Perfect for meal prep, this Crockpot Shredded Chicken is flavorful and great for soups, stews, chilis, salads and so much more. Just pop chicken breast in the slow cooker and voila! Delicious all-purpose chicken!
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What’s in Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken?
Seasoned chicken breasts are made tender in the slow cooker so they’re easy to shred or pull. Rustle up a batch for your meal prep and use it for appetizers, lunch, or dinner!
- Chicken Breasts: Cooked low and slow, boneless, skinless chicken breasts shred perfectly!
- Salt + Pepper: Enhance the natural flavor of the chicken.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a bit of earthiness.
- Italian Seasoning: Adds classic Italian flavor that pairs well with almost anything.
- Chicken Broth: Keeps the chicken moist while it cooks.
Pro Tip: Cook the chicken in a single layer to avoid uneven cooking.
Variations on Crockpot Pulled Chicken
You can customize this crockpot shredded chicken by changing up the Italian seasoning. Try blackened seasoning, Creole seasoning, chili seasoning, fajita seasoning, taco seasoning, or ranch seasoning instead.
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Yes, that is exactly what the crockpot is for! It is perfectly safe to put raw chicken in a crockpot in order to cook it.
Boneless chicken breasts are great because they are easier to shred and cook faster, but bone-in stays moist and has more flavor. Either way, skinless chicken is the way to go.
I do not recommend cooking chicken from frozen in the crockpot, as it spends too much time in the “temperature danger zone”, which could cause food poisoning.
The key to moist chicken, regardless of whether you use bone-in or boneless, is to cook the chicken on low heat for longer. Cook the chicken in a single layer to avoid uneven cooking, and toss the shredded cooked chicken in its juices before serving.
There are many great ways to shred chicken. I like the two-forks method (pull forks through the chicken in opposite directions) because it’s easy and everyone has forks. You could also invest in meat shredding claws or shred the meat in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover shredded chicken in an airtight container or Ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Enjoy cold or reheated in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through.
How to Freeze
To freeze crockpot shredded chicken breasts, portion the shredded chicken into one large or several small Ziplock bags, seal, then press the chicken into a flat, even layer. Lay in the freezer until solid, then store for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
This easy crockpot shredded chicken recipe is so versatile, you can use it in so many ways. Add it to Chicken Salads, chicken soup, Chicken Tacos, Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Chicken Salad Pie, Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas, or Chicken Pot Pie to name just a few! There are tons of ways to use shredded chicken, so you’ll never run out of recipe ideas.
More Shredded Chicken Recipes We Love
- Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
- Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken
- Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
- Crockpot Italian Chicken
- Crockpot BBQ Chicken
- Crockpot Salsa Chicken
Crockpot Shredded Chicken Recipe
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Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts into a crockpot. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Pour the broth over the chicken.3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours.
- Transfer the chicken to a bowl and shred it with two forks. Use or store as desired.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- The key to moist chicken is to cook the chicken on low heat for longer.
- Cook the chicken in a single layer to avoid uneven cooking.
- Toss the shredded cooked chicken in its juices before serving.
Nutrition Information
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This will be perfect for my meal prep this week! How would you recommend adjusting the recipe for a different sized crockpot, say a 4.5qt? Thank you!
It should still fit in that size!