Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken – Easy Meal Prep

This Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken makes a ton and is perfect for portioning out and freezing. When your recipe calls for cooked chicken breast, you’ll already have some on hand – Everyone loves this easy meal prep idea!

Making shredded chicken in the crock pot is a real time saver. Toss it in soups, casseroles, on tacos or in burritos. Any time your recipe calls for cooked chicken breast, all you have to do is pull the amount you need out of the freezer and it’s ready to go.

How to Make Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

It really couldn’t be easier, and it’s almost completely hands off if you want it to be! Slow Cookers are great for fix it and forget it type meals anyway – just dump in the ingredients, turn it on, and go. For this recipe, you just place the chicken in the slow cooker with some seasonings and a little chicken broth for flavor and moisture.

Timing is everything when you’re making chicken in the slow cooker. Too short and it can be tough, and too long and it can be dry. In my slow cooker it takes about 3 1/2 hours on high to get perfect shredded chicken that’s tender and juicy. Depending on your appliance (this is the one I use – aff link), it could take a little more or a little less time although I’d recommend not exceeding 4 hours on high. However, if it goes a little too long,  you can always shred the meat and place it back into the slow cooker with the juices and cook on low for another half hour. This is a good step to follow anyway; once the meat is shredded it loses valuable juices, and letting the shredded meat cook a little more in the juices and broth lets each piece soak up that moisture.

How to Shred the Chicken Breast:

I use a whole package (usually about 3 pounds) of fresh or frozen chicken (with frozen, you won’t need to add the chicken broth). I like to use salt, pepper and garlic powder for flavor, but you could leave out the garlic if you prefer, or add your favorites. Once cooked the meat is really easy to shred. There are three methods you can use when shredding chicken:

1. Use two forks and shred it right in the slow cooker (carefully, as the liquid is very hot).
2. Shred it using two forks or your hands on a cutting board or into a bowl. If you want to shred with your hands (this gets the most even sized chunks), be sure to let it cool for 20 minutes or so first.
3. Shred the meat right in your stand mixer, a method that’s much easier on the hands but does shred the chicken a little more than I like!

My 3 pound packages usually give me around 7 cups of cooked, shredded chicken. I divide the meat into freezer bags in 1 or 2 cup portions and freeze until I’m ready to use it. It will keep for up to 4 months, but mine is usually long gone by then! Either way this method for making slow cooker shredded chicken is great for weekly meal prep or dinner prep.

Here are some delicious recipes that call for precooked shredded chicken:

• Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells
•  Chicken Enchilada Casserole
• Tropical Chicken Pasta Salad
• Pineapple Buffalo Chicken Flatbread
• Arizona Chicken Corn Chowder
• Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
• Tropical Chicken Slaw
• Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Nachos
• Italian Chicken Quesadillas
• Barbecue Chicken Pinwheels

And for more slow cooker recipes, try these:

• Slow Cooker Barbecue Baby Back Ribs (fall off the bone tender)
• Easy Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipe

Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Recipe

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