Home » Recipes » Poultry » 5 Easy Shredded Chicken Recipes
By Taylor Stinson | 22 Comments | Posted: | Updated:
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These Shredded Chicken Recipes are anything but boring with five delicious flavour options that are all great for meal prep.
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How to make shredded chicken
There are several methods you can use to make juicy and flavourful shredded chicken for meal prep. All these methods are easy, so choose the one that works best for you.
- Poaching – You can poach chicken on the stovetop. Just simmer it in water or chicken stock for about 20 minutes.
- Slow Cooker – If you want to start your meal in the morning and come home to fully cooked chicken that is ready to shred, make it in your crockpot. Cook the chicken on low power for eight hours. When you arrive home from work or school, the chicken will be ready to be shredded. This shredded chicken crockpot recipe is the most hands-off option.
- Instant Pot – If you need shredded chicken immediately, you can use your pressure cooker. Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes then do a quick release of the pressure, open the lid and remove the chicken and shred.
How to shred chicken
Chicken is the easiest to shred while it is warm. So, even if you plan to use the meat later in the week, I recommend shredding it as soon as possible after it finishes cooking for the best shredded chicken meal prep. There are several ways you can shred it depending on what kitchen tools you have on hand.
- Forks – Warm chicken can be shredded using two forks. Hold one fork in each hand and use the tines to pull the cooked chicken apart.
- Stand Mixer – If you own an electric stand mixer, this may be the easiest way to shred chicken. Fit the mixer with a paddle attachment and add the cooked chicken to the mixing bowl. Turn on the mixer at medium speed and the paddle will shred the chicken for you. A hand mixer at low speed would also work!
- Food Processor – If you want more finely shredded chicken, you can use a food processor. However, it is important not to process the chicken for very long. Otherwise, you will end up with minced chicken or even chicken pate!
What to do with shredded chicken
There are tons of things you can make with these shredded chicken meal prep recipes. I put together a few ideas if you're looking for inspiration:
- Use it to make chicken quesadillas, chicken enchiladas, shredded chicken tacos or burrito bowls
- Add it to your favourite soup like chicken noodle soup or chicken tortilla soup
- Use it to make a variety of healthy meal prep bowls
- Add it to Buffalo chicken wraps or Kale chicken Caesar wraps
- Make it into a topping for your nachos, loaded fries or baked potatoes
- Toss it into your favourite pasta for a quick and easy dinner
- Make a healthy chicken salad
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best way to shred chicken?
You can shred chicken using two forks, a stand mixer or a food processor. An electric stand mixer is probably the easiest way to shred it, but any of those three methods will work!
Can you use chicken thighs instead?
I prefer to use boneless chicken breasts when making shredded chicken, but boneless chicken thighs would work as well. Just keep in mind that the cooking times will be different for thighs vs. breasts.
Is it better to shred it hot or cold?
It's best to shred chicken when it's warm, because it's a lot easier to pull the chicken apart. Technically you can shred chicken when it's cold, it'll just be harder to do and you might need to use a knife vs. two forks.
Would frozen chicken work?
If you want to make shredded chicken but all you have is frozen meat, check out my Instant Pot frozen chicken breasts recipe – it's the easiest method!
Can you double or triple this recipe?
Yes! You can double, triple or even quadruple this recipe based on your cooking method. Shredded chicken is great for meal prep and freezes really well, so you can make a big batch and store or freeze some for later.
The Best Shredded Chicken Flavours
There are so many different ways you can flavor your chicken! I rounded up five of my favourite shredded chicken sauce and seasoning ideas that will work for any meal. Plus, with five different options, you'll never get bored. Feel free to try out different seasonings and spices until you find something you love.
Shredded BBQ chicken
This seasoning option is great for classic BBQ staples like pulled chicken sandwiches! Just toss the shredded chicken with your favourite barbecue sauce and you're good to go.
Jerk-inspired shredded chicken
Enjoy all the flavors of the Caribbean with this jerk-inspired seasoning! Enjoy the chicken on its own or make it into a salad with some fresh avocado, mango and bell peppers for extra flavor.
