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Here’s how to make shredded chicken that’s fast, flavorful, and juicy every time! Use it to top salads, in tacos, on sandwiches, and in any of your favorite shredded chicken recipes.

white platter of shredded chicken breast

Ultimate Guide to Shredded Chicken + Recipes to Use It

Table of Contents
  1. Ultimate Guide to Shredded Chicken + Recipes to Use It
  2. How to Make Shredded Chicken: 4 Steps
  3. How to Shred Chicken: My Secret Tip
  4. Shredded Chicken Breast Recipes
  5. How to Store Shredded Chicken
  6. Why Not Just Buy Shredded Chicken?
  7. What About Other Cuts of Chicken?
  8. Helpful Tools Make Shredded Chicken or Diced Chicken
  9. Shredded Chicken Yield and Serving Sizes
  10. How to Make Shredded Chicken Recipe

Sure you can buy store-bought rotisserie chicken, but when you see how fast and easy it is to make shredded chicken at home, you won’t want to.

While there are a variety of different methods to cook chicken for shredding or dicing, poaching (gently cooking the chicken in water) is the one I’ve found to be the quickest and easiest, with the smallest amount of clean up.

  • You don’t need any equipment other than a pot to make it.
  • The chicken comes out perfectly tender and juicy every time. (Ever wonder how some restaurants get their chicken so moist? Cooking in water is the secret!)
  • This method works for boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs.
  • You can also refrigerate the chicken for up to 4 days or freeze it, so it’s perfect for meal prep!

Other options include shredded chicken in the oven (Baked Chicken Breast), or if you want to use your appliances like your pressure cooker or slow cooker, you can prepare Instant Pot Shredded Chicken, Crockpot Shredded Chicken, or Air Fryer Chicken Breast.

How to Make Shredded Chicken: 4 Steps

sauce pan with uncooked chicken breast for poaching
  1. STEP ONE: Place boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs) in the bottom of a large pot, then season them.
  • Essential Seasoning. I opt for a generous pinch of salt and pepper. If you like, you can add other seasonings, such as a bayleaf, poultry seasoning, or a few springs of fresh herbs.
  • Arranging the Chicken. You can overlap the breasts or thighs slightly, but if you have a lot of overlap, use a larger pot for a big batch.
sauce pan with poached chicken covered in water (not broth) sitting on a green checked kitchen towel
  1. STEP 2: Cover the Chicken with 1 Inch of Water
  • You can use chicken broth or vegetable broth, though I find that with this cooking method, you don’t need it. Unless you have some that you need to use up, save yourself an ingredient and make this shredded chicken without broth.
  1. STEP 3: Bring the Water to a Gentle Boil on the Stove, then Simmer.
  • Once the liquid is boiling, reduce the heat and let the chicken breast or thighs simmer for 8 to 16 minutes, depending upon the size and number of chicken breasts or thighs that you are poaching.
  1. STEP 4: Check for Doneness.
  • Chicken is done when the center reaches 165 degrees F (use an instant-read meat thermometer for guaranteed safety and accuracy—I love this one and use it regularly).
  • Check your chicken OFTEN towards the end. If your chicken is dry or tough, it is because it is overcooked.
  • For the Juiciest Chicken. Remove the chicken a few degrees early. Place it on a plate, cover it, and let rest for five more minutes. The carry over cooking will finish the job.

That’s it! From here, you can shred the chicken (or dice it), then use it however you please.

cutting board with sliced cooked chicken breast

How to Shred Chicken: My Secret Tip

  • The easiest way to shred chicken is with a hand mixer. Place the chicken in a large mixing bowl, then use a hand mixer on low speed to break the chicken into shreds. This hack is a complete timesaver, especially if you are making a larger amount.
  • If you are making a very large batch, you can also shred it in a stand mixer.
  • No mixer? No problem. You can shred the chicken the old fashioned way with two forks (you’ll need forks or protective gloves to shred hot chicken by hand), or my other favorite method: shred the chicken with your fingers. As soon as the chicken is cool enough to handle safely, gently pull it apart with your fingers.
  • Instead of shredding the chicken, you can also slice or dice it, which is even faster and perfect for green salads, pasta salads, and wraps.

