Crockpot Shredded Chicken

I’m thrilled to share one of my all-time favorite crockpot shredded chicken recipes with you. This recipe is a total game-changer when it comes to weekly meal prep and makes weeknight dinners a breeze. 

Once you have a batch of shredded chicken in your fridge or freezer, you’re just a few minutes away from whipping up a variety of dishes like chicken tacos, enchiladas, soup, salad, casseroles, and so many more healthy chicken recipes. 

Having slow cooker shredded chicken on hand means you can easily add lean protein to any meal without the fuss of cooking chicken from scratch. Plus, it’s a great way to use leftover chicken or bulk chicken purchases. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

I have a whole list of healthy chicken recipes that I love, including Crockpot Buffalo Chicken, Slow cooker Mexican shredded chicken, Crockpot shredded chicken tacos, Slow cooker balsamic chicken, and Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki. 

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

• Minimal ingredients: With just boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken stock, and a few seasonings, this recipe is simple yet flavorful.
• Healthy: This chicken recipe is an excellent choice for anyone following a gluten-free, paleo, keto, or low-carb diet.
• Easy to make in the crockpot: In less than 5 minutes, you can put all the ingredients into your slow cooker and let it do the work. It’s that easy!
• Super versatile: This shredded chicken is perfect for all your favorite recipes. The possibilities are endless, from tacos to salads, soups, casseroles, and more.
• Freezer-friendly: You can make a big batch of shredded chicken ahead of time and freeze it to use in recipes later on. It’s a great way to save time and always have a healthy protein source on hand.

How to Make Crockpot Shredded Chicken

This shredded chicken recipe made in the crockpot is one of my all-time favorite go-to recipes. It’s incredibly easy to make and has become a staple in my weekly meal prep routine.

I usually make a big batch over the weekend and store it in the fridge for easy weeknight dinners on busy nights, but I also freeze some for future meals. It’s one of those must-have recipes that every busy parent should have in their arsenal to make mealtime a breeze.

The Ingredients

Making shredded chicken in the crockpot is super easy, and the best part is that you probably already have all of the ingredients you need in your pantry!

Here are the simple ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe:

• Organic boneless skinless chicken breasts will give you the best results, as they will turn out tender and juicy every time!
• Chicken broth: This will help to add some extra flavor to the chicken as it cooks.
• Seasoning blend: To add an extra layer of delicious flavor, you’ll need a combination of onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. These seasonings are perfect for enhancing the natural taste of the chicken without overpowering it.

Shopping Tips

I highly recommend using organic boneless skinless chicken breasts for the best results when making shredded chicken in the crockpot. You can usually find organic chicken at large grocery stores like Wegmans or Whole Foods or even wholesale stores like Bj’s Wholesale or Costco.

But if you’re having trouble finding high-quality organic chicken near you, don’t worry! One of my favorite places to purchase organic chicken online is Butcher Box. They offer a wide variety of high-quality chicken, beef, pork, and seafood at affordable prices, and everything gets delivered straight to your door. I’ve been using Butcher Box for a while now, and I’m always impressed with the quality of their products.

So if you want to try out some high-quality organic chicken, check out Butcher Box. And if you want to learn more about my experience with them, I’ve written a Butcher Box Review that you might find helpful.

The Directions

Making shredded chicken in the crockpot is super easy!

• Add your chicken breasts to the bottom of a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Next, sprinkle your seasonings (onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper) on the chicken. Then, pour in the chicken broth to add some extra flavor.
• Cover your slow cooker and let the chicken cook on low heat for 5-6 hours. If you’re short on time, you can cook the chicken on high for 3-4 hours instead, but keep in mind that cooking it on low will give you more tender, flavorful chicken.

• Once your chicken is fully cooked, please remove it from the crockpot and place it into a bowl.
• Then, use a fork or a hand mixer to shred the chicken. If you want your shredded chicken to be a little juicier, add some liquid from the slow cooker to the chicken.

And that’s it! Your shredded chicken is now ready to be used in many delicious recipes. I love to use mine in tacos, salads, soups, casseroles, and more. The possibilities are endless!

Tips for Shredding Chicken Breasts

Shredding chicken can be intimidating but don’t worry; there are three easy ways to do it! Each method will give you a different texture and size, so choose the one that fits your preference.

• Using two forks: Take two forks and start pulling the chicken apart until it shreds into pieces. This method is excellent if you want larger chunks of shredded meat.
• Using a hand mixer: Turn the hand mixer on low and place it in the center of the chicken breasts, moving it around until the chicken is shredded. This method will give you smaller pieces of shredded chicken, so use a larger bowl to avoid making a mess.
• Using a stand mixer: Place the cooked chicken breasts in the mixing bowl and use the paddle attachment to shred the chicken on low speed. This method gives you more control over the size of the pieces as you shred the chicken.

