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How to Make Shredded Chicken & 5 Recipes

How to Make Shredded Chicken & 5 Recipes

Last Updated on 25th August 2021 by

Shredded chicken is the main ingredient in lots of delicious recipes. Nevertheless, in most recipes, it’s unlikely that there will be instructions on how to shred chicken perfectly. So, how can you make shredded chicken?

In this tutorial, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about shredding chicken. We’ll also discuss some of the most delicious recipes where shredded chicken plays the most crucial part.

How to Make Shredded Chicken

If you’re googling how to make shredded chicken for tacos, how to make Mexican shredded chicken, or how to make shredded chicken for enchiladas, you’ve come to the right place.

You can learn how to make shredded chicken in the oven or how to make shredded chicken in a crock pot, and your dish will taste divine.

Chicken breasts contain less fat and typically have a weaker flavour. If you want to enjoy more flavours, you should go for chicken thighs.

Having the bones and the skin will add more flavours to your shredded chicken. However, both should be removed before you attempt to shred the meat.

You can mix breasts with thighs in any of the following recipes. However, all the pieces should either have the bones and the skin or should be boneless and have the skin removed as this will guarantee that the pieces are cooking evenly.

There are several methods to cook shredded chicken, and we’ll discuss all of them.

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How to Make Shredded Chicken in Crockpot

This is by far one of the easiest recipes to follow if you want to learn how to make shredded chicken breast. It’s also a lifesaver because you use any leftovers for a quick dish if you’re tight on time.
Moreover, you can prepare a big batch and keep the shredded chicken in the freezer for up to 2 months, so you can use them for lots of delicious recipes.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds of (about 4) chicken breasts
  • 1 cup of chicken broth
  • Salt and pepper
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Cardamom
  • Mastic

Instructions

  • Place the chicken at the bottom of the crockpot and add the broth and all the spices.
  • Cook for 3 or 4 hours on high or 7 or 8 hours on low.
  • Remove the chicken and use 2 forks to shred the breasts into small pieces.
  • Allow the chicken to cool and keep them in zip-lock bags. The chicken will be good for up to 4 or 5 days in the fridge and up to 2 months in the freezer.
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How to Make Shredded Chicken in Instant Pot

This is the method to follow if you want to learn how to make shredded chicken fast. The chicken will be juicy and full of flavours.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds of boneless thighs or breasts
  • All-purpose chicken seasoning
  • Salt and pepper (optional)
  • 1 cup of chicken broth or water

Instructions

  • Put all the ingredients in the instant pot. Make sure that the chicken is arranged in an even layer to cook properly.
  • Cover the pot with the lid and cook the chicken on high for 10 minutes. If you’re using in-bone chicken, the cooking time will be a little longer.
  • Let the pressure release for 5 minutes.
  • Shred the chicken using 2 forks and mix with the remaining juices.
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How to Make Shredded Chicken in Oven

The difference between this method and the other ones is that cooking chicken in the oven intensifies the flavours rather than diluting them by adding water. Moreover, in the oven, it’s unlikely to overcook the chicken.
For this recipe, you can use bone-in thigh or skin-on breasts to add more flavours. You can also mix thighs and breasts together. However, all the pieces should be boneless or bone-in so that they all cook together at the same time.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds of chicken
  • ¼ cup of olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • If you’re using frozen chicken. Let it thaw overnight or in the microwave. Make sure that the chicken retains little to no moisture.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Lay the chicken on a large baking tray.
  • Rub the chicken with the oil, salt, and pepper.
  • Cook the chicken for about 20 minutes. Make sure that the chicken isn’t dry.
  • Let the chicken cool.
  • Remove the skin and use 2 forks to shred the chicken.
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How to Make Shredded BBQ Chicken

The BBQ method adds a unique taste to shredded chicken, so it will work better on pizza, as a sandwich filling, or on top of the salad. Unlike other simpler methods, this one is packed with the smoky flavours of paprika and the BBQ sauce.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds of boneless chicken
  • 1 tbsp of olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 cloves cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 cups of BBQ sauce
  • 2 tsp of smoked paprika

Instructions

  • Make sure that the chicken is dry and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Use a heavy pot with a lid and heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
  • Cook the onion and garlic until golden and soft, then add the smoked paprika and stir.
  • Add the chicken, one piece at a time, and mix well.
  • Pour in the BBQ sauce and let it simmer.
  • Cover the pot and put it in the oven. Bake for 90 minutes.
  • Transfer the chicken to another bowl and let it cool. Use 2 forks to shred the chicken.
  • Bring the rest of the sauce back on the stove and reduce it at high heat. Pour the rest on the chicken and let the meat absorb the thickened sauce.

