Shredded Chicken made in the Crock Pot

The easiest way I know to cook chicken for shredded chicken recipes is to use the crock pot! 

Easiest Way to Make Shredded Chicken

How do you cook chicken when a recipe calls for shredded chicken? There are tons of recipes that call for shredded chicken and today I'm going to share with you how to cook chicken in the crock pot for shredded chicken recipes. 
 
There are a few ways you can cook your chicken ahead but my favorite way is to use my crock pot.  I shared a photo yesterday on my Walking on Sunshine Facebook page and thought why not put together a quick blog post.  I use bone in chicken breasts.  You can use chicken cutlets, but be very careful you do not overcook them.  

How to Make Shredded Chicken 

• Place the chicken breasts into the crock pot and season well.  I like to only season with salt and pepper because I'm going to season the chicken again in another recipe.
• Do NOT add water.  
• Cover and cook for four hours on high or six hours on low.   

Check the chicken after a few hours to make sure it does not overcook.  Some crock pots cook faster than others...especially the newer crock pots.  
 

How to Shred Cooked Chicken

• After four hours, the chicken should be cooked.  Check with a thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reads 165. 
• Remove your chicken from the crock pot and using two forks,  start shredding.  
• Your chicken is ready to use in any recipe that calls for shredded or precooked chicken.  

Note:  I like to remove the skin from the chicken, but that's really up to you! 

How to Freeze Shredded Chicken

The cooked shredded chicken will keep well-covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or can be frozen for up to 2 months.  

• After the chicken has cooked and it's been shredded, allow it to cool and come to room temperature. 
• Then place the shredded chicken in freeze safe containers. 
• Place in the freezer until you're ready to use it in a recipe. 

How to Use the Broth from Crock Pot Chicken 

Do you see that liquid on the bottom of my crock pot?  Even though this recipe does not call for you adding any water to the crock pot, as the chicken cooks, it naturally gives off juices and creates an amazing chicken broth you can use for other recipes.

• After you remove the chicken from the crock pot, pour the broth through a strainer and then into another container. 
• You now have delicious homemade broth to use in many recipes or as a base to start making homemade chicken soup.  
   
  

You may also enjoy these other recipes that use Shredded Chicken: 

• Chicken Enchiladas
• Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Chicken Alfredo Baked Ziti
• Chicken Pot Pie 
• Chicken Soup

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Yield: 4 cups shredded chicken

How to Cook Chicken in the Crock Pot for Shredded Chicken Recipes

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An easy way to make shredded chicken using a crock pot.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 pounds bone in chicken breasts
• Salt and Pepper

Instructions

Crock Pot Instructions

1. Place the chicken breasts into the crock pot and season well with salt and pepper.
2. Do NOT add water.  
3. Cover and cook for four hours on high or six hours on low.  

How to Shred Cooked Chicken with Forks

1. After four hours, the chicken should be cooked. Check with a thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reads 165. 
2. Remove your chicken from the crock pot and using two forks, start shredding.  
3. Your chicken is ready to use in any recipe that calls for shredded or precooked chicken. 

How to Shred Cooked Chicken with Stand Mixer

1. Place the cooked chicken in the bowl of a stand mixer.
2. Using the dough hook turn on the mixer on medium and allow it to shred the chicken.
3. If you don’t have a dough hook attachment you can use the paddle attachment instead. 

How to Freeze Shredded Chicken

The cooked shredded chicken will keep well-covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or can be frozen for up to 2 months. 

1. After the chicken has cooked and it's been shredded, allow it to cool and come to room temperature. 
2. Then place the shredded chicken in freeze safe containers. 
3. Place in the freezer until you're ready to use it in a recipe. 

How to Use the Broth from Crock Pot Chicken 

Even though this recipe does not call for you adding any water to the crock pot, as the chicken cooks, it naturally gives off juices and creates an amazing chicken broth you can use for other recipes.

1. After you remove the chicken from the crock pot, pour the broth through a strainer and then into another container. 
2. You now have delicious homemade broth to use in many recipes or as a base to start making homemade chicken soup.  

Notes

 I like to only season with salt and pepper because I'm going to season the chicken again in another recipe.

Recommended Products

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  KitchenAid Dough Hook

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 374Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 193mgSodium: 205mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 70g

The nutrition information is calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you, please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator.

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