Shredded Chicken Breast Recipes

clear plastic storage container of shredded chicken breast ready for refrigerating or freezing

How to Store Shredded Chicken

Shredded chicken is perfect to keep on hand in the refrigerator during the week to cut down on meal-prep time and to add quick servings of protein to your meals.

  • TO REFRIGERATE SHREDDED CHICKEN. Let the cooked chicken cool completely. Place in a shallow, airtight container and press a sheet of plastic against the top. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
  • TO FREEZE SHREDDED CHICKEN. Follow the steps above, but instead of refrigerating, store the chicken in the freezer for up to 2 months. You can also store it in heavy duty freezer bags. Be sure to squish out as much extra air as you can.

Why Not Just Buy Shredded Chicken?

I also use this method for making shredded chicken any time a recipe calls for store bought shredded rotisserie chicken.

While you can buy shredded chicken, the benefits of making it yourself are notable.

  • Health Considerations. Shredded chicken that you make at home is almost guaranteed to be lower in sodium and fat than store-bought rotisserie chicken.
  • Cook the Meat You Want. I like to make shredded chicken breasts, because most of the time I prefer white meat. If your household is more into dark meat, you can cook all chicken thighs. Want a mix? You can choose a blend too!
  • Save Money. By weight, homemade shredded chicken is far less expensive than precooked store bought chicken.

What About Other Cuts of Chicken?

While I photographed this recipe with shredded chicken breasts, this method also works for making boneless, skinless shredded chicken thighs.

  • If you use thighs, the meat may cook more quickly depending upon their size, so I recommend checking a few minutes early to ensure that you have moist, juicy diced or shredded chicken.
  • I would not recommend this method with chicken wings or legs. Because neither contains a significant amount of meat, these cuts are better to cook for enjoyment on their own, versus for shredding to use in other applications.

Helpful Tools Make Shredded Chicken or Diced Chicken

Shredded Chicken Yield and Serving Sizes

The amount of shredded chicken your breast or thigh yields will vary widely depending upon their size. Generally:

  • 1 1/2 pounds of boneless chicken will yield about 4 cups of shredded chicken.
  • 1 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast will yield about 1 1/3 cups of shredded chicken. This is a medium breast. The average ones at our grocery store tend to skew larger, but it will depend on the specific brand you purchase. Organic breasts are usually smaller.
  • Plan on about 1/3 to 1/2 pound of uncooked boneless chicken per serving.
  • If you are adding the shredded chicken to a recipe with a large amount of other fixings (such as chicken tacos), you will likely need less. For example, I find 1/4 pound per person for chicken tacos be plenty…assuming we have plenty of chips and guac.
  • The nutritional information in the recipe below is calculated for 1/2 pound or 1 (8-ounce) breast.

I hope this guide on making shredded chicken was helpful for you! What are some of your favorite ways to use shredded chicken? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

How to Make Shredded Chicken

4.95 from 67 votes
Easy recipe to make shredded chicken that's moist and flavorful! Use this fast, versatile method anytime a recipe calls for shredded chicken.

Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Servings: 1 –4 chicken breasts

Ingredients
  


Instructions
 

  • Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of a large pot, then season them lightly with salt and pepper. The amounts in the recipe are just a suggestion, so don’t feel pressured to measure. Give each breast a nice sprinkle. If you are cooking a lot of chicken breasts, you can overlap them slightly. If you have a lot of overlap, use a larger pot.
  • Cover the chicken with 1 inch of water.
  • Place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a boil. Once the liquid is boiling, reduce the heat and let simmer until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer or is no longer pink in the center, about 8 to 16 minutes, depending upon the size and number of chicken breasts that you are poaching. A 10-ounce chicken breast will need to simmer for about 12 to 14 minutes. Remove the chicken from water and let rest until cool enough to handle. Dice, slice, or shred as desired.

