Crockpot Shredded Chicken

5 from 6 votes

How to make crock pot shredded chicken breasts or thighs. The easiest way to make shredded chicken! Plus, ideas for shredded chicken recipes!

Prep: 2 mins

Cook: 2 hrs

Total: 2 hrs 10 mins

Servings: servings

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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 1/2 to 2 1/2 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.

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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