Tips for Choosing High-Quality Chicken for Shredded Chicken Recipes

Because it’s one of the most versatile ingredients, you’ll be using shredded chicken to prepare easy brunches, fabulous lunches, and mouth-watering dinners. Here are a few tips to follow when you’re choosing chicken for shredding.

  1. Check the “best by” date to guarantee that your chicken will be good and healthy to use whenever you’re ready to cook it.
  2. Look at the chicken and pay attention to the edges of the meat. When the meat is fresh, it will have a fresh pinkish colour. When the chicken is old, it will start to turn into a dull grey colour.
  3. If you’re buying chicken with the skin on, make sure that the skin looks healthy and is covering the whole piece.
  4. Think about the amount of chicken you want to serve. When you’re shopping to prepare shredded chicken, you can buy several packets to correspond to the amount listed in the recipe. However, you should count the pieces for other recipes to make sure that you have enough chicken for everyone in the family.

Best Shredded Chicken Recipes

The main ingredient in the following recipes is shredded chicken. They’re extremely delicious and versatile, so you can serve any of them for brunch, lunch, or a delicious dinner.

Buffalo Shredded Chicken Sandwich

If you already have shredded chicken in the fridge or freezer, allow it to thaw until it reaches room temperature. After that, you’ll be able to put the rest of the ingredients together to prepare a tasty snack that everyone will love.

Buffalo shredded chicken sandwiches are easy to prepare and will be the perfect snack or brunch. You can also prepare these sandwiches with less or no buffalo sauce as a school lunch for your little ones.

This sandwich can be served on buns or ciabatta bread, depending on your preferences. You can also use your favourite seasoning to add an extra kick to your sandwiches.

The following ingredients are enough to prepare the filling of 6 sandwiches. Here is how to make shredded chicken sandwiches.

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Buffalo Shredded Chicken Sandwich

Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Keyword: Shredded chicken, shredded chicken recipe
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 3 breasts shredded chicken
  • 1 1/2 cups seasoned breadcrumbs or crackers
  • salt & pepper for seasoning
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 3 tbsp buffalo sauce
  • 2 tbsp mayonaise or ranch sauce

Instructions

  • Use freshly shredded chicken or get your chicken out of the fridge an hour before preparing the recipe.
  • Put the shredded chicken in a pan and add the seasoned breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper, depending on your preferences.
  • Add a dash of buffalo sauce.
  • Spread mayonnaise or ranch sauce on the bread. Add more buffalo sauce if you like your sandwiches to be extra spicy.
  • Add the chicken on top and serve with pickles or fries

Shredded Chicken Tacos

Shredded chicken tacos are suitable for those who crave tacos but aren’t that fond of ground beef. You can add your favourite toppings every time and prepare delicious tacos that will always taste special. This is a fast recipe, so it will work if you’re looking for a quick lunch.

The following ingredients will be enough for 3 servings. Here’s how to make shredded chicken tacos.

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Shredded Chicken Tacos

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Keyword: Shredded chicken, shredded chicken tacos, tacos
Servings: 3

Ingredients

  • 3 breasts shredded chicken
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1/2 cup diced tomato
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • pinch chilli
  • pinch cumin
  • 3 tbsp sour cream
  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • corn or flour tortillas

Instructions

  • Add the shredded chicken to a skillet along with all the spices. Stir to coat evenly.
  • Stir in the tomato paste and diced tomatoes. Add some chicken broth if you feel that the mixture is too dry. Add some shredded cheese and mix.
  • Add cayenne pepper if you want your tacos to be spicy.
  • Warm the tortillas in the microwave. Corn tortillas are better than the flour ones because they won’t break when they’re loaded with chicken.
  • Spread the sour cream on the tortillas and top with the shredded chicken. You can also use Pico de Gallo, chopped avocados, cilantro, or diced onions. Jalapenos and hot sauce can also be added, but you should avoid both if you don’t like spicy food. You can add some cheddar cheese on top.

