Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken is the easiest way to shred chicken at home. Just set it in your slow cooker or Crock Pot with a bit of broth and some spices for a few hours and it will shred into the juiciest, most tender chicken ever! This simple recipe is a great starting point for some of my other favorite recipes, like my buffalo chicken dip!
OK I get it. Shredded chicken is not very glamorous.
There’s no frosting, no sprinkles, no chocolate chips, and certainly no sugar. Why are we even talking about this again?
Because knowing how to easily shred chicken is a kitchen staple, and while it may be lacking in sugar, there’s a reason I want to share it with you today. It’s because I’ve made this “recipe” no less than ten times in the past two weeks. Seriously.
I’ve been working on a handful of savory recipes — some personal dinnertime and party favorites that I have held back from sharing for so long (stay tuned for my white chicken chili and chicken tortilla soup!) — and many of them call for shredded chicken. Rather than insist that you buy and shred a rotisserie chicken or leave you wondering about the best way to shred your chicken at home, I thought it might be best if I just provide a recipe for this.
Don’t worry, this recipe is as short and sweet as they come, I promise.
How to make shredded chicken
- Place chicken breast, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and spices in the basin of a crock pot.
- Cover and cook for 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low.
- Remove chicken breast and use two forks to shred.
Doesn’t get much easier than that, does it? Very similar to my easy BBQ pulled chicken recipe!
Can you overcook chicken in the slow cooker?
Yes, it is possible! If the meat is cooked too long it could end up dry and not juicy and tender. The recommended times in my recipe are ideal for juicy results, but if you use less chicken than the recipe calls for I would recommend checking it sooner.
Can I use frozen chicken?
I’ll admit, I used to frequently use frozen chicken in my slow cooker. However, as per food safety guidelines, frozen chicken breast should be thawed before being cooked in a slow cooker and you should not cook chicken breast in the slow cooker from frozen.
I’ve used this recipe in my homemade chicken pot pie (and as a substitute in my turkey pot pie), my buffalo chicken mac and cheese, and in so many other easy recipes.
Alright, I hope you don’t mind the brief break from the sugar. If you have any other kitchen tips you’d like me to write about, please leave them in the comments!
Ingredients
- 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast¹ (1.4kg)
- 1 cup chicken broth (235ml)
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the basin of your slow-cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
- Chicken is finished when internal temperature has reached 165F (75C) and it can easily be shredded with a pair of forks. Remove chicken from crockpot and use two forks to easily pull apart and shred chicken.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Jann Forrest
This is really a good tip. So many things can go great with shredded chicken. I have a 6 qt slow cooker and always have a whole chicken in the freezer. Also have a great dry rub recipe and the chicken comes out so much better than the ones you buy. I will fix this for a week of soups or casseroles like Alfredo sauce.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you think so, Jann! Enjoy ❤️
Patti
What is your dry rub recipe?
Mary Merritt Cook
This is my 4th time making the shredded chicken. My Muslim daughter-in-law can eat it instead of pulled pork, and the rest of the family enjoys it, too. Freezing it this time for the holidays. So easy and quick. BTW, I’m a Merritt by birth. Family came to Colorado by way of Pa, Ohio and Iowa.