The Best Shredded Chicken Recipes (2024)

Look no further for a great timesaver for busy nights! These shredded chicken recipes will save the day, using cooked, shredded chicken that you make ahead of time. These recipes are the perfect recipes to always have on hand!

There is no such thing as too many recipes that use shredded chicken. So if you aren’t seeing your favorite here, make sure to check out all of our shredded chicken recipes.

The Best Shredded Chicken Recipes (1)

If there is one thing I’ve been harping on over and over again through the years here on Taste and Tell, it’s the versatility of cooked, shredded chicken.

Not only is it versatile, but it has saved dinnertime so many times around my house. It’s crazy how much time you can save when the chicken is already ready to go!

I like to cook up a big batch of chicken (make sure and check out the guide below if you want to know all the ways you can cook it!) and keep in in the freezer. It thaws fast, and is great to always keep stocked up.

Don’t have shredded chicken in the freezer? You can always cook up some chicken fresh, or you can also grab a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and use that.

After trying some of these shredded chicken recipes, you’ll want to make sure you’ve always got chicken in your freezer!

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Start Here!

This guide to How to Make Shredded Chicken is the perfect way to get started. There are 5 different ways to cook your chicken so that you can always have some on hand!

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Chicken Salad

This chicken salad is a basic, classic recipe that is easy to dress up! Or serve it just as is, it’s so delicious that I often just keep it simple!

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White Chicken Enchiladas

This is a Tex-Mex version of enchiladas that is hard to beat. It’s a simple recipe with an easy homemade sauce – you’ll make these over and over again.

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Buffalo Chicken Pizza

We have pizza night several times a month, and adding in this Buffalo Chicken Pizza is a great way to spice things up.

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Chicken Caesar Wraps

This one is great for lunch or dinner. These wraps come together in a snap, and are a twist on the Caesar salad!

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Chicken Burrito Recipe with Red and Green Sauce

This one looks complicated, but is actually really easy. And packed with flavor!

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Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

I had the restaurant version of this a couple weeks ago, and decided that the homemade version is WAY better!

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Chicken Pot Pie

This chicken pot pie is a classic. It’s one of my favorite Sunday dinners! And while it still does take some time to make, it definitely speeds things up when you are using pre-cooked chicken.

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Chicken Lasagna with Green Chiles and Cheese

I grew up in New Mexico, so green chilies are in my blood. I love this southwestern version of a classic Italian dish.

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Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

I like to make these slider sized – it makes them great for sharing! Break these out for dinner or for game night.

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Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Chicken and Corn

This is such a delicious twist on stuffed peppers. Don’t skip the lime cream!

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Chicken Tortellini Soup

Delicious and comforting – and so easy to make!

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White Chicken Chili

I will gladly eat this chili all fall and winter long! It has a little bit of spice and a ton of flavor.

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Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

You can never have too many enchilada recipes! You can put these together in about 15 minutes and then all you have to do is wait for them to bake!

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Chicken Quesadilla with Refried Beans

I love that these quesadillas are a little more substantial than your normal cheese only quesadilla. It makes them great for lunch or dinner.

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Coconut Curry Chicken

Talk about flavor explosion! If you are a curry fan, you definitely need to add this one to your list.

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Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

This soup is nice and bright, while also being comforting.

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Buffalo Chicken Dip

This dip is a must for any party or get together. It’s spicy and cheesy and downright delicious.

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Chicken and Biscuits

If you love chicken pot pie, try this chicken and biscuits. The biscuits are made fro scratch, but are super easy and so good.

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Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Break out the crock pot for this easy soup recipe. I also love to use this with leftover turkey after Thanksgiving.

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Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

This is a dish I love to make when I need to take dinner to another family. What’s not to love about chicken, ham, bacon, and pasta?!

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Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

We love mac and cheese, and this buffalo chicken version has so much great flavor.

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Chicken Chimichanga

I used to always think homemade chimichangas would be hard to make, but they are surprisingly easy! And on the table in under 30 minutes, which you can’t beat.

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Chicken Tetrazzini

This chicken tetrazzini recipe is made from scratch, and it as comforting as you remember from childhood!

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Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls

This is another great game day recipe. But I’ve also been known to make up a batch of these for dinner!

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Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Love chicken pot pie? These mini versions are just as delicious, but so easy since they start with puff pastry. The kids love these little pies, too!