Lemon oregano shredded chicken
This lemon oregano shredded chicken is perfect for making Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Add the chicken to pita bread or serve it with a Greek salad for a delicious meal.
Chili lime shredded chicken
Try out a fun spin on your favourite Mexican-inspired dishes with this chili lime chicken seasoning. Looking for more taco-inspired ideas? Toss the chicken in my homemade taco seasoning.
Teriyaki shredded chicken
I love using this teriyaki shredded chicken to make lettuce wraps! Just toss the chicken in soy sauce and hoisin sauce and dig in.
Storing and reheating
Shredded chicken is great for meal prep, and you can even double, triple or quadruple this recipe. Shredded chicken will last in the fridge in an airtight glass container for up to 4 days. You can serve it cold or reheat it in the microwave or in a frying pan on the stovetop. To keep it from drying out, I recommend undercooking the chicken slightly when you're prepping it. You could also add a bit of water or extra shredded chicken sauce over top before reheating.
Freezing shredded chicken
Shredded chicken is super easy to freeze. When frozen in small portions, it’s a pre-measured boost of protein for soup, salad or pasta dishes. Let it cool then freeze individual portions (about 3/4 to 1 cup at a time) in freezer-safe Ziploc bags or glass bowls for up to 3 months.
You can defrost the chicken in the fridge overnight or reheat it in the microwave from frozen for 5 to 6 minutes. Be sure to sprinkle about 1 tbsp. of water overtop if microwaving and stir halfway through the reheating time to avoid that pesky leftover chicken taste, then use it to make any shredded chicken meal prep recipe of your choice!
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Meal Prep Tools
- Grab someglass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this shredded chicken into meal prep.
- I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
- Get a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked through.
- Usethese Ziploc bag holders if you're marinating the chicken then freezing it.
- Freeze this recipe in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months.
- **Get my full list of tools here**
5 Easy Shredded Chicken Recipes
These Easy Shredded Chicken Recipes are great for meal prep! Learn how to cook shredded chicken and season it 5 different ways.
4.65 from 56 votes
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Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 212kcal
Author: Taylor Stinson
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
Chili lime
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp salt
BBQ
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
Lemon oregano
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp oregano
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
Teriyaki
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
Jerk-inspired
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp paprika
Instructions
Crockpot
Add chicken and seasonings of choice to crockpot. Cook on low for 8 hours, then remove chicken and shred before returning to the pot and giving a good stir.
Serve as meals pictured in the post if desired – further instructions on how to use each type of shredded chicken are pictured above.
Instant Pot
Add 1 cup water or chicken broth to the bottom of the Instant Pot then place in trivet. Add in chicken breasts and seasonings.
Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes, then do a quick release of the pressure, or let the pressure release naturally for more tender chicken (will take about 20 minutes). Remove chicken and shred, then place back in pot and toss to combine.
Serve as meals pictured in the post if desired – further instructions on how to use each type of shredded chicken are pictured above.
Stovetop
Bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stovetop. Add chicken then cook for 20 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F.
Remove chicken from water then shred chicken. Drain water from pot, then add chicken back to pot and mix in seasonings of choice.
Serve as meals pictured in the post if desired – further instructions on how to use each type of shredded chicken are pictured above.
Video
Notes
Make sure to shred the chicken when it's warm for best results.
Use any leftover chicken to make quesadillas, burrito bowls, sandwiches, salads and more.
Store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Sprinkle some water over top and microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Freeze the chicken for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge or microwave from frozen for 5-6 minutes.
Nutritional info is for shredded chicken ONLY. Not including sides served with it.
