The Best Crock Pot Shredded Chicken Recipe (So Easy & Tender!)
This easy recipe for Crock Pot Shredded Chicken is one of my favorite crockpot chicken recipes! Crockpot Shredded Chicken is perfect for easy meal prep and can be used in a variety of main dish recipes, but the best thing is that it is freezer friendly!
Making this Simple Crockpot Chicken Recipe
Is it a slow cooker or a crock pot? What do you call this favorite, time saving small kitchen appliance? For me, I always call it a crock pot.
One of my favorite time saving methods in the kitchen is to use the crock-pot to make shredded chicken when I need it for other dishes.
In this All-Purpose Shredded Crock-Pot Chicken, chicken breasts are slow cooked with broth, leeks, carrot, celery, onion, garlic and herbs for a tender, well-flavored shredded chicken.
Learn how to make shredded crockpot chicken, pro tips for storage and freezing, and some of my favorite healthy dinners that this recipe can be used in.
My Favorite Things About this Crock Pot Shredded Chicken
5 reasons I think this Easy Slow Cooker Chicken is the best shredded chicken recipe:
- This kind of recipe is great for weekly meal prep. You can easily cook a week’s worth of tender chicken with very. little effort. Saving time is awesome!
- The recipe produces juicy chicken that is so tender it practically falls apart.
- My recipe for Crockpot Shredded Chicken has great flavor – better than a rotisserie chicken.
- Batch cooking this crock pot shredded chicken is a great way to take advantage of sale prices.
- It is so versatile and can be used in a variety of ways!
Ingredients for this Crock Pot Shredded Chicken Recipe
This recipe calls for the following ingredients:
- Chicken Stock
- Leek
- Yellow Onion
- Carrot
- Celery
- Bay Leaf
- Garlic Cloves
- Fresh Herbs: Thyme, Parsley, Rosemary
- Chicken Breasts
- Salt
- Black Pepper
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make this crockpot chicken with broth, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make this Easy Shredded Chicken in the Crock Pot
This recipe is pretty simple and straight forward, but here’s a quick overview of how to make shredded chicken in crockpot:
- Add the vegetables and aromatics to the bottom of a slow cooker.
- Then, add the chicken on top of the vegetables. Pour the chicken broth over top.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add the herbs.
- Cook the chicken on low setting for 4-6 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and fork tender.
- Remove from crock-pot and let sit until cool enough to handle.
- Drain excess liquid (reserve) and discard vegetables.
- Shred and use in a recipe.
The above is simply a quick summary of this shredded crockpot chicken recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Tips for Making this Basic Crock Pot Chicken
TIP #1 – Cook time can vary depending on what size chicken you use. Larger chicken breasts will have a longer cooking time than smaller chicken breasts even if the total pounds of chicken are the same. Large chicken breasts can also be cut in half. The important thing is that the internal temperature should be at least 165 degrees F.
TIP #2 – If you decide to use something other than boneless, skinless chicken breast, I recommend removing the skin before adding the chicken to the crock pot. It is a great way to make sure the flavor infuses into the meat and it cuts down on the amount of fat released into the broth.
Tip #3 – Don’t leave out the veggies and herbs. They add a lot of flavor to the chicken.
Tip #4 – Reserve the cooking liquid if you plan to freeze the chicken as this will prevent it from drying out. (see more below)
Tip #5 – The cooking liquid can be used in other recipes if you strain it first. It will add flavor to instant pot rice or quinoa cooked in the instant pot. It can also be used in soups.
Crockpot Shredded Chicken FAQs
Got questions about how to cook chicken in the crockpot? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.
What is the Best Chicken to use for this Shredded Crock Pot Chicken?
My favorite way to prepare this recipe is to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I think it is the easiest way because you don’t have to worry about discarding skin or bones when shredding the chicken.
However, you can use whatever type of chicken you prefer when preparing this recipe: bone in chicken breasts, boneless chicken thighs, a whole chicken, etc.
Can I Make this Crockpot Shredded Chicken in the Instant Pot?
Yes, you can definitely prepare this easy shredded chicken recipe in the Instant Pot. Just make sure that you add 1 cup of broth (or water) because that is required according to Instant Pot instructions.
Cook the chicken on high pressure for 10 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release completely before opening. Then, check the temperature at the thickest portion of the chicken to make sure it is at least 165 degrees F.
If the chicken is under cooked, return the lid and cook on high pressure for another 2-3 minutes before releasing the pressure manually.
Precautions: Do not touch the steam escaping because it is very hot and can burn. Do not remove the lid until all of the pressure has released.
What are the Best Ways to Shred Crock Pot Chicken?
There are several different ways to shred cooked chicken, ranging from using a hand mixer or standing electric mixer to using two forks and a cutting board.