Add some cooking liquid from the slow cooker to keep the chicken moist and flavorful.

Cooking Tips

I’ve been making crockpot shredded chicken for years and have picked up some tips for making it juicy and delicious. Here are my recommendations:

• Stick to boneless skinless chicken breasts for the best results. While chicken thighs will work, they’re fattier and can result in greasier shredded chicken. Plus, chicken breasts are a blank canvas that can absorb the flavors of your recipe.
• Avoid cooking chicken breasts for more than 6 hours on low or high for more than 2-3 hours for the juiciest shredded chicken. In most cases, 5 hours on low should do the trick. Keep an eye on the chicken if you must cook it on high, as it can dry out quickly.
• Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the crockpot and place it in a separate bowl before shredding it. The liquid at the bottom can make the chicken mushy if it’s shredded directly in the crockpot. You can always add some of the cooking liquid back in if needed.

Substitutions & Variations

This easy crockpot shredded chicken recipe doesn’t require a lot of ingredients, so there aren’t many substitutions you can make. However, if you’re curious about trying something different or if you’re out of a particular ingredient, here are some suggestions I’ve experimented with:

• Use bone-in chicken breasts: If all you have is bone-in chicken breasts, go ahead and use them! Just keep in mind that they might take longer to cook. To be safe, use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit before removing it from the slow cooker.
• Use chicken thighs. If you prefer, you can also use chicken thighs in this recipe. However, remember that cooking times may be longer, and chicken thighs are typically fattier than chicken breasts, resulting in a different texture and sometimes a greasier outcome.
• Use water instead of broth: Chicken broth adds extra flavor to the shredded chicken, but if you don’t have any on hand, don’t worry! Water will work just fine. If you want to switch things up, try using vegetable broth instead. Just be aware that beef broth has a more robust flavor and might not work as well in this recipe.
• Switch up the seasonings: If you’re feeling adventurous, experiment with different seasonings to add more variety to your shredded chicken. Instead of onion and garlic powder, use onion flakes or dried minced garlic. You could also add some Italian seasoning or chili powder for an extra kick of flavor. And if you run out of dried herbs, don’t worry! Just cook the chicken in broth and add more flavor when you use it in other recipes.

How to Use Shredded Chicken in Recipes

Once your shredded chicken is ready, you can use it in many different recipes! Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Chicken salad or sandwiches. This Greek yogurt chicken salad is a tasty and healthy option.
• Chicken enchiladas. Mix things up using chicken instead of beef in this easy enchiladas recipe.
• Buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese. For delicious and indulgent comfort food, stir some hot sauce into your baked mac and cheese.
• Healthy buffalo chicken dip. Swap out the greasy buffalo chicken dip for a lighter and healthier version.
• Mason jar salads. Adding shredded chicken to salads, like this southwest chicken salad or chicken caesar salad, is a great way to add protein and flavor.
• Chicken wraps. Make a wrap with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and ranch for a fun twist on a classic BLT.
• BBQ chicken sandwiches. Mix with barbecue sauce and put in a crust bun with cheddar cheese for a delicious chicken barbecue sandwich.
• One-pot dinners or casseroles. This one-pot chicken and rice recipe is perfect for a quick and easy meal.
• Soups. Use your shredded chicken to make Italian chicken soup, buffalo chicken soup, creamy chicken and rice soup, or easy chicken tortilla soup.
• Creamy Mexican chicken. Perfect for taco night! Mix in lime juice, beans, corn, cilantro, homemade taco seasoning, pico de Gallo or salsa, and some sour cream or Greek Yogurt to make a delicious creamy Mexican chicken over rice or in flour or corn tortillas. Serve with avocados or guacamole.

Make-ahead & Storage Tips

Here are some tips for storing your shredded chicken:

To store in the fridge: You can keep your shredded chicken for up to 4 days. It’s best to store it in glass containers to help keep it fresh.

To freeze: If you want to freeze your shredded chicken, it can last up to 6 months in the freezer. To make it easy to use in recipes, freeze it in 1 ½ – 2 cup portions. I recommend using Souper Cubes, which you can see pictured below. You purchase Souper Cube Trays here.

To reheat: If possible, it’s best to thaw your chicken overnight in the fridge. When you’re ready to reheat, you can use the microwave. Just place the frozen or thawed chicken in a microwave-safe dish and heat it for 1-2 minutes or until it’s hot.