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    Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker

    Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

    By: Jessica · Posted: Aug 6, 2022 · Updated: Dec 15, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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    Jump to Recipe 2 comments
    5 from 3 votes
    Shredded Chicken in Slow Cooker with text on image

    Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken: This easy recipe, using boneless skinless chicken breasts, is the best way to cook chicken for all of your favorite chicken dishes.

    We absolutely love slow cooker recipes around here, and when you can make a batch of crock pot chicken for dishes like this taco chicken casserole, chicken street tacos, taco salad, or other delicious recipes, it makes things so much easier!

    Shredded Chicken in Slow Cooker with text on image

     

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    Easy: This easy slow cooker recipe for shredded chicken, may just become your new favorite way to cook a large batch of chicken. With only a 5-minute prep time, this chicken is ready for cooking in just a short time.

    Easy Meal Prep: Imagine the possibilities of what you can do with this crockpot shredded chicken when it has cooked! With little effort, and a 4 hour cook time on “high” or 6-8 hours on “low” you’ll have a protein for busy weeknights, or to even place in freezer bags for small batches later for your favorite weeknight meals. (Or even a quicker version of these crock pot chicken enchiladas.)

    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Substitutions
    • Storage
    • Pro Tip
    • FAQs
    • How to Use Shredded Chicken
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Ingredients

    • 3.5 pounds of raw chicken breasts, deboned and skinless
    • ¼ cup butter
    • 2 cups chicken broth
    • 3 tablespoons Italian seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • parsley to taste for garnish
    ingredients out on table for shredded chicken - with ingredient labels in text

    Make sure to check out the full recipe card toward the bottom of this post, where you can see everything in one place!

    Instructions

    1. Pour chicken broth into a 4-6 quart crockpot along with butter.
    2. Place chicken breasts in a single layer, into the bottom of the cooker, over the butter.
    broth and butter melting in slow cooker
    Broth & Butter
    Uncooked chicken breasts in slow cooker
    Add chicken breasts
    1. Evenly sprinkle Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper over the chicken breasts.
    seasoning on chicken
    1. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Check to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees before removing it from the crock pot.
    2. Once cooked, remove all except 1 inch of broth from the crock pot.
    3. Using 2 forks, shred the chicken and top with chopped parsley.
    cooked, shredded chicken in slow cooker
    Shred cooked chicken
    shredded cooked chicken in slow cooker
    Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
    1. Serve warm in chicken recipes, on sandwiches, or by itself.
    cooked shredded chicken in slow cooker

    Equipment

    Any basic slow cooker should work just fine for this! We actually have an Instant Pot though, and we use this for a lot of our slow cooker recipes, like when we made our Instant Pot pulled pork! The cooking time may be different, as we don’t have a “high” and “low” on our Instant Pot for the slow cooker function so it’s best to check and make sure the middle of the chicken breast with a meat thermometer, to make sure the internal temp as reached 165 degrees.

    Electric Mixer vs. Two Forks: Some find that using an electric mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment to shred the chicken, is an easier way. However, using two forks is an option that works well and is something everyone usually has on hand.

    Substitutions

    • Type of chicken: The chicken breasts can be substituted with boneless chicken thighs (skinless) if you prefer! Yes, buying a rotisserie chicken in the grocery store can be an easy way to add chicken in to some dishes but this is a great way to get easy shredded chicken, and save money!
    • Garlic: Minced garlic or chopped garlic can be used instead of garlic powder if that’s all you have on hand or prefer a stronger garlic flavor.
    • Seasoning: If you don’t have Italian seasoning or aren’t a fan of that flavor, you can use taco seasoning, seasoning salt, or something similar! You can also leave the seasoning out completely if you feel like it will mess with the flavor of the dishes you plan to make with it!
    Cooked shredded chicken on wooden spoon

    Storage

    This crock pot shredded chicken should be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in a freezer for up to 6 months.

    Pro Tip

    Double or triple this recipe, to make large batches of cooked chicken to freeze for later!

    FAQs

    Should I eat cooked shredded chicken warm or cold?

    As long as it’s fully cooked, you can eat shredded chicken warm or cold! Warm in tacos, soups, casseroles, or even cold in salads like chicken salad or a lettuce salad!

    Can you freeze shredded chicken?

    Yes, you can make this slow cooker shredded chicken ahead of time and freeze it in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 6 months. Make
    sure to thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating or serving.

    Cooked shredded chicken on white plate

    How to Use Shredded Chicken

    Now that you’ve made the shredded chicken, here are some easy recipes that it will be perfect for:

    • Chicken and noodles in a white bowl with fork holding a bite.
      Chicken and Noodles Recipe
    • Chicken Pot Pie Casserole in white baking dish
      Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
    • Close up photo of a spoonful of a creamy chicken and cheese casserole topped with crispy browned tater tots
      Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
    • Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich
      Chicken Grilled Cheese

    If you love chicken dishes like this one, you’ll definitely want to check out this crack chicken that’s so good!

    Or if you love a “kick” to your chicken recipes, this jalapeno crock pot chicken is an easy one to make!

    Related Recipes

    If you love easy slow cooker recipes, such as this one, then you’ll also love this shredded slow cooker pulled pork and these slow cooker bbq meatballs! Or if you’re even thinking of taco recipes, these shredded beef tacos are made in the slow cooker.

    Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!

    Recipe

    cooked shredded chicken in slow cooker

    Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Recipe

    Jessica Burgess
    Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken: This easy recipe, using boneless skinless chicken breasts, is the best way to cook chicken for all of your favorite chicken dishes.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 cups
    Calories 539 kcal

    Equipment

    • slow cooker – such as a crock pot

    Ingredients

    • 3.5 pounds raw chicken breasts boneless, skinless
    • ¼ cup butter
    • 2 cups chicken broth
    • 3 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
    • 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • parsley to taste optional

    Instructions
     

    • Pour chicken broth into a 4-6 quart crockpot along with butter.
    • Place chicken breasts into the crock pot over the butter.
    • Evenly sprinkle the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper over the chicken breasts.
    • Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Check to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees before removing it from the crock pot.
    • Once cooked, remove all except for about 1 inch of broth from the slow cooker.
    • Using 2 forks, shred the chicken and top with chopped parsley.
    • Serve warm in chicken recipes, on sandwiches, or by itself.

    Notes

    Storage: This crock pot shredded chicken should be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in a freezer for up to 6 months.
    Can you freeze this chicken? Yes, you can make this slow cooker shredded chicken ahead of time and freeze it in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 6 months. Make sure to thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating or serving.
    Substitute: The chicken breasts can be substituted with boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 539kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 191mg | Sodium: 907mg | Potassium: 650mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 502IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Keywords chicken recipe, easy dinner ideas, meal plan, meal prep, slow cooker recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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      Slow Cooker Ham with Pineapple
    • Crack Chicken Sandwich on wooden cutting board.
      Crack Chicken Sandwiches
    • Pork chops cooked in the crock pot, sitting on plate with gravy, mashed potatoes and a biscuit.
      Creamy Crock Pot Pork Chops
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    Comments

      5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    1. Taylor says

      August 08, 2022 at 7:19 am

      5 stars
      So easy and perfect for meal prep! Love to use it on salads, wraps and in dinner recipes throughout the week. Make at least twice a month!

      Reply
    2. Paula K says

      August 07, 2022 at 6:35 am

      5 stars
      So, so easy to make!! I use this for so many recipes, thanks!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Jessica! - Owner and Creator of the blog and brand, Fantabulosity.

    I’m here to teach you how to make quick and easy recipes, using simple ingredients, that your family will love.

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