Chicken Tortellini Soup

This warm and tasty soup is the best recipe to prepare on a cold day. It’s packed with delicious flavours and takes less than half an hour to be ready. The following ingredients are enough for 4 servings.

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Chicken Tortellini Soup

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Keyword: chicken soup, Shredded chicken, shredded chicken recipe
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups shredded chicken
  • 2 cups cheese tortellini or any fresh pasta
  • 3 peeled carrots
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 1 sliced onion
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • salt&pepper

Instructions

  • Add the vegetables, spices, and broth to the instant pot and set to high pressure for 3 minutes.You can also cook the veggies for about 10 or 15 minutes on low heat on the stove, making sure that they’re not overly cooked. For this recipe, you can swatch and use any vegetables you like. You can add broccoli, zucchinis, or potatoes.
  • It will take the pot about 10 minutes to reach the desired pressure, and then you can release it. Use a towel to protect your hands from the hot steam.
  • Turn the pot to sauté and add the chicken and tortellini.
  • Cook for 5 minutes or until the tortellini is cooked. If you’re using a regular pot, lower the heat and let the mixture simmer until the tortellini has reached the desired tenderness.
  • Serve immediately

Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole

This kid and family-friendly dinner is packed with nutrients, as well as delicious flavours. You can swap some of the ingredients based on your family’s preferences and the availability of ingredients.

Unlike store-bought food, this Mexican dish contains all the lovable flavours without the extra calories that you probably want to avoid. The following recipe yields 10 servings, so it can be used over 2 different days.

How to Make Shredded Chicken & 5 Recipes
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Mexican Chicken & Rice Casserole

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Keyword: chicken casserole, mexican, Shredded chicken, shredded chicken recipe
Servings: 10

Ingredients

  • 3 cups shredded chicken
  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked rice
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 3 green onions minced
  • 16 ounces refried beans
  • 10 ounces enchilada sauce
  • 10 ounces cream of chicken soup
  • 1 can rinsed black beans
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 12 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Cook the rice according to the package’s instructions. Replace the water with chicken broth.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a baking tray with cooking spray.
  • Spread the refried beans at the bottom.
  • Combine the rice with chicken, black beans, cream cheese, cream of chicken soup, green onions, and half of the shredded cheese in a large bowl. Mix well.
  • Pour the mixture into the baking tray and cover with foil.
  • Bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and sprinkle the rest of the shredded cheese on top. Bake for another 10 minutes.
  • Serve hot.

Vietnamese Shredded Chicken Salad

Whether you’d like to have salad as a main meal or as a healthy side dish, this recipe will impress everyone because it’s packed with tasty flavours and striking colours. You can have this dish ready in less than 10 minutes.

How to Make Shredded Chicken & 5 Recipes
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Vietnamese Shredded Chicken Salad

Prep Time10 minutes
Course: Salad
Keyword: Shredded chicken, shredded chicken recipe, shredded chicken salad
Servings: 4

Ingredients

For The Salad

  • 2 cups shredded chicken
  • 4 cups shredded cabbage
  • 2 cups shredded carrots
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint roughly cut
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro roughly cut
  • 1/2 cup chopped peanuts

For The Dressing

  • 3 limes juice from the limes
  • 2 tsp siracha sauce
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp Vietnamese fish sauce
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix all the veggies with the shredded chicken.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk the ingredients until the sugar is dissolved. Use less Siracha sauce if you’re serving the salad to children.
  • Toss the dressing over the salad and add the peanuts on top.

There are endless recipes that you can prepare using shredded chicken. You have total control over the seasoning and the spices you use while making the shredded chicken, so your dishes will always taste heavenly.

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