Head over to my How to Shred Chicken Tutorial for details on all the different ways to shred this slow cooker chicken.
Should I let this Crockpot chicken cool before shredding?
After removing the crockpot chicken from the slow cooker, transfer it to a plate or cutting board and let it cool until you can handle it without burning yourself.
However, don’t let this Crockpot chicken with broth cool completely. The chicken is easier to shred when it is still warm.
Is shredded chicken the same as pulled chicken?
Yes – people often use these two terms interchangeably. If you’re looking for a recipe for pulled chicken Crockpot, this simple Crockpot chicken recipe can be used.
How to Store this Easy Crock Pot Shredded Chicken
Transfer the cooled, crockpot shredded chicken to an airtight storage container. Transfer in to the refrigerator and use within 4-5 days.
Freezing this Shredded Crockpot Chicken Recipe
This recipe is easily doubled, or even tripled if you have a larger crock pot. The chicken can be frozen in portions for later use.
Tips for Freezing this Crockpot Shredded Chicken:
- Cool the chicken completely first.
- Make sure you use a freezer-safe, airtight container if using a storage container.
- For a space constrained freezer, freeze the chicken in vacuum sealed bags. They’ll take up less space this way.
- The best way to freeze this chicken without it drying out is to package the crockpot chicken with broth together in the containers. Adding the leftover cooking broth will help prevent the juicy chicken from drying out while it is frozen.
- Label and date each frozen portion with the quantity and date.
- Use within 3 months for best results.
- Thaw the shredded chicken overnight in the refrigerator.
My Favorite Recipes to Use this Crock Pot Shredded Chicken In
I love that this shredded crockpot chicken is so versatile! You can add it to pretty much any recipe that calls for shredded chicken or already cooked chicken. It also tastes great on salads, sandwiches, pizza, and so much more!
Here are a few of my favorite recipes that you can add this crock pot shredded chicken to:
- Add this shredded chicken to hearty grain bowls like this Chicken, Beet, and Arugula Quinoa Bowl.
- Use it to make a chicken salad or chicken sandwich using this Tarragon Chicken Salad recipe.
- Add it to comfort food casseroles like this Chicken Pot Pie with Buttermilk Biscuit Crust.
- Use this shredded chicken in a batch of your favorite chicken soup. I like this recipe for Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.
- Add it to your favorite pasta recipe. I think it would work great in this Pasta Primavera with Zucchini.
- This shredded chicken also goes great on pizza! Try this recipe for Barbecue Chicken Pizza.
- Make a panini with this crockpot shredded chicken. It tastes so good on this Chicken, Apricot, and Brie Panini!
More Crock Pot Recipes
Looking for more favorite crock pot recipes to add to your weekly meal plan? Maybe some of these suggestions will become family favorite recipes for your family like they are in ours!
Crock Pot Mexican Chicken is the perfect shredded chicken recipe for your next Mexican recipe. Packed with flavor and super tender thanks to hours in the crock pot, this recipe is sure to please!
Homemade slow cooker queso is a cinch thanks to your Slow Cooker. Crock-Pot Queso con Carne features gooey cheese combined with spicy meat, tomatoes, and plenty of tortilla chips for scooping.
Next time you’re craving Pork Carnitas, try this Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Lettuce Wrap version. Top it off with some fruity Mango Salsa for a fresh burst of flavor.
Spend 5 minutes prepping this Slow Cooker Apple Oatmeal the night before, and wake up to a delicious, hot bowl of oatmeal that is full of fall flavor!
Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more crockpot recipes.
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Crockpot Shredded Chicken
This easy recipe for Crock Pot Shredded Chicken is one of my favorite crockpot chicken recipes! Crockpot Shredded Chicken is perfect for easy meal prep and can be used in a variety of main dish recipes, but the best thing is that it is freezer friendly!
Ingredients
- 1 leek, cleaned and sliced
- 1/2 of a yellow onion, diced
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 rib celery, chopped
- 3 large cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup chicken broth or bone broth
- 4 - 6 chicken breasts
- 2 - 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 small handful fresh parsley leaves
- 1 small sprig rosemary, optional
- 2 teaspoon salt, according to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, according to taste
Instructions
To Prepare the Chicken
- Add the leek, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, and bay leaves to the bottom of a slow cooker. Then, add the chicken breasts on top of the vegetables. Pour the chicken broth over top.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add the herbs.
- Cook the chicken on low setting for 4-6 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and fork tender.
- Remove from crock-pot and let sit until cool enough to handle.
- Drain excess liquid and discard vegetables
- Shred or chop and use in a recipe.
Notes
Can I Make this Crockpot Shredded Chicken in the Instant Pot?
Follow the recipe ingredients and preparation as instructed, but using an instant pot instead of crock pot.