Video

Notes

  • This method for how to poach chicken is intended for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. It also works well for boneless, skinless chicken thighs or bone-in chicken breasts too, though you will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. If using bone-in chicken breasts, extend the cook time; for thighs, check them early.
  • Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If dicing the chicken, I prefer to cut the chicken just before serving. If shredding, I find that the chicken is the easiest to shred apart while it is still slightly warm, before I place it in the refrigerator. You can shred by hand or use a hand mixer on low speed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(8 ounce) chicken breastCalories: 367kcalProtein: 34gFat: 4g

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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235 Comments

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  1. Shredded chicken is one of our favorite in the house and I am just happy to see another recipe which I can make from it. Thanks for sharing this one. Since Halloween season is coming, this will be a great addition to our menu.5 stars

  2. Thank you so much for teaching us this method! Seems like such a basic culinary skill, yet I hadn’t done it until this evening! I really appreciate you sharing this with your readers. Now I have cooked chicken ready-to-go for next week’s lunches.5 stars

    1. You’re welcome, Stefanie! I’m so glad you found it helpful. It sounds like your lunches next week are off to an awesome start!

  3. This method was so easy and the results were marvelous!  I was a little doubtful at first because I’d cooked chicken in water before and i’d always over cooked it. But this chicken turned out very moist and is my go to recipe when I need diced or shredded chicken now5 stars

    1. Mollie, I am so excited to hear that this method worked so well for you. Thanks so much for trying it and taking time to come back by and leave this lovely review!

  4. Do you have a version of this recipe that you do in the slow cooker? I thought I saw this on your website but I can’t seem to locate it.

    1. Hi Lauren, this stovetop method is my preferred way to cook plain chicken breasts since it takes much less time than a crock pot (generally under 20 minutes) and there’s less risk of overcooking it, which I find can happen quickly in the slow cooker. But there are other sites that have done a slow cooker version—I found a few just by searching “shredded chicken crock pot”! I hope that helps!

    1. Awesome, Vanessa! I’m so glad to hear it’s been useful for you. Thank YOU so much for reporting back!

  5. Thanks for sharing this useful technique; I am eager to try it.  

    Somewhat off topic, what brand or brands are the pots and pans  you use?  I need to get a new stockpot, preferably nonstick, and I am overwhelmed by all the choices.  Thank you!

    1. I hope it’s a winner for you, Jocelyn! You’re right that there are so many choices out there! I have a few different brands of pots and pans in my kitchen…you can find my favorites in the shop section of my site here! I hope that helps!

  6. A great way to shred this chicken (think Enchiladas), is with the dough blade of a Cuisinart. I used to do it by hand with a fork. This takes seconds and I use the chicken so many ways!

  7. To be honest I thought this would be pretty gross. But I tried it and it was delicious. I was going to put it in a casserole and ended up just eating the chicken!5 stars

  8. I love it shredded, instead of dicing it. I use it to make chicken salad, chicken enchiladas and chicken and rice. Thanks for posting. ? It just taste better shredded instead of dicing it. I have been using more water than your method, but I’m going to try your way. Thanks.5 stars

    1. I am so happy to hear this method has been working well for you! All the ways you mentioned to use the chicken sound delicious. Thank you so much for trying it and reporting back. I really appreciate it!

      1. Great method! I used chicken thighs added salt, pepper, and bay leaves, and the results were delicious! It even made a nice amount of broth that my daughter absolutely loved. I just ended up skimming the frothy bits off the top and voila!

  9. Simple, easy AND tastes great! I try to keep some on hand for quick lunches since my husband sometimes gets called out to work really early (4 am) just add to mixed vegetables or rice (our both lol)
    I also use hand mixer to make shredding easier.5 stars

    1. I am so happy to hear this works for you Sarah! It’s my favorite way to make chicken too. Thanks so much for taking time to report back!

  10. Great way to have chicken on hand for fast dinners. Please keep the leftover broth. Freeze it and use it in your next soup recipe or wherever chicken broth is needed. 
    Always so inspiring and fun reading your blogs. 5 stars

    1. Lynn, this is my favorite way to keep chicken on hand too! I’m so glad it’s been useful for you. Thanks for the tip about saving the water. I’ve never tried that and will keep it in mind!

