This is your one-stop resource for making easy Crockpot Shredded Chicken. Whether you are wondering how to cook it, what recipes you can use it in, or how to store it, this article has an answer for you!
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A crock pot of shredded chicken will set your week up for success.
Soups, sandwiches, salads, quesadillas…is there anything shredded chicken can’t do? Instead of buying a rotisserie chicken, take few minutes to toss chicken breasts or thighs into your crockpot and let the slow cooker do the work. It saves money, is versatile, and you can make a big batch at once.
I’ve been making this recipe once a week for years and have the best tips for long to cook it, how to keep it from getting tough, and even the best ways to shred it.
Need your chicken sooner? See How to Cook Shredded Chicken on the stovetop or Instant Pot Shredded Chicken.
5 Star Review
“This is the only way we make chicken now. It is so easy and for once in my life the chicken tastes juicy instead of overcooked!”
— Mary —
Key Ingredients
- Chicken. Believe it or not, all you need for this easy crockpot shredded chicken breast recipe is…CHICKEN! You’ll have to trust me when I say you can make shredded chicken in your crock pot without broth, water, BBQ sauce, or marinade. It’s amazing, and it works!
- Spices & Seasonings. If you want to utilize your chicken in a variety of different recipes, salt and pepper will be best, as they fit with any dish. Or, try one of the ideas suggested below to infuse your each crockpot shredded chicken breast with flavor.
How to Make Crockpot Shredded Chicken
Add the Chicken to the Crockpot. Place the chicken breasts in a single layer so they cook evenly.
Season. Don’t skimp here, especially the salt. This is your only chance to get flavor into the meat!
Slow Cook on LOW. Chicken breasts cook in the slow cooker in 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours on low. For different cuts of chicken, see the times detailed below.
Shred. Shred the chicken, then serve as desired. ENJOY!
How to Shred Chicken (EASY Methods!)
If you’re wondering what the BEST way to shred chicken is, here are a few options:
- Hand Mixer. This is my preferred method! Remove your chicken to a bowl or place your hand mixer directly into the slow cooker and use it on low speed to shred the chicken. You also can transfer the cooked chicken breasts or thighs to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and shred it on low.
- Two Forks. Grab two forks, using one to steady the big pieces of chicken. Use the other fork to tear the big piece into shreds. (I’ve also heard reports that these Meat Shredder Claws work splendidly.)
- Fingers. If your chicken is cool enough, you can shred it with your fingers.
Seasonings for Crockpot Shredded Chicken
- Mexican Shredded Chicken. Add the seasonings from my Crock Pot Mexican Chicken to make slow cooker Mexican shredded chicken.
- Italian Shredded Chicken. Add 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning to your chicken.
- Spicy Shredded Chicken. If you love spice, add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes to your chicken.
- Buffalo Shredded Chicken. Follow the crockpot shredded chicken recipe from this Healthy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potatoes recipe.
- BBQ Shredded Chicken. For slow cooker shredded BBQ chicken, see my Crockpot BBQ Chicken recipe.
Chicken Breast Cooking Times
Boneless Chicken Breasts
- Cook boneless chicken breasts in slow cooker on LOW for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours (based on a medium boneless chicken breast with a weight of 8 ounces). Be sure to add or subtract time if your piece of chicken is smaller or larger.
- I do not recommend cooking boneless chicken breast on HIGH, as it will become very dry and tough, even if you check it early. On high, the chicken turns out drier; I consistently have the best results with low.
- Check early! All crock pot models are different, so your chicken may take less or more time than listed.
Bone-in Chicken Breasts
- Cook bone-in chicken breasts in slow cooker on LOW for 2-3 hours or HIGH for 1-2 hours (based on medium bone-in chicken breast with a weight of 11 ounces).
- Bone-in chicken is less likely to dry out than boneless, so you have the flexibility to cook the chicken on HIGH.
Chicken Thigh Cooking Times
Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Cook boneless chicken thighs in slow cooker on LOW for 3-4 hours, or HIGH for 2-3 hours (based on medium boneless chicken thigh with a weight of 4.5 ounces).
- Chicken thighs are less likely to dry out than chicken breasts, so you have flexibility to cook the chicken on high.
Bone-in Chicken Thighs
- Cook bone-in chicken thighs in slow cooker on LOW for 5-6 hours, or HIGH for 3-4 hours (based on medium bone-in chicken thigh with a weight of 5.5 ounces).
Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
- Don’t Use Frozen Chicken. Do not place frozen chicken in the slow cooker, as it may spend too long at room temperature during the slow cooking process and become unsafe to eat. You can only use fully-thawed raw chicken in the slow cooker safely.
- Avoid Overcooking. If the chicken is cooked too long, it will become dry and tough. Check your chicken for doneness early, especially if it is one of your first times making it. I also like to use a programmable slow cooker to prevent overcooking.
- Thaw Chicken Quickly. To quickly (and safely) thaw frozen chicken, place frozen chicken in a large plastic bag, and fill a large bowl with cold water. Submerge the bag into the bowl of cold water, and let sit until thawed (about 1 to 2 hours). If your water becomes warm, pour it out and refill the bowl with fresh cold water.