Cook the chicken on high pressure for 10 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release completely before opening. Then, check the temperature at the thickest portion of the chicken to make sure it is at least 165 degrees F.
If the chicken is under cooked, return the lid and cook on high pressure for another 2-3 minutes before releasing the pressure manually.
Precautions: Do not touch the steam escaping because it is very hot and can burn. Do not remove the lid until all of the pressure has released.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 153Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 69mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 26g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
Try this Recipe At Home
Next time you’re preparing a recipe that requires shredded chicken, give this delicious recipe a try! When you do try it, I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and give this Shredded Crock Pot Chicken a review for others to see.
Jen says
Hello
I have this cooking away right now and I can’t wait!
Tell me please, are the veggies to be used as well or are they basically just adding to the stock and therefore flavor of the chicken?
I plan to use the chicken to make your pot pies, and thought these veggies might actually make tasty pie ingredients.
Thanks
Jen
Katie Goodman says
I just use them for adding flavor
Jen says
Thanks for your speedy reply, perfect timing!
Rich says
What kind of chicken breasts did you use? Boneless skinless, bone-in skinless or bone-in skin on; lots of choices. Judging by cook time I’d guess boneless skinless but could you let me know for sure.
Katie Goodman says
boneless, skinless. you can use bone-in if you’d like but you’ll have to adjust the cook time.
Louise says
I have always called it a Crock Pot. Just a quick idea when it comes to shredding chicken and you don’t have time for the crock pot, cook the chicken breasts in a pot of water and when the chicken breasts are cooked put them in your mixer with the paddles on and turn the mixer on. Your chicken is shredded without lifting a finger!
Here is my favorite Crock Pot recipe:
Crockpot Chicken & Dumplings
Makes 6 servings
4 tablespoons butter
1 onion chopped
3 pounds chicken breasts boneless, skinless
2 cups chicken broth (I double this amount for more sauce)
2 stalks celery chopped
1 tablespoon parsley minced
2 baby carrots chopped
1 teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste
½ teaspoon allspice ground
½ cup white wine
½ cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups biscuit mix
2/3 cup water
In a large skillet, brown chicken breast in half of the butter. Place in crock pot. Add remaining butter to skillet and brown onion. Add to crock pot. Add remaining ingredients except heavy cream, flour,
bisquit mix and water to crockpot. Cook on low 5-7 hours or high 3 hours. Mix heavy cream and flour together add to crockpot to thicken.
Stir. Mix bisquick mix and water to form thick batter. Drop on top of chicken mixture. Cook 30 minutes on high before serving.
Enjoy!
Donna B. says
Slow Cooker Carnitas (adapted from a recipe I found on allrecipes.com)
Ingredients
1 teaspoon salt
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons crumbled dried oregano (I use mexican oregano for this recipe)
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (4 pound) boneless pork shoulder roast
3 bay leaves
2 cups chicken broth
Directions
Mix together salt, garlic, cumin, oregano, coriander, and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut deep slits in the pork roast all over so the spices will permeate the meat. Coat pork with the spice mixture, being sure to work it well into the meat.
Place the bay leaves in the bottom of a slow cooker and place the pork on top. Pour the chicken broth around the sides of the pork, being careful not to rinse off the spice mixture.
Cover and cook on Low until the pork shreds easily with a fork, about 6 hours. Turn the meat after it has cooked for 4 hours. When the pork is tender, remove from slow cooker, and shred with two forks into large chunks.
Remove all the liquid from the slow cooker (reserve for later use) and heat it on high. When thoroughly heated, return the meat in small batches to crisp up the exterior (you can also achieve the same thing by spreading it out on a cookie sheet (single layer), and throwing it in a hot 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes (depending on how big your chunks of meat are.
Use cooking liquid as needed to moisten the meat.
Connie says
I always referred to it as a crockpot because that’s what my mom had, but I guess otherwise I’d call it a slow cooker!
I recently made mulled apple cider in apple cups. For the apple cider:
8 cups of apple cider or juice
1 2-inch knob of ginger sliced
1 orange, peeled and sliced
10 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1) Place all ingredients in slow cooker and set to low for a few hours.
2) Check until desired taste and add apple cider as needed.
3) Serve warm from slow cooker.
SuzyQ says
This is one of the first things I ever made in a crock pot. Absolutely delicious!
Carolina Style Pulled Pork
* 3 tablespoons brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons paprika
* 2 teaspoons sea salt
* 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
* 5 lbs pork shoulder
* 1 cup red wine vinegar
* 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
* 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
* 2 teaspoons sugar
* 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
* 1 tablespoon garlic powder
* 1/2 teaspoon powdered cayenne pepper
* 2 red onions, quartered
* 2 yellow onions, quartered
Directions:
1.combine the brown sugar, paprika, salt and pepper, and rub the mixture over the roast. wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate a few hours, overnight is best.