  11. Another easy way to shred chicken (especially if you have a lot) if you have a stand mixer is to put the still warm (deboned!) chicken into the work bowl, and using the paddle blade, mix it on medium for about 30 seconds. Voila! Shredded chicken with no “clawed up” cutting board. Swellegant!

  12. Wow. Thanks for posting. I never thought of cooking chicken this way. Nicer than oven during hot summer day and no need for frying oil( (read less calorie) than over a stovetop.5 stars

    1. Absolutely! I’m glad you found this method, Bunnee! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this great review.

  13. This is the best method I’ve found for cooking chicken in water, the poaching method leaves the chicken so tender!5 stars

    1. I’m glad it’s a winning technique for you, Jamie! Thanks so much for giving it a try and letting me know how it went.

  14. I’m new to cooking and I don’t have a meat thermometer, what is the next best way to tell if the poached chicken is completely cooked without over cooking it?

    1. Hi Danielle, unfortunately, the thermometer is really the only 100% reliable way to tell. They aren’t too expensive and are really worth it! Otherwise, you should cut into a piece after the suggested cooking time and make sure the juices run clear.

  15. Thank you for the great tips! Do you know if you can cook thin sliced breasts in this same method? I need shredded chicken for a recipe and that’s all I have on hand. thanks in advance!! 

    1. Hi Shannon, I think you could, but they may be done much faster than a whole piece. I’d check them frequently for doneness to make sure they don’t overcook.

    1. Hi Lisa! It’s OK if the chicken peeks through a bit (mine sometimes floats) as long as it was covered with the right amount at the beginning. Just make sure it is mostly submerged and not drying out.

  16. This looks great! Can I use any seasoning I want and it’ll turn out okay?

    Sometimes just salt is awesome but I love chicken because there are so many flavorful options. 

    I want to make shredded seasoned chicken for tacos. ?

    1. Hi Avery, the chicken is really meant to be more of a blank canvas to add to other recipes, so you can add any spices that you like!

    1. Hi Rhonda, yes, you can use frozen chicken. It may take a little longer, so make sure to use check the temperature for doneness.

  17. Hi have you ever started this process with frozen chicken breast. If so any suggestions on what to do differently.

    1. Hi Danielle, I start with my chicken already thawed, but you can do this from frozen as well. It may take a little longer, so make sure to test for doneness with a meat thermometer.

  18. Thank you for this recipe & also for including info/link re: the instant-read meat thermometer that you use. I really appreciate that. 5 stars

  19. Beginner cook here, every recipe for chicken salad said to add cooked chicken to recipe. Never would say how to cook the chicken or worse recipe would call for store bought rotiserie chicken. Glad I found your web page,now I know how to poach chicken. Thanks.5 stars

  20. Hi Karen, I appreciate the feedback—unfortunately, I don’t have that level of control to decide how the ads are designed, but I do try to make sure that any video ads never play sound or cover any text or photos, so if you sees one that blocks those in the future, please let me know.

      1. Maria, sorry for the hassle! You should always be able to close pop ups (look for an X in the corner). If that happens again, definitely let me know!

  21. Thank you so much for this tip! I’d never even heard of poached chicken until I saw your post and I think it’s my new favorite way to cook chicken! Thanks for teaching a cooking newbie some helpful tricks!5 stars

    1. YAY Courtney!! I’m so happy this post was helpful for you. Thank you for taking time to leave this wonderful review. It means a lot!

    2. Hi!!

      Does the 1 inch of water let the chicken peek through? My chicken was like halfway out… i added more water to cover them.. i hope they turn out ok!