Nutrition
Calories: 212kcal (11%)Carbohydrates: 19g (6%)Protein: 25g (50%)Fat: 4g (6%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Cholesterol: 73mg (24%)Sodium: 1697mg (74%)Potassium: 589mg (17%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 12g (13%)Vitamin A: 1010IU (20%)Vitamin C: 4.1mg (5%)Calcium: 52mg (5%)Iron: 1.9mg (11%)
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Created by Taylor Stinson
Hey there, my name's Taylor! I’m the founder of The Girl on Bloor, a food blog where I share healthy meal prep recipes for busy people. I'm a busy city girl living in downtown Toronto on (you guessed it!) Bloor Street. I've got 10 years experience meal prepping, along with a Master's degree in journalism, and you can find my work across the internet featured on publications such as Buzzfeed, HuffPost, Women's Health, Reader's Digest and more. I also run the awesome 5-Day Meal Prep Challenge, which is a free email course and Facebook group where I share my meal planning strategies and easy meal prep tips and recipes. Be sure to check out my free beginner’s guide to meal prep and follow me on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to get my latest recipes and meal prep tips!
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Gina says
Can you cook chicken instant pot from frozen?
Reply
Taylor Stinson says
Yes! I actually have a great article on that: https://eatinginstantly.com/instant-pot-frozen-chicken-breasts/
Reply
Melanie Jean Shaw says
Will it be just as flavorful if I mix up and add the seasonings after the fact? I already cooked plain chicken tenderloins in the Crock-Pot and shredded them. I seasoned them with salt and pepper.
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Taylor Stinson says
It will work to season them after 🙂
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Karoline says
Hmmm I put 1lb chicken breast with the Mexican recipe and cooked on low for 8 hours over night and it was burnt really bad. What did I do wrong?
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Taylor Stinson says
Hi Karoline – I’m sorry to hear about this. That sounds very strange. I’m wondering if the chicken breasts were smaller in size or if the time went over by any chance? Hoping to troubleshoot this further.
Reply
Takira says
The same thing happened to me,. I cooked it in the crockpot but there wasn’t any liquid so I think it dried it out a bit. Was there supposed to be a direction to add liquid to the crockpot?
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K Soff says
I found the Mexican seasoning to be a bit flat and too salty for my taste. But I love the inspiration offered here.
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Molly says
The crock pot recipes don’t require any water?
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Taylor Stinson says
No they do not! Chicken naturally releases some liquid so it doesn’t need water in the crockpot. The Instant Pot needs a bit of water to come to pressure so that’s why you see it listed.
Reply
Angie says
Do you put any kind of oil in the crockpot before you put the chicken in? I am worried the chicken would be dry and burnt up if no liquid was added to the crockpot
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Taylor Stinson says
You don’t need oil in the crockpot (it won’t burn at such a low temp) but you can add some to the bottom if you’d like!
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Sarah says
Wow! This is fantastic! This just cut my meal planning time for the month considerably! I can’t wait to make these! I’ll make them this evening and freeze for eating later this month!
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Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you’ve found the post helpful Sarah!! 🙂
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Sarah says
Hello,
I was wondering if the pound of chicken was to be split into 5 ways? or is it just a pound of chicken for each type of chicken?
I want to make each of them for meals this week but don’t know how much chicken to buy for the week.Reply
Taylor Stinson says
Hey Sarah – it’s 1lb of chicken per flavour. You could buy 5 chicken breasts, cook the chicken altogether and then separate into 5 portions and season with just a little bit of each spice as listed. Or, you could buy 5lbs of chicken then make each seasoning combo as listed. Hopefully that makes sense!
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Nancy says
Hi i want to make this recipe but was wondering can i triple this recipe (have 3 hungry teenagers in my house) and if so how many min do i put my instant pot on for. I have an 8 quart . thanks
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Taylor Stinson says
Hi Nancy – you can likely triple but I haven’t tried it myself. I would increase the cooking time to 15 minutes then do a natural pressure release. Hope that helps!
Reply
Tia Jenking says
Love these other options for chicken! Quick question, at what step do I mix the seasoning in for the instant pot?
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Taylor Stinson says
Hey Tia! You add them in at the beginning – I have updated the recipe. So sorry the instructions were unclear!
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Liz says
Could you ease include times/cook setting for the instant pot? That’s the only thing you do t have anything for. Otherwise, these seem great!
Reply
Taylor Stinson says
Oh no! Sorry for not including the cooking time on the recipe card Liz! I have updated the post to reflect the cooking time for the Instant Pot 🙂
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