- Let the Chicken Rest. Let your chicken rest for at least 5 minutes after it comes out of the slow cooker before shredding. This will help keep the juices inside the chicken, so it stays moist.
What to Do with Shredded Chicken
- Tex-Mex Recipes. Fiesta Chicken, Shredded Chicken Tacos, or homemade Chipotle Bowls are delicious ways to use the chicken.
- Sandwiches. Use the chicken to make a crockpot shredded chicken sandwich with your favorite BBQ sauce.
- Wraps. This Chicken Caesar Wrap and this Asian Chicken Wrap are super flavorful and make for an easy dinner or lunch. Or try a Mediterranean wrap, with hummus, healthy crockpot pulled chicken, olives, cucumber, red onion, feta, and any other of your favorite toppings.
- Salads. Add protein to your favorite salad by topping it with this crock pot shredded chicken. My favorites include Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, BBQ Chicken Salad, and this Spinach Strawberry Salad.
- Pastas. Make your favorite pasta dish more filling by stirring in this shredded chicken. Adding it to this Mediterranean Pasta would be tasty.
- Pizzas. Use your shredded chicken to top a pizza (this Buffalo Chicken Pizza is a winner!).
- Soups. Stir some of this chicken into your favorite vegetarian soup recipe like Broccoli Cauliflower Soup to bump the protein content.
- Casseroles. Add crock pot shredded chicken to a veggie casserole like this Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole.
Crockpot Shredded Chicken
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
How to make crockpot shredded chicken breasts or thighs, an easy meal prep staple that can be used in countless recipes. So juicy and tender!
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Ingredients
- 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 8 ounces each) or boneless, skinless thighs, bone-in chicken breasts, or bone-in chicken thighs
- kosher salt, black pepper, and other seasonings as desired see blog post above for suggestions
Instructions
- Place chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker. Position the chicken so it's in a single layer and season, if desired (see blog post above for suggestions).
- Cover and cook medium boneless, skinless chicken breast on LOW for 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours (for other cuts of chicken, such as boneless things, or bone-in chicken breasts or thighs, and for cooking times on HIGH, see the blog post above).
- Check the chicken for doneness with an instant-read thermometer. (If you're using bone-in chicken, don't touch the thermometer to the bone.) The chicken should be 165 degrees F (I remove mine 5 to 10 degrees early, since the temperature will rise as it rests). Remove the chicken to a plate or cutting board and let rest 5 to 10 minutes so the juices can reincorporate (if you plan to shred the right in your slow cooker, you can let it rest there).
- When the chicken is cooked through, shred it using a hand mixer, two forks, or your fingers. Serve as desired.
Video
Notes
- For cooking times based on the type of chicken, please see the instructions listed in the blog post above.
- TO STORE: Place shredded chicken in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm plain shredded chicken in the microwave until hot, topped with a splash of water or chicken broth to keep it from drying out. If you’re serving sauce with your chicken, you can reheat it the chicken in the sauce on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
- TO FREEZE: Store shredded chicken in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- TO MAKE SHREDDED CHICKEN IN THE INSTANT POT: See my Instant Pot Chicken post.
- TO MAKE SHREDDED CHICKEN ON THE STOVE: See my How to Make Shredded Chicken post.
Nutrition
Serving: 4ounces (about 1/2 cup cooked, shredded chicken)Calories: 129kcalProtein: 24gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 72mgPotassium: 418mgVitamin A: 34IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg
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Leftovers never looked this good! Here are a few of my very favorite shredded chicken recipes:
I have been preparing chicken to shred in the slow cooker for years. It was not until today that I finally prepared it perfectly! Erin is my go-to for all cooking tips so I thought I’d check out her suggestions. So glad I did because this is the ticket for tender and exquisitely shred-able chicken!
So happy to hear that, Paula! Thank you!
I’m amazed how easy this was & how it turned out perfectly. I really like the idea of having some shredded chicken on hand. It makes cooking during the work week even easier, plus it’s cheaper and healthier.
So glad to hear, thank you Rebecca!
Really loved this. My partner and I have been looking for a good chicken alternative in our salads that doesn’t taste dry. This is a hit! Makes meal prep super easy!
Great to hear, thank you Cynthia!
I did try it and the seasonings made it really delicious! It’s also very tender. Can’t wait to use the chicken in a recipe.
Thank you Heather!
I love this recipe! I use it at least 2-3 times a month. I’m cooking chicken thighs as I type. I will usually cook a large chicken breast, shred it and use it for two or three meals with different ingredients. I use simple seasonings-garlic powder, Mrs. Dash table blend and salt. Make sure you have a meat thermometer and use it!. That is the best way to keep from overcooking the chicken.
Our health and wellness coordinator for my employer posted links to some of your recipes in our monthly calendar. I liked them and continue to look for your recipes when I’m searching for something new to cook. Thanks!
This makes me so happy to hear, Lisa! Thank you for sharing!!!