  22. Thank you, thank you! Can’t believe I’ve went this long without knowing to do this. So simple for weeknights and sure to please the whole family! Everything taste better simple and made at home!5 stars

  23. Thanks for the great recipe! I’ve never made chicken like this and I absolutely love it! A tip I picked up from somewhere is to shred your chicken using your kitchen-aid mixer if you have one! So easy, just throw the cooked chicken in and let the mixer do it’s job, and voila! Beautifully shredded chicken. 5 stars

    1. Kailey, I am so glad to hear this method worked out for you!!!! Thanks for the tip with the mixer too!

  24. Is there a way to stop your chicken breast from being slimmy? I have tried this recipe a few times and the outside of the chicken breast needs to be cut off because it is gross and gummy.

    Thanks!

    1. Brooke, that has never happened to me! It could be the quality of your chicken. Have you tried a few different brands? Also, make sure that you aren’t overcooking it and causing the outside to have a different texture. An instant read thermometer is perfect for this. I hope that helps!

  25. I have used the shredded rotisserie chicken at Kroger in recipes, but it’s $6.99 a pound! So I looked up cooking chicken for shredding and found your recipe. So I’m trying it today; hopefully, it will come out ok! Then I will freeze it to use for future recipes. Thanks!

  26. Sorry to sound dense… but when you say cover it with an inch of water, do you mean an inch total in the pot, or an inch above the top of the chicken?

  27. I found a recipe for chicken soup I’ve been wanting to try, but it calls for cooked chicken. Do you think this would be a good method for cooking chicken before adding it to soup?

    1. Hi Tammy! This recipe is a starting point for shredded chicken to flavor and mix into things (chicken salad, tacos, etc.). For a rotisserie chicken flavor, you’d probably be better off roasting or baking the chicken with the spices on it. I’d recommend doing an online search for common rotisserie spices and go from there!

  28. Thank you Erin for the shredding chicken with a hand mixer tip. Using forks is hard and hurts my hands! Grateful for that info!

  29. Thanks so much, Erin, for the detailed post on poaching chicken. I’m definitely saving your recipe. I’m intrigue by the idea of shredding chicken with the hand mixer but I’m scared to try it because it sounds like it could become a total mess. I wish you’d do a video showing that method so I could actually see what happens. Again, that so much for the detailed post on poaching chicken.

    1. Kris, I’m glad to hear this is helpful for you! (As for seeing it happen, there are some videos on youtube if you do an internet search.)

  30. Stupid question but simmer varies to me, what temp on the stove do you reduce this to after boiling, thank you!! Making this for lunch this week.

    1. Hi Kristen, it really depends on the power of your burner. Here’s an article with a picture of simmering water vs. boiling water. I hope that helps! https://www.finecooking.com/article/whats-the-difference-between-a-simmer-and-a-boil

  31. I am soooo glad I stumbled upon this recipe as this is exactly what I wanted! And, it turned out perfect- all the way down to using a hand mixer to shred the chicken. I will never shred my chicken any other way! Great recipe – thank you so much!!5 stars

    1. Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Christy! I’m so happy this recipe was helpful for you!

      1. Until I read all of the comments I assumed you meant put one inch of water in the pan, not one inch over the chicken. I added water but you may want to clarify. Also isn’t this the same as boiling chicken?

        1. Hi Allison! Thanks for pointing this out, and I apologize for any confusion the instructions caused. And it is very similar. This method helps yield perfectly tender shredded chicken. I hope you enjoyed the recipe!

  32. First time making shredded chicken and it was super easy and healthier than shredding rotisserie chicken! I cut the large chicken breasts into 4 strips before poaching to cut down time and cook more evenly. It worked really well!5 stars

  33. this was very helpful. I want to cook 5+ lbs of fresh chicken breast now because I got some on sale; then freeze it to make enchiladas for Christmas Eve. Should I shred the cooked chicken before freezing or leave them whole and shred after thawing them.

