rice or ramen noodles
Storing & freezing tips
- To store: If you have leftover gochujang chicken, simply store it in an airtight bag or container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- To freeze: allow the chicken to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe bag or airtight glass container. It will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow the chicken to thaw in the refrigerator before fully reheating or using it.
- To reheat: for a hands-off option, you can add the leftover chicken to your crock pot and place it on “warm” to warm it back up. Otherwise, you can simply reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop.
More summer mains you’ll love
- Moroccan-Spiced Turkey Burgers with Creamy Feta Sauce
- Grilled Tahini Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
- Herby Chicken Meatball Pitas with Jalapeño Tzatziki
- Chipotle Lime Salmon Tacos with Corn Avocado Peach Salsa & Cilantro Yogurt Sauce
- Greek Chicken Kabobs
Get all of my summer BBQ recipes here!
I hope you love these slow cooker gochujang chicken sandwiches! If you make them be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked them. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Slow Cooker Gochujang Chicken Sandwiches
Ingredients
- ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth or filtered water
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 to 3 tablespoons gochujang, plus more to taste
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch or arrowroot starch
- 1 ½-2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- For serving:
- 4 to 6 hamburger buns, gluten free if desired
- Cucumber Jalapeno Cilantro Cabbage Slaw
Instructions
- In a large slow cooker, add the chicken broth, soy sauce, gochujang, sesame oil, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch. Whisk together until well-combined.
- Place the chicken thighs on top and flip over to coat the chicken with the sauce. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours.
- Use a slotted spoon or a large fork to transfer the chicken to a sheet pan (this will help catch all the juices). Shred chicken with two forks and place back in the slow cooker with the sauce and stir. Serve immediately or turn the slow cooker to the warm setting and serve later.
- Once ready to serve, use a slotted spoon to add chicken to a toasted bun, top with slaw and remaining bun. You can also serve these with sliced cheddar cheese if you prefer. YUM! Serves 4 to 6.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
26 comments
This looks delicious. Do you think it could be made in an instant pot? I’m not a fan of the texture of chicken made in the slow cooker.
Also, why don’t you include sodium in your nutrition information? It would be helpful to those of us on low sodium diets. Thanks!
I actually don’t own an instant pot so I’m not 100% sure what the instructions would be – sorry! I don’t include the sodium amounts because they can really vary depending on the brands of ingredients used and any additional “salt to taste” added, etc.
I’m typically not a huge fan of spicy things. How hot is goguchang sauce?
It can get pretty spicy, so I’d recommend reducing the amount that you use!
Cant wait to make this soon for me can i use tofu and vegetable broth i never had slow cooker gochujang chicken sandwiches before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
I am making this tonight – looks great!
I didn’t see when to add the cornstarch, but above it does say at the start. You just may want to edit the directions to include that 🙂
Thank you for the catch! Just updated 🙂 Hope you love these!
Greetings from your local Chicago suburb (Berwyn)! I made this chicken for meal prep this week & oh my goodness, it is so flavorful & tender! I made my own coleslaw but that crunchiness of the slaw mixed with the tender chicken atop a toasted hamburger bun *chef’s kiss*. Will definitely make this one again, it’s a real winner!
Hi Lisa! Love hearing from a Chicagoland native 🙂 So happy you loved this one!
Do you think I could use chicken breast with good/same results?
Yes!
Excellent recipe!! We used chicken breast instead of chicken thighs. Can’t wait to have it again!!!!
Perfect! Glad you loved this one!
Tasty and easy! The kitchen smelled amazing as this was cooking. I added some extra chicken pieces and there was enough sauce to cover. Great day-of and as lunch leftovers.
Amazing! So glad you enjoyed 🙂
I made these for the first time last week, and my husband and I are obsessed with them. They are being put on this week’s meal plan again.
I made these exactly as suggested, and I put them on toasted ciabatta buns (yum!).
So happy to hear that! One of our new favs, too 🙂
This was yummy but a bit salty, I would make it again but use less soy sauce next time. I want that Gochujang flavour!
Make sure you’re using low-sodium chicken broth and low-sodium soy sauce as well! That should help 🙂
These are wonderful and a fun twist on a pulled chicken sandwich! We love a sunday crockpot meal prep! We did make the cilantro jalapeno cabbage slaw as well, and we actually thought it held up pretty well for a few days in the fridge. The flavor got even better as it sat together. The juices do increase some but that didn’t bother us at all! Definitely adding these to our go-to list!
So happy to hear that!
Made the chicken as written, then used the suggested slaw dressing on a bag of broccoli slaw (lasts for a few days in the fridge that way). Great for meal prep if you don’t want the same thing every day – we had the chicken and slaw as sandwiches, tacos with flour tortillas, and rice bowls.
Perfect! Yes, love how versatile the chicken is 🙂
Made the recipe two weeks ago just as written and we all loved it. It made 5 good sized sandwiches for my crew. Making again tonight. Getting a good roll is important and the suggested slaw recipe is a must!
I’m new to this blog but pleased with everything I have tried.
This was a great recipe. Super easy and yummy. I added diced onion and bell pepper to my crockpot as well.
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed 🙂