Easy Shredded Chicken Recipes {5 Flavours!}

These Shredded Chicken Recipes are anything but boring with five delicious flavour options that are all great for meal prep.

How to make shredded chicken

There are several methods you can use to make juicy and flavourful shredded chicken. All these methods are easy, so choose the one that works best for you.

1. Poaching – You can poach chicken on the stovetop. Just simmer it in water or chicken stock for about 20 minutes.
2. Slow Cooker – If you want to start your meal in the morning and come home to fully cooked chicken that is ready to shred, make it in your crockpot. Cook the chicken on low power for eight hours. When you arrive home from work or school, the chicken will be ready to be shredded. This shredded chicken crockpot recipe is the most hands-off option.
3. Instant Pot – If you need shredded chicken immediately, you can use your Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes then do a quick release of the pressure.

How to shred chicken

Chicken is the easiest to shred while it is warm. So, even if you plan to use the meat later in the week, I recommend shredding it as soon as possible after it finishes cooking. There are several ways you can shred it depending on what kitchen tools you have on hand.

1. Forks – Warm chicken can be shredded using two forks. Hold one fork in each hand and use the tines to pull the cooked chicken apart.
2. Stand Mixer – If you own an electric stand mixer, this may be the easiest way to shred chicken. Fit the mixer with a paddle attachment and add the cooked chicken to the mixing bowl. Turn on the mixer at medium speed and the paddle will shred the chicken for you.
3. Food Processor – If you want more finely shredded chicken, you can use a food processor. However, it is important not to process the chicken for very long. Otherwise, you will end up with minced chicken or even chicken pate!

5 different shredded chicken flavours

Below you will find pictures of 5 different sauce combos for shredded chicken, and their associated simple meal idea. Here are the five flavours and meal ideas listed below:

1. BBQ – I've added shredded BBQ chicken as part of a sandwich. Just add the BBQ chicken to a hamburger bun and then add some coleslaw on top. Easy peasy!
2. Jerk-inspired – This chicken is perfect as part of a salad as you see pictured below. Add some diced red onion, red pepper, mango and lettuce, and you've got the most flavourful salad ever.
3. Lemon oregano – The Greek-inspired chicken is pretty versatile but I enjoy it most as a wrap! Add it to a pita with some cucumber, red onion and other veggies. Tzatziki would also be a great addition!
4. Chili lime – The most obvious choice for this type of chicken is tacos! Enjoy in corn or flour tortillas with some store-bought salsa, cilantro and red onion. Boom, dinner is served!
5. Teriyaki – In order to keep this teriyaki chicken light, I've served it as part of a lettuce wrap. Add it to romaine lettuce, then add some shredded carrots and sesame seeds on top.

BBQ shredded chicken

Jerk-inspired shredded chicken

Lemon oregano shredded chicken

Chili lime shredded chicken

Teriyaki shredded chicken

What to make with shredded chicken

There are tons of things you can make with shredded chicken, which is why it's such a great meal prep option. I put together a few ideas if you're looking for inspiration.

• Use it to make chicken quesadillas or even a shredded chicken taco or burrito bowls
• Instead of cooking chicken fresh, use shredded chicken in meal prep bowls (browse the meal prep archives here)
• In a sandwich or wrap
• Add a cup or two of shredded chicken to a batch of soup (chicken noodle soup or chili immediately come to mind)
• As a topping for nachos, frozen fries or baked potatoes
• Toss shredded chicken with your favourite pasta and sauce for a quick and easy dinner
• Make a batch of chicken salad

Storing and reheating

Shredded chicken is great for meal prep, and you can even double, triple or quadruple this recipe. Shredded chicken will last in the fridge in an airtight glass container for up to four days. You can serve it cold or reheat it in the microwave or in a frying pan on the stovetop. To keep it from drying out, I recommend undercooking the chicken slightly when you're prepping it. You could also add a bit of water or extra sauce over top before reheating.

Freezing shredded chicken

Shredded chicken is super easy to freeze. When frozen in small portions, it’s a pre-measured boost of protein for soup, salad or pasta dishes.

To freeze, bring it to room temperature and freeze in individual portions (about 3/4 to 1 cup at a time) in freezer Ziploc bags or in glass bowls.

You can defrost in the fridge overnight or you can reheat in the microwave for 5-6 minutes. Be sure to sprinkle about 1 tbsp of water overtop if microwaving and stir halfway through the reheating time to avoid that pesky leftover chicken taste.

More chicken meal prep recipes

• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
• Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken
• Spiralized Pad Thai Chicken

Meal prep tools for this recipe

• Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this shredded chicken into meal prep.
• I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
• Get a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked through.
• Use these Ziploc bag holders if you're marinating the chicken then freezing it.
• Freeze this recipe in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months.

*Nutritional info is for shredded chicken ONLY. Not including sides served with it*