    1. Judy, you can do either! Personally I prefer the convenience of shredding them first; I think chicken shreds more easily when it is still warm too. (And we have enchiladas for Christmas dinner too! LOVE IT! This is our family recipe: https://www.wellplated.com/green-chile-chicken-enchiladas/)

  34. I needed to make some shredded chicken for a buffalo chicken casserole and this recipe worked perfectly, thanks! 5 stars

  35. I made this today and it worked great! Thanks so much!  I tried using the hand mixer in the pot, but it splattered chicken in my kitchen. Definitely switch to a bigger bowl. 5 stars

    1. I’m so happy to hear that this worked well for you, Melissa! Thank you for sharing this kind review!

  36. This recipe seems easy to follow. Can’t wait to try it. I was wondering if I make it and freeze it according to instructions to use at a later date, how quickly should you consume after? For instance if I make this and freeze the cooked chicken and then later pull out & allow to thaw to make up a chicken salad, how long is it safe to keep in the fridge?  Also would you need to reheat the chicken once it is thawed out in fridge? I’ve always wondered how that worked. Thank you. 

    1. Hi Suz! You’ll see a recommended 3 to 4 days from most websites, but you can decide your personal level of comfort. It will also depend on how quickly you freeze the chicken after cooking it. Once you thaw the cooked frozen chicken, you can enjoy it cold in a chicken salad. I hope this helps and that you enjoy the recipe!

  37. This is a wonderful method Erin- thank you. The chicken was delicious.
    My mom’s disease has left her with difficulty swallowing bite size pieces of food. As her caregiver, I was stressing about how to get protein (especially chicken) into her. This worked perfect. She had no troubles.
    Thanks for making a caregiver’s life a bit easier by sharing your talents and knowledge.5 stars

  38. The information was spot on and 1st of its kind in that everything was correct. I find recipes notoriously are sometimes, not clear, say one thing in the ingredients listing and another in the video, have missing ingredients or wrong timing, etc. However, this recipe was excellent from top to finish. Thank you for that.5 stars

    1. I’m so pleased that you found this helpful, Barbara! Thank you for sharing this kind review!

  39. I wanted to use shredded chicken in place of shrimp for a Mexican-style casserole but didn’t know whether to boil, bake, or broil the chicken breasts. Your recipe worked out great. The chicken was moist and easy to shred (I used two forks; too lazy to pull out the hand mixer). It worked great in the casserole and gained its flavor from the enchilada sauce I used in my recipe. I’ll use this method from now on.5 stars

    1. I’m so pleased that this post was helpful, Charles! Thank you for sharing this kind review!

  40. I have chicken tenderloins – would i follow the same water measurement and timing as chicken breast? Thank you.

    1. Hi Sharmila! I’ve never tried making chicken tenders this way, but based on what I can find online, it sounds like it will work. Just make sure to check the internal temperature early and often, as the tenders will cook faster than chicken breasts. If you decide to experiment with it, I’d love to hear how it goes!

  41. I never would have thought of using a hand mixer! I’ve always used forks. Brilliant! It worked like a miracle. Now I’m wondering if it will do as well with pork. This was an amazing howto. Thanks!5 stars

  42. We love to eat our shredded chicken as bbq chicken sandwiches or as an entree with steamed green beens and/or other veggies!5 stars

  43. I use this recipe when I want to make amazing quesdillas… this shredded chicken is so good and its quick and easy too throw together the rest of my recipe…cheese, tortillas, onions, queso fresco, salsa and sour cream…after the chicken is shredded you add some taco seasoning and a lil salt and garlic powder and put it together and make your quesadilla!!! Soooo yummy…thanks!!!5 stars

  44. I just wanted to pitch in, as this might be helpful to others – I don’t have a thermometer and just watched over the chicken carefully, cutting it up once in a while to check for doneness, and it turned out absolutely PERFECT! Super moist and super tasty even without using any salt or pepper, or any spices!5 stars

  45. I tried this twice with 2 chicken breasts and both times they came out a sort of grayish color and dry and rubbery on the outside and moist but pinkish on the inside. I used high quality organic meat. What am I doing wrong?

    1. Hi, I’m sorry you’ve had trouble with this recipe. It’s so hard for me to say what might be happening without being in the kitchen with you, but it sounds like your chicken might need to cook a little longer.

