This slow cooker shredded chicken recipe is one of my favorite kitchen shortcuts! Slow cooker chicken takes just minutes to prep, and can be used in a wide range of dishes.
The results of our Gimme Some Oven reader survey are in! It was so awesome to hear from you and read all of your great (and encouraging) feedback about the site. So thank you to everyone who responded!
As far as your recipe requests go, the top two requested categories amongst many choices ended up being slow cooker and chicken recipes.
Like, by far. :)
So since you all apparently love your chicken and slow cookers as much as I do, I figured why not combine the two and start with a simple recipe for slow cooker shredded chicken!
If you are new to cooking or slow cookers, or if you are just looking for ideas to make weeknight meals all the speedier, I can’t recommend this slow cooker chicken enough. It is one of my favorite cooking time-savers! Your crock pot will do all of the work for you (I set mine for during the day while I’m at work!). Then all you have to do is spend literally less than 5 minutes before and after on prep. And voila — many meals’ worth of shredded chicken will be prepped and ready to enjoy whenever you need it.
I have included a few tips below on what chicken to buy, how to shred, how to store. And then I have also included a few quick recipes so that you can put it to use! This is definitely a staple in my kitchen that I regularly make once every few months, so I hope you might give it a try!
Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. black pepper
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- (optional) 1/2 cup water or chicken broth (**see note below**)
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in slow cooker, and sprinkle with seasonings (and liquid, if using). Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or until the chicken shreds easily with a fork. (*If making a smaller batch, keep an eye on your slow cooker as the chicken will likely need less cooking time.)
- Remove the chicken with tongs, and shred using two forks or the paddle attachment of a stand mixer. Use immediately, or freeze in ziplock bags or a sealed container.
- **I almost always use frozen chicken when I make big batches of slow cooker shredded chicken like this. And the chicken has always released LOTS of extra juices while cooking, making plenty moist. Some of that extra liquid may be from the chicken breasts being a little icy and frozen. But if you are worried about chicken being dry, feel free to add in a little liquid while cooking.
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!What Chicken To Buy:
You can either buy fresh or frozen chicken for this recipe. If you buy frozen, though, you need to be sure to thaw it to room temperature before adding it to the slow cooker. (Edited: apparently adding frozen meats to a slow cooker is unsafe!) You can use other cuts of chicken if you’d like, but I would just avoid any chicken with bones so that you don’t have to pick them out.
How To Shred Chicken:
My favorite method is the old fashioned two-forks method. Even with a really large batch of slow cooker shredded chicken, I can shred it all in about 2 minutes since the meat is so tender and easily pulls apart.
You can also add the chicken to a stand mixer and (very briefly!!) mix it with the paddle attachment to break it up.
How To Store Shredded Chicken:
If you are not using the chicken right away, I recommend freezing it in small ziplock bags or sealed containers. Be sure not to put the chicken all together in one huge ziplock bag, because then it is harder to separate and thaw in small batches.
How To Use Shredded Chicken:
I add mine to all sorts of recipes!!! Shredded chicken is awesome in soups, tacos, pastas, quesadillas, sandwiches, enchiladas, appetizers, you name it!
Recipes For Shredded Chicken:
Here are a few of my favorites from the blog:
5 Ingredient White Chicken Chili
Chipotle Chicken and Rice Soup
44 Clove Garlic and Chicken Soup
I love this! The first time I made it, I set it and left the house. When I got home, I realized I had accidentally cooked it on high and left it for 6 hours! I thought it was ruined. But it was still great! The chicken wasn’t even dry, I guess because of the water. Not overcooked at all. I’ve made it 3 times now, the right way haha, and we love it! Mostly my husband likes to use it for tacos or quesadillas. I also add it to various recipes! None of it ever goes to waste! Thanks!
Thanks Jessica — we’re glad to hear you still enjoyed this despite it cooking for too long! Thanks for sharing with us, and for giving the recipe a try! :D
I find chicken breast in the crock pot dry out quickly. Using a bone-in chicken is SO easy! The fat/bones just melt away from the meat, making it easy to shred, and you can pour the juices through a strainer and get gorgeous broth! Cheap and easy use for a whole chicken.
I made this last night and to me .. It tastes great in a salad… My wife mentioned that, while it tasted good, the meat was very chewy. Does that mean I cooked it too long? I had it in there for 6 hours in low, it was chicken breasts cut pretty thin
Hi Nate! Hmmm, it sounds like it was overcooked. It wasn’t undercooked, was it? Did you cut the chicken before you put it in the slow cooker? If so, that would have made it cook faster and in turn get overcooked and dried out. 6 hours on low shouldn’t have made it overcooked, especially since it really should take 8 hours on low to cook it.
Do you put the crock pot on low?
Yes, we put it on low and cook for 8 hours. We hope you enjoy!
Great recipe! This is the second time I’ve made this shredded chicken, and we use it for shredded chicken tacos, chicken and rice, and even a lemon pasta with chicken recipe I found on Pinterest. It always comes out amazing and allows for a variety of meals all week!
Thanks Kris, we’re happy you liked this recipe! :D
would the cook time be the same for newly store bought chicken or cut in half approximately?
Hi Theresa, we apologize, but we’re not really sure we understand your question?
This looks awesome! Definitely going try it this weekend. One question: do you put the chicken in completely frozen or partially defrost it first? Thanks!
I put the chicken in completely frozen, but either will work. Just keep an eye on it so that it does not overcook. :)
Whenever I boil chicken to shred it is really chewy. Does the chicken turn out chewy when made like this?
We don’t find it to be chewy at all!
Hello! I just made this chicken for the first time and couldn’t stop taking bites of it as I was shredding it – so yummy!!
I’m new to the freezing world – how would you recommend thawing the chicken that you’ve store in the freezer?
Hi Chelsea, we’re so happy you liked the chicken! For thawing chicken, we recommend: Thawing in the refrigerator. (Allow about 5 hours per pound of food.) This is the most preferred method, if you have the time.
I’m a little late to the party on this one….but I seriously thought that those boxes of frozen chicken breasts were going to be “mushy” and “gross” even if done in the crockpot. OH so not true! Mine turned out perfectly! Easy to shred. Tasty. And OH SO EASY! I used some chicken yesterday for a quick chicken salad sandwich at lunch…and then your chicken enchiladas with salsa verde for dinner.
Yay, we’re so glad you enjoyed the recipes Grae! (Btw, we love your name and the spelling of it!)