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Home » Food » Recipes » Basics » How to Make Easy Shredded Chicken

How to Make Easy Shredded Chicken

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Today I am sharing one of my cooking basics: how to make easy shredded chicken in the slow cooker.

How to make easy shredded chicken in the slow cooker| APinchOfHealthy.com

Shredded chicken is a staple in most kitchens. If you have a good method for how to make easy shredded chicken in bulk, you can save yourself a LOT of prep time. And it’s just as easy to make a bunch as it is to make for one recipe.

Shredded chicken is great for soups, casseroles, pasta dishes, etc. If you have some already made, it can make preparing dinner a lot easier.

It freezes just fine too, which is really handy.

For this recipe I am starting with three pounds of frozen boneless skinless chicken breast. Yes, frozen. I have never had a problem starting with frozen meat. I love that I don’t have to think ahead to lay some out to thaw. I can just grab some frozen chicken breasts from my freezer stash and make this whenever I want to.

You can do more or less than three pounds (depending on your slow cooker capacity!). But beware that cooking times may vary for different amounts.

Also, you may make this with fresh (not frozen) chicken breasts too. This would work well if you are making this right after bringing some chicken breasts home from the grocery store. Again, the cooking time will be less than what I suggest here.

Tools Used for This Recipe

Note: these are Amazon affiliate links.

  • Two forks for shredding
  • Slow Cooker
  • Freezer bags or storage containers
  • Optional – food scale for dividing up the meat (You can totally eye-ball it without a scale too, though!)

How to Make Easy Shredded Chicken

How to make easy shredded chicken in the slow cooker| APinchOf Healthy.com
4.6 from 5 votes
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How to Make Easy Shredded Chicken

If you know how to make easy shredded chicken in the slow cooker, it can save you a lot of food prep time.
Course Basics
Cuisine American
Keyword how to make shredded chicken, shredded chicken
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 2 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 130 kcal
Author Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic garlic powder
  • teaspoon Salt and pepper to taste about 3/4 salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Pour the water into the slow cooker.
  2. Add the frozen chicken, and season with the garlic, salt and pepper.
  3. Place the lid on and cook on low for about 5 to 6 hours, until chicken shreds with a fork.

  4. Shred the chicken right in the slow cooker, using two forks.
    How to make easy shredded chicken in the slow cooker| APinchOfHealthy.com
  5. Divide up chicken into storage containers.
  6. Optional: you can use a food scale if you like - to help you divide the chicken evenly.
    How to make easy shredded chicken in the slow cooker| APinchOfHealthy.com
  7. If you don't plan to use the chicken right away, you may freeze it.

Recipe Notes

Every slow cooker is a little bit different, so cooking time may vary slightly. If your chicken comes out dry, try reducing cook time the next time around.

Nutrition Facts
How to Make Easy Shredded Chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 130 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Cholesterol 72mg24%
Sodium 132mg6%
Potassium 422mg12%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 35IU1%
Vitamin C 1.3mg2%
Calcium 6mg1%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I hope you enjoy this recipe! It is so versatile and can be used in many different recipes. Pin and share!


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Comments

  1. Erica says

    February 27, 2024 at 12:43 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe yields the most tender and delicious shredded chicken. Thank you! I do have a question, as this time around I am a little short on time. Can I slow cook on high? If so, for how many hours would you recommend?

    Reply
  2. Amie says

    June 12, 2023 at 8:00 pm

    Hi! Was just wondering if this is 6hr on High or Low?

    Thank you so much 🙂

    Reply
    • Nicole Johnson says

      January 10, 2025 at 1:22 pm

      6 hours on low. Hope you love it!

      Reply
  3. L.H says

    September 7, 2022 at 9:38 am

    4 stars
    So if I use 3lb raw chicken breasts, how much cooked shredded chicken will that yield?

    Reply
    • Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says

      September 8, 2022 at 8:43 am

      It would yield just under 3 pounds, as the fats and much of the water will cook out of it. If I had to guess, I would suggest using 3.5 pounds, for example, if you want to yield 3 pounds of cooked meat. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  4. Asha says

    September 27, 2021 at 12:36 pm

    Awesome! Just what I was looking for. Can I add small bits of russet potato and carrots to the crockpot later on in the slow cooker? If I cook the chicken for 6 hours, when would we add the potatoes and carrots, around hour 5? Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says

      September 29, 2021 at 7:25 am

      Hi Asha! I have never done this before, so this is purely a guess. I would add them more like half-way through – maybe at hour 3 or 4. This is what I do when I make pot roast, for example. Hope that helps!

      Reply
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I am a home cook, recipe developer, coffee drinker and mom of two. My recipes are simple and tasty. I enjoy lots of fresh, healthy food, plus full treats without guilt. Thanks so much for stopping by! Read more here.

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