  46. This was easy and the chicken was super moist afterwards. Spot on to keep checking the temp as time gets close to the end. I used this as a sub for shredded pork in a rice bowl. Thanks!5 stars

    1. I’m so sorry that you had trouble with this recipe, Laura. The timing in the recipe can certainly vary based on the size/type of chicken, and it sounds like your chicken may have needed to cook for the full 16 minutes or a bit longer. I (and many other readers) have had success with this method, so I truly wish it would’ve been a hit for you too!

  47. I believe I had to cook my chicken breasts for 16 minutes but it was perfect! I made tons of pulled chicken for a graduation party and it was great! I’ll do it this way every time!5 stars

  48. This recipe makes me sooooo happy! My sweet Mom who was an AMAZING cook passed away few years ago and poached chicken all of the time…and used a hand mixer to shred! I completely forgot until I read this recipe. Happy tears! :) Thank you for the recipe and lovely memories of my Mom!5 stars

  49. Just a comment regarding using chicken broth for the poaching. I like to use chicken broth and once the chicken is cooked cool and save the new strengthened broth for another use or save/freeze for later.

  50. I went with the full 16 minute simmer, it was perfectly cooked. The hand mixer for shredding is brilliant. I went with a Mexican theme, and used my 1st batch for tacos, nachos and quesadillas. Spot on, thank you!5 stars

  51. Hi Erin
    Thanks for the recipe.
    If we would like to use the leftover chicken in the fridge for breakfast sandwich for the kids, do we need to steam it first or can we just use it straight out of the fridge? Thanks

  52. Thank you for letting others in on this secret to near perfect shredded chicken every time!
    I have used this exact method for many many years (probably 55 or more). These days the utensils have changed a bit but the results are still the same.

    I always start with frozen chicken breasts, cover with water, add one cube of chicken bullion and cook on an induction cook top at 210 degrees (lid cocked) for 60 minutes. If I’m making shredded chicken for tacos or enchiladas I’ll add a generous amount of fresh toasted and ground cumin seed. The 60 minute cook time is the default run time for my cooktop. Let the chicken cool in the remaining broth and then process as you have stated.

    The chicken is always done and juicy!

    Thanks for all your tips and recipes.5 stars

  53. Yes I made it and came out nice and juicy
    and then i added Jack Daniels dressing
    and that was so yummy .5 stars

  54. I can’t believe how quick and easy this was!!! Even if you are not shredding it, this is a great way to cook boneless chicken breast. It was moist, tender, and delicious. I seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. I’m going to cube it for a salad, but I could easily eat it with a side dish.5 stars

  55. It would be helpful to clarify the amount of water needed. I followed the instructions and put one inch of water in the pot and the chicken didn’t cook and had to scrap it and start over after I read the comments.

    1. Hi Stefanie, I’m sorry you had trouble with this recipe. I go pretty in-depth in the blog post about the amount of water and how to do it. There is even pictures for reference. Hope the second time came out for you!

      1. I’m trying this recipe tonight. However, I’m boiling it in chicken broth instead of water. Hope it turns out as amazing as yours looks

    2. From the photos it looks like you want an inch above the chicken breast, not just 1 inch total. Hope this helps.

    3. Totally agree that the directions are confusing. “Cover the chicken with an inch of water” which I understood as an inch of water total in the pot. Bummer

  56. Thank you for sharing! I’m making a copy cat chicken salad tonight and this is just the information I needed. It worked perfectly.5 stars

  57. Hi, all I needed to know was how to shred 5 pounds of chicken fast. I never heard of using a hand mixer and wow, what a time saving and non-messy way to go, Thank you so much for that idea!5 stars

  58. This was an incredibly easy way to prepare the shredded chicken for the enchilada casserole I made! It turned out perfectly, thank you!5 stars

  59. This was amazing – boiled many a breast before but adding seasonings was a great idea and the best part was using a hand mixer to shred after the chicken rested (which was perfectly done). In all my years I’ve never used a hand mixer but from now on I surely will! Looks professionally shredded, was quick and easy to clean. Thank you!5 stars

  60. I use shredded chicken in a lot of things and I’m never happy with the stovetop or baking methods because it always comes out a little too dry so I thought I’d try this method. Came out great. I’ll use this method from now on.5 stars

  61. Looks great! However, I have to use up tons of chicken breast CUTLETS. They’re about 4 oz each. If I put 2 or 3 of them in the pot and follow the directions, how many minutes might it take, more or less, to get them to 160 degrees? 6-8 minutes perhaps? Thanks!