2.in a bowl, combine the vinegar, worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, sugar, mustard, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. mix well.
3.place the quartered onions in the bottom of the crock pot. unwrap the roast, and place on top of onions. drizzle most of the vinegar mix over the roast, reserving some to add to the shredded meat at the end.
4.cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours, or high for 4 to 5 hours.
5.remove the meat and onions to a cutting board. remove skin and set aside. using two forks (or your fingers, if you have asbestos hands), pull and shred the pork. chop the onions, and mix into the shredded meat. using a fork, remove some of the fat from under the skin, mince, and add to the shredded meat and onions as needed for moisture and flavor.
6. serve on warm buns or crusty hard rolls, with the remaining vinegar mixture on the side.
Amanda C. says
Chili
Recipe By: Amanda Camblin
Ingredients
1 lb Ground Turkey
1 46 oz. can Tomato Juice
1 16 oz can Chili Beans
1 14.5 oz can Petite Diced Tomatoes
2 servings or 3 handful’s Whole Grain Spaghetti
½ tsp Dried Basil
½ tsp Italian Seasoning
2 tbsp Chili Seasoning (recipe below)
Directions
Heat a medium skillet on medium high heat. Cook ground turkey until fully cooked. Drain if needed. Add chili seasoning to turkey and mix well. While the meat cooks, combine tomato juice, chili beans, tomatoes, basil, and Italian seasoning to crock-pot. Add the cooked turkey with seasoning and stir. Add spaghetti, breaking spaghetti three times. cook on low for 3 hours, keep on warm until ready to eat.
Homemade Chili Seasoning
from My Baking Addiction
Ingredients
4 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp ground cumin
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp paprika
3 tsp sea salt
4 tsp black pepper
Directions
In a small airtight container, combine all ingredients together. Store at room temperature.
Kathy says
Ingredients:
•3 eggs, beaten
•3 cups half andhalf
•1/2cup whiskey
•1 to 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•3 cups whole wheat bread cubes
•3/4 cup packed brown sugar
•1/2 cup raisins
•1 chopped apple, optional
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients, stir gently until bread crumbs are moist. Place mixture in a greased slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve hot or cold with whipped cream.
Tara says
Just curious…could I make this basic shredded chicken recipe in the crockpot with bone-in chicken breasts? They typically cost less when I can find them on sale at my local supermarket, so I buy tons of them. Would the cooking time need to be increased?
Katie says
You can use bone-in. They will probably take slightly longer, though I haven’t done that yet so I can’t give you a time frame. Basically, you want them to cook until they are cooked completely through and tender enough to easily shred. I usually use bonless just because it makes the shredding process easier and I stock up when it’s a good sale.
Debby G. says
We always call it a crock-pot. This is one of our favorite beef stew recipes:
1 ½ pounds Beef Stew Meat, you can brown first if desired
2 Carrots, chopped
1 or 2 Potatoes, chopped
1 Onion, chopped
2 cloves Garlic , chopped or minced
1 Tbsp Tapioca
1 can Italian Style Chopped Tomatoes
1 6 ounce can Italian Style Tomato Paste
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 Bay Leaf
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours, or on high for 6 to 8 hours.
Stefani says
Crock Pot Ropa Vieja:
Ingredients
-2 lbs. flank steak
-white onion, sliced
-green bell pepper, seeded and sliced
-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
-2 bay leaves,
-1/4 cup red wine vinegar
-2 tbsp. worcestershire sauce
-32 ounces crushed tomatoes
-1/2 tbsp. cumin
-1/2 tsp. salt
-1/2 tsp. pepper
-a few dashes tabasco sauce
-1 cup beef broth
-1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1. Combine onion, bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, worcestershire, bay leaves, salt, pepper, and tabasco in a bowl.
2. Transfer half of the mixture into the bottom of a crock pot. Lay meat on top, spooning remaining mixture over the steak. Pour broth around the steak.
3. Add bay leaves. Cover and cook until meat is fork-tender (8-10 hours on low).
4. When meat is cooked through, remove and discard the bay leaves. Shred the meat, using two forks, and return to the crockpot. Garnish with cilantro.
Jenna says
This is something my husband threw together after our first son was born, probably gets made 3 times a month ever since; its now my husbands favorite meal.
Spicy Slow Cooker Burrito Meat
2-4 pound Beef shoulder
1 onion, roughly chopped
4 whole chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
2 beef bullion cubes
2 Bay leaves
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp salt
Place all ingredients in slow cooker and cover with water. Cook on low 6 hours until meat falls apart. I serve this in a tortilla, with cilantro rice, cheese, salsa etc. My husbands favorite meal!