Crock-Pot Shredded Chicken is a meal prep hero! With just a few ingredients and minimal effort, you can make a big batch of tender, flavorful chicken that's perfect for a variety of meals throughout the week. From easy tacos and hearty casseroles to protein-packed lunch bowls and more, this versatile ingredient is the key to stress-free meal prep.
Do you ever get tired of hearing-or asking-the same question every day… "What's for dinner?"
My kids are all grown and moved out, and still, I ask myself that question daily. I think it's one of those things that sticks with us for life-after all, we have to eat! I hope you find our Make Ahead Shredded Chicken (as my wife calls it) helpful for your family too!
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Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts
- Chicken Base (or chicken stock)
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Your Own Chicken Broth
Control your salt and your ingredients yourself with this budget-friendly homemade broth.
What you'll need:
- 1 whole chicken or 2-3 lbs of chicken bones
- 1 onion, quartered
- 2 large carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- Salt to taste
- 10 cups water
Place all ingredients in a large stock pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 4 hours. You can also do this in a Crock-Pot and cook for closer to 8 hours. Strain off with a fine strainer. Store in refrigerator for 5 days or in the freezer for 4 months.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Step 1: Place chicken into the Crock-Pot Slow Cooker.
- Step 2: Add 3 tablespoon of Chicken Base into ½ Cup of Water and mix well. Pour mixture over the chicken.
- Step 3: Cover and cook chicken on low for at least 4 hours. Don't be afraid to let it cook all day. It won't be dry. (you're wanting the chicken to fall apart easily)
- Step 4: Shred apart with forks. Use right away, add to a meal prep or store for later use. See below for Recipe Ideas and Storage Tips.
Shredded Chicken Meal Ideas
- Chicken Tetrazzini - a family favorite!
- Chicken Tortellini - an easy recipe for a weeknight. It's a hero.
- One Pot Buffalo Chicken Tortellini - NEWEST RECIPE on the site!
- Chicken Enchiladas - these are great for a freeze ahead idea too!
- Chicken Fajitas - our go-to idea when we have a lot of vegetables in the house that need to be cooked. We always have tortillas and salsa on hand!
- Chicken Salad - great for lunches
- Southern Style Chicken Salad - we serve as a dip with cucumbers and sourdough bread or on sandwiches and wraps for lunches.
- Buffalo Chicken Dip - perfect for parties
- Chicken Quesadillas or Nachos - quick and easy (a hit with my kids and honestly, with me too!)
Substitutions and additions
- Substitute for Chicken Base:
- Vegetable Broth
- Miso Paste
- Chicken Broth (see above), Chicken Stock, Chicken Bouillon Cubes
Equipment
- Crock-Pot - affordable, 8 quart, easy to use, all the necessary settings without the digital buttons. It's a win folks!
Storage
Store cooked crock-pot shredded chicken in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Tips for freezing chicken:
- Cool it completely before freezing.
- Store in airtight containers or freezer bags to prevent freezer burn.
- Label with the date so you know when to use it by.
- Portion into meal-size amounts for easy thawing and reheating.
More Crock-Pot Recipes
Here's more of my favorite Crock-Pot Recipes
Recipe
Crock Pot Shredded Chicken (2 ingredients)
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 5 lbs Chicken Breasts
- 3 tablespoon Chicken Base
Instructions
- Place chicken into the Crock-Pot Slow Cooker.
- Add 3 tablespoon of Chicken Base into ½ Cup of Water and mix well. Pour mixture over the chicken.
- Cover and cook chicken on low for at least 4 hours. Don't be afraid to let it cook all day. It won't be dry. (you're wanting the chicken to fall apart easily)
- Shred apart with forks. Use right away, add to a meal prep or store for later use. See below for Recipe Ideas and Storage Tips.
Notes
- wap the chicken stock with vegetable stock, or you can use water and flavor it with chicken bouillon cubes or miso paste for a rich umami flavor.
- Add seasonings to the crock pot for a twist. You could use cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, hot sauce, and more!
- Stir in a sauce after shredding. It's so easy to make BBQ shredded chicken or ranch shredded chicken by stirring in the sauce after it's finished cooking.
- Cook on low for the best results. This helps the chicken to become melt-in-your-mouth tender with every bite and shred beautifully.
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- Cool it completely before freezing.
- Store in airtight containers or freezer bags to prevent freezer burn.
- Label with the date so you know when to use it.
- Portion into meal-size amounts for easy thawing and reheating.
Chef Tim Clowers says
One of the easiest ways to feed your family on a budget as well as easy food recipes.
Kimberly says
Can you use regular chicken broth or chicken stock?
CookitwithTim says
Most definitely Kimberly!