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You guys, this dinner hack is so easy, that it’s sort of a no brainer. I had to share because it’s one of my absolute favorite ways to stay sane and a super helpful way to get rushed weeknight meals on the table.
To keep my family out of the drive-thru and the delivery driver away from our house, I always have bags of already cooked and shredded chicken breasts in my freezer.
There are so many uses for shredded chicken that you can seriously never have too much of this chicken stockpiled! It’s perfect for those nights when you’ve totally spaced dinner.
Here’s what you do:
Hit up Costco or Sam’s Club or your favorite grocery store and buy a huge pack of boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can use thighs if that’s what you prefer.
I generally buy around 6 pounds at a time.
Dump the chicken into your slow cooker, add a cup of chicken broth, set it to low, and let the chicken cook for 6-8 hours. I don’t add any additional seasonings so that it’s a blank slate and I can use it in whatever recipe I like.
After the chicken is cooked through, I just remove it with tongs to the bowl of my stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. I load the bowl up (I can fit all 6 pounds in my mixer, but it’s probably easier and a bit less messy to do this in two batches – I’m too impatient for that, though.) and turn the mixer to low. It seriously only takes a minute and you have perfectly shredded chicken breast that you can use in a variety of ways.
It’s the EASIEST way to shred chicken!
You can even do this with a hand mixer, just be sure to start on low speed and use a big bowl so you’re not flinging chicken everywhere.
I portion the shredded meat into small baggies (one sandwich sized baggie is enough meat for one meal for my family of four and I usually get 7 baggies full out of 6 pounds of chicken) and place them all into one large freezer bag. The meat will keep for months in your freezer!
To thaw, just pop it in the fridge in the morning before work. Or, if you’re like me and constantly forget to thaw things, you can totally use your microwave to defrost the cooked chicken!
Looking for some recipes to use up your shredded chicken? I’ve got you covered!
Chicken Spaghetti
Chicken Pot Pie Soup
South Carolina Yellow Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers
Chicken Pot Pie
Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Pesto Chicken Panini
Chicken & Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers
Corn and Chicken Chowder
Penne Alfredo with Bacon and Broccoli (add shredded chicken!)
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Chicken Tamale Casserole
Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas
More shredded chicken recipes from around the web:
Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese by Taste and Tell
Cheesy Chicken Quesadilla Pie by Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
Easy Peasy Chicken Pot Pie by Bluebonnets and Brownies
Tex Mex Chicken White Cheddar Spaghetti by Lauren’s Latest
Thai Chicken Pizza by The Novice Chef
Crockpot Shredded Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 pounds fresh chicken breast
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1 tablespoon cracked pepper
Instructions
- Add the chicken breasts, broth, and seasoning to the crockpot and cover.
- Set to low and cook 6-8 hours.
- To shred with a stand mixer: Remove chicken to the bowl of a stand mixer while still hot. Using the paddle attachment, turn the mixer to low and let the mixer shred the meat. (Do this in two batches to keep the chicken from flying out of your mixer, if needed.)To shred with a hand mixer: Remove chicken to a large mixing bowl and place a hand mixer fitted with the standard whisk attachments down into the bowl. Turn to low speed and move the mixer around slowly to shred the chicken.To shred by hand: Remove the chicken to a large bowl, one piece at a time, and shred by hand using two forks until chicken is as finely shred as you'd like.
- Separate meat into small baggies. I do 7 baggies worth of meat out of 6 pounds of chicken and each bag has enough meat for one meal for my family of 4, but you may do more or less depending on your preferences. Be sure to press out as much air as possible.
- Place the smaller baggies into a larger freezer bag and freeze until ready to use.
- Defrost overnight in the refrigerator or microwave in short 30 second bursts until thawed enough to break apart and remove from the bag before using.
Annie says
I have been doing this but am not sure the best way to thaw/ warm the chicken? Was thinking of putting in the crockpot?Most of the recipes I want to use this for need it warm (tacos etc) Any suggestions? Thank you!
Karly says
Hi Annie!
I try to remember to let this thaw in the fridge all day or even overnight, but let’s be real…that rarely happens. So, I grab a bag straight from the freezer and take the chunk of frozen meat out and pop it in a skillet over medium heat. I use tongs to break the meat up as it thaws. If you’re going to use it for tacos or something, just keep cooking until hot and add your seasonings. If you’re going to put it in a casserole that will go in the oven, just heat it up until it’s not all clumped together and it will get hot with the rest of the casserole. 🙂
You could try thawing it in a microwave too, but we don’t have one so I just use the stove.
Hope that helps!
Gen says
Also wondering if you used frozen or fresh chicken?
Lindsay says
Any ideas on ways to shred the chicken if I don’t have a standup mixer? Would a food processor work?
Jen says
I love, love, love this tip and use it constantly. What is the best way to defrost the frozen shredded chicken? Or can it be be added to recipes as is and then just heats up in the cooking process? I got a Kraft Recipe Maker that calls for shredded chicken and just curious how you typically use it after it’s been frozen. Thanks!!
Andi Willis says
I did this and it was one of the easiest and BEST thing I’ve ever done in the kitchen! I put the chicken in the crockpot before I went to bed last night and this morning they were all cooked. Popped them in the mixer and literally seconds later I had shredded chicken. I think it will take me longer to wash the bowl and mixer paddle than it did to shred the chicken. I’m so glad I found this tip!
kat says
If it’ll take longer to wash the bowl and mixer paddle, how is that convenient?
kellie says
Fantastic! Worked great. This saves so much time plus is way easier for my bad wrists.
Jackie says
This is the type of thing I would never think to do, but so easy and will make my life easier when searching for dinner ideas! Thanks for the idea.
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
This is how I’ve been preparing my chicken forever…but why oh why have I never prepared it in bulk and frozen it?! Doh!
Natalie says
I recently discovered shredding it in the mixer! (Thank you, Pinterest.) Kind of blew my mind. I should stock up and freeze some, but I don’t like the taste the chicken has after it’s been cooked, frozen, and reheated. Unless it’s covered in an obnoxious amount of enchilada sauce or something. 🙂
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
This is my favorite way to stock our freezer with chicken too. I love how easy the mixer makes shredding!!!
Jess D says
ok this is genius!!! I check your blog almost daily (and if I miss it, I catch up later) but rarely comment… please do not thing we are all equally as intelligent! ha! I so never would have thought of this. Baby #1 due in JUne and this is so happening in my kitchen before then! Thank YOU!!!!
Karly says
Haha! This made me laugh. 🙂
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
Aaaand that’s why we’re such good friends, because you’re a genius. A chicken genius.
Ashton says
This is a really smart post! Love it 🙂
katie says
I’m so glad you posted this… I need to do this. Some of the “no brainer like tips” are ones that most people don’t think of! I’ll be sharing this on my facebook page later today!
Alicia J. says
I love this idea. As much as I use my crock pot I never thought to use my mixer to shred it. I know some appliances that will be whirring away this weekend. Thank you.