The Best Shredded Chicken Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is there a difference between pulled and shredded chicken? ›

At least in the U.S., pulled chicken implies that the chicken has been barbecued or smoked low and slow, usually with a regional rub of some sort, and perhaps a barbecue sauce. Shredded chicken refers only to the consistency of the meat, which could have been baked or stewed or whatever.

What cut of chicken is best for shredding? ›

While any cut of chicken can be shredded, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are naturally made for shredding: their fibers are perfectly aligned so the breast shreds easily and quickly. If you want shorter pieces in your shredded chicken, cut the breast in half crosswise before shredding it.

How do you keep shredded chicken moist? ›

Avoid shredding the chicken too finely. The finer the shreds, the less succulent the chicken will be, and the more quickly it will dry out. Refrigerate shredded chicken in an airtight container with a half-cup of the poaching liquid (if available) to keep it moist and juicy for up to three days.

Should chicken be cooked before shredding? ›

You can use pre-cooked or fresh-baked, boneless chicken pieces, although if the meat is still warm the shredding process is easier. Here's how to do it: Remove any skin from the chicken pieces.

How long does it take to boil chicken breast to shred? ›

In as little as 20 minutes, you'll have moist shredded chicken to enjoy!
  1. Cover! In a large sauce pot, cover chicken breasts with cold water or stock. ...
  2. Cook! Bring the water to a boil and then simmer for about 10 minutes! ...
  3. Shred! We wait until the chicken has cooled but is still warm before digging into it with two forks!
Oct 12, 2022

Can you use rotisserie chicken for shredded chicken? ›

If you need some inspiration, we have plenty of recipes to feed a family with shredded rotisserie chicken, from white bean chicken chilis to fabulous fajitas. The freshly shredded meat is also perfect for meal prep: store it in the fridge, and it's ready to add protein to any salad, rice bowl, or to-go lunch.

At what temp does chicken pull apart? ›

While it's important to keep an eye on the timer, it's even more important to keep an eye on the internal temperature. Chicken “pulls” better when it is cooked just right, and that means a finished temperature of 165 F. The goal is moist and succulent meat, not dried out and tough.

Why is my crockpot shredded chicken tough? ›

In addition, chicken breast has less fat and can become dry (chewy or rubbery) if cooked for too long. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

Why is my shredded chicken rubbery? ›

It's easy to throw in an Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup or shred it in Healthy Chicken Enchiladas. Rubbery chicken is usually an indicator of overcooked chicken. The longer the chicken cooks, the more moisture it loses, and without moisture, the protein fibers become elastic, AKA rubbery.

Why is my crockpot chicken not shredding easily? ›

Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

You can overcook chicken in a slow cooker. If the chicken is cooked too long, it will become dry and tough. Check your chicken for doneness early, especially if it is one of your first times making it. I also like to use a programmable slow cooker to deter overcooking.

Is it better to shred chicken hot or cold? ›

Is it better to shred chicken hot or cold? It's best to shred chicken when it's hot or warm and not when it's cold. It's much easier to pull the chicken apart with your hands or forks when it's warm. However, if you are cutting or slicing chicken, it's easier to do so with a knife when it's cold.

How long to boil chicken? ›

How Long to Boil Chicken Breasts
  1. Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts: cook for about 30 minutes (That would mean boiling frozen chicken for about 45 minutes), or until 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Skinless, boneless chicken breast halves: cook 12 to 15 minutes. (That means boiling frozen chicken would take 18 to 22 minutes.)
Feb 15, 2024

What is the meaning of pulled chicken? ›

of meat : prepared after being cooked to tenderness by being pulled apart into pieces or shreds. pulled pork. pulled chicken.

Why is it shredded chicken but pulled pork? ›

I think the real separation behind pulling and shredding is that the meat is so tender with pulled pork that you can just pull it apart, as opposed to chicken being a little more stuck together, so you have to shred it a bit with the help of a fork or something.

What does shred chicken mean? ›

A method to prepare fully cooked poultry that has the skin removed so the meat can first be pulled off the bones and then pulled into shreds. Shredded chicken and shredded turkey are generally available frozen in packages containing white meat only or a combination of white and dark.

What is pulled chicken made from? ›

Ingredients. Our go-to ingredients for making shredded chicken at home are onion, garlic, a bay leaf, cumin, salt, and pepper. We love using chicken thighs since they are more tender than chicken breasts, but there is no reason why chicken breasts or a combination of both breast and thighs would not work.

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