    1. Hi Daniel! I’ve only made the recipe as is, so if you are using a different cut of chicken it would be hard for me to advise. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!

  62. Thanks for making this easy and foolproof! I’m a “by the recipe” cook as I’m not good at cooking – ask my kids!!! I’m so bad I could probably burn water! So thank you for walking through step by step! :)5 stars

  63. I have an 8qt instant pot and followed the directions to a tee with 1 small and one average sized chicken breast and I’m on the 3rd round of 8min pressure cook. 24 minutes in and they’re still not cooked through.

    1. Hi Lin! This recipe is actually designed to be made on the stovetop. If you’d like to try an Instant Pot recipe, I’d recommend following the instructions for my Instant Pot Chicken instead.

    1. Hi Melody! Yes you can! I actually have a whole section in the blog post that covers this. H

  64. If I need to cook my shredded chicken in the crockpot as sweet & sour BBQ chicken is there a limit to cooking it ur way or would it still be ok to then place it in crockpot to kinda cook a second time?

    1. Hi Tina! That is a little difficult for me to advise on since I don’t know the recipe you are going to make. Here is my guide to making crockpot shredded chicken. My honest opinion is that once you cook it and shredded it, you would not need to spend anymore time cooking it in the crockpot. You could likely heat it up with your sauce in the crockpot but you want to make sure it doesn’t dry out or overcook. Hope this helps!

  65. Pizza! My daughter and I make home made pizza with chicken, cranberry sauce and brie. We usually buy small containers of shredded chicken but wanted a more cost effective way so my chicken is on and looking forward to trying it.

  66. I put a few spices on the chicken along with the salt and pepper. Checked for any pink areas after 12 minutes (semi big chicken breasts) and they were perfect. Thank you!5 stars

  67. When you say ‘overlap them slightly’… I need to cook and shred 5 and 1/2 pounds of raw chicken. What is the max amount of raw chicken per cooking pot you recommend?

    1. Hi Stefanie! It’s really going to depend on the size pot you have in your kitchen. If you have a lot of overlap, I’d suggest upgrading to a larger pot or using two separate pots. Hope this helps!

  68. My comment is simple: This recipe is shockingly easy and delicious. I used boneless skinless breasts, which I am using in Erin’s chicken pot pie recipe, amd while I did othee things, the breasts cooked to perfection. So easy! Thank you.5 stars

  69. Turned out perfectly! I had one chicken breast and I had very little time. This worked out great for shredded chicken in pasta.5 stars

    1. Works every time! Fast and easy. Have finally moved this into my permanent files instead of searching for it every time I need to do it!5 stars

  70. Great recipe to play around with, thank you! I boiled chicken breast and used that stock plus put Sazon seasoning on both the chicken once shredded and in the broth, mixed hot Hungarian paprika, ancho Chile pepper powder, and chili powder in lieu of just chili.. used smoked sea salt instead of kosher, used a 9.5 x 13.5 pan and added a layer of stone ground organic corn tortillas, then spinach, then the mix, and repeated again. Topped with Mexican cheese and crumbled siete lime tortilla chips, baked for 35ish min and broiled for 4 more or less.

    Also I swapped the cream cheese for nonfat Greek yogurt and put some Monterey Jack in the mix and Mexican cheese then topped with more Mexican cheese and used rotel hatch green chili. Defo had a bite!5 stars

    1. I’m sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe, Makenzie. I know it can be so disappointing to try a new recipe and it does not turn out for you. It has worked well for myself (and others) and I wished it would have been a hit for you too.

  71. I’m making Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells and was looking for the best way to make chicken so it’s moist and shreds easily. This looks perfect! I priced shredded chicken in the store yesterday and it was $8 for about 13 oz! Yikes!5 stars