The Best Shredded Chicken Recipes (2024)

Look no further for a great timesaver for busy nights! These shredded chicken recipes will save the day, using cooked, shredded chicken that you make ahead of time. These recipes are the perfect recipes to always have on hand!

There is no such thing as too many recipes that use shredded chicken. So if you aren’t seeing your favorite here, make sure to check out all of our shredded chicken recipes.

The Best Shredded Chicken Recipes (1)

If there is one thing I’ve been harping on over and over again through the years here on Taste and Tell, it’s the versatility of cooked, shredded chicken.

Not only is it versatile, but it has saved dinnertime so many times around my house. It’s crazy how much time you can save when the chicken is already ready to go!

I like to cook up a big batch of chicken (make sure and check out the guide below if you want to know all the ways you can cook it!) and keep in in the freezer. It thaws fast, and is great to always keep stocked up.

Don’t have shredded chicken in the freezer? You can always cook up some chicken fresh, or you can also grab a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and use that.

After trying some of these shredded chicken recipes, you’ll want to make sure you’ve always got chicken in your freezer!

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Start Here!

This guide to How to Make Shredded Chicken is the perfect way to get started. There are 5 different ways to cook your chicken so that you can always have some on hand!

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Chicken Salad

This chicken salad is a basic, classic recipe that is easy to dress up! Or serve it just as is, it’s so delicious that I often just keep it simple!

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White Chicken Enchiladas

This is a Tex-Mex version of enchiladas that is hard to beat. It’s a simple recipe with an easy homemade sauce – you’ll make these over and over again.

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Buffalo Chicken Pizza

We have pizza night several times a month, and adding in this Buffalo Chicken Pizza is a great way to spice things up.

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Chicken Caesar Wraps

This one is great for lunch or dinner. These wraps come together in a snap, and are a twist on the Caesar salad!

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Chicken Burrito Recipe with Red and Green Sauce

This one looks complicated, but is actually really easy. And packed with flavor!

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Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

I had the restaurant version of this a couple weeks ago, and decided that the homemade version is WAY better!

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Chicken Pot Pie

This chicken pot pie is a classic. It’s one of my favorite Sunday dinners! And while it still does take some time to make, it definitely speeds things up when you are using pre-cooked chicken.

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Chicken Lasagna with Green Chiles and Cheese

I grew up in New Mexico, so green chilies are in my blood. I love this southwestern version of a classic Italian dish.

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Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

I like to make these slider sized – it makes them great for sharing! Break these out for dinner or for game night.

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Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Chicken and Corn

This is such a delicious twist on stuffed peppers. Don’t skip the lime cream!

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Chicken Tortellini Soup

Delicious and comforting – and so easy to make!

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White Chicken Chili

I will gladly eat this chili all fall and winter long! It has a little bit of spice and a ton of flavor.

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Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

You can never have too many enchilada recipes! You can put these together in about 15 minutes and then all you have to do is wait for them to bake!

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Chicken Quesadilla with Refried Beans

I love that these quesadillas are a little more substantial than your normal cheese only quesadilla. It makes them great for lunch or dinner.

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Coconut Curry Chicken

Talk about flavor explosion! If you are a curry fan, you definitely need to add this one to your list.

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Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

This soup is nice and bright, while also being comforting.

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Buffalo Chicken Dip

This dip is a must for any party or get together. It’s spicy and cheesy and downright delicious.

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Chicken and Biscuits

If you love chicken pot pie, try this chicken and biscuits. The biscuits are made fro scratch, but are super easy and so good.

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Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Break out the crock pot for this easy soup recipe. I also love to use this with leftover turkey after Thanksgiving.

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Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

This is a dish I love to make when I need to take dinner to another family. What’s not to love about chicken, ham, bacon, and pasta?!

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Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

We love mac and cheese, and this buffalo chicken version has so much great flavor.

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Chicken Chimichanga

I used to always think homemade chimichangas would be hard to make, but they are surprisingly easy! And on the table in under 30 minutes, which you can’t beat.

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Chicken Tetrazzini

This chicken tetrazzini recipe is made from scratch, and it as comforting as you remember from childhood!

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Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls

This is another great game day recipe. But I’ve also been known to make up a batch of these for dinner!

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Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Love chicken pot pie? These mini versions are just as delicious, but so easy since they start with puff pastry. The kids love these little pies, too!

The Best Shredded Chicken Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep shredded chicken moist? ›

Refrigerate shredded chicken in an airtight container with a half-cup of the poaching liquid (if available) to keep it moist and juicy for up to three days. Bring refrigerated cooked chicken to room temperature before shredding to help it separate more easily.

What is the difference between shredded chicken and pulled chicken? ›

There is no difference between shredded chicken and pulled chicken; both terms can be used interchangeably. Both refer to meat cooked until tender, then “pulled” or “shredded” along the meat's grain. Shredded and pulled chicken are popular in sandwiches, soups, pizzas, tacos, enchiladas, and casseroles.

How many cups of shredded chicken can you get from a chicken breast? ›

Shredded Chicken Yield and Serving Sizes

1 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast will yield about 1 1/3 cups of shredded chicken. This is a medium breast. The average ones at our grocery store tend to skew larger, but it will depend on the specific brand you purchase.

How long does it take to boil chicken breast to shred? ›

In as little as 20 minutes, you'll have moist shredded chicken to enjoy!
  1. Cover! In a large sauce pot, cover chicken breasts with cold water or stock. ...
  2. Cook! Bring the water to a boil and then simmer for about 10 minutes! ...
  3. Shred! We wait until the chicken has cooled but is still warm before digging into it with two forks!
Oct 12, 2022

What to add to dry shredded chicken? ›

Sauce, dress, and dip dry chicken

Spoon University says that sauce is the key to salvaging dry chicken. Again, the recommendation here is to shred the chicken so that rich sauce can get into every crevice. Pesto, BBQ, and soy sauce will impart moisture and pack a punch in the flavor department.

Can you overcook shredded chicken? ›

If the chicken is cooked too long, it will become dry and tough. Check your chicken for doneness early, especially if it is one of your first times making it. I also like to use a programmable slow cooker to deter overcooking.

Why is my shredded chicken rubbery? ›

It's easy to throw in an Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup or shred it in Healthy Chicken Enchiladas. Rubbery chicken is usually an indicator of overcooked chicken. The longer the chicken cooks, the more moisture it loses, and without moisture, the protein fibers become elastic, AKA rubbery.

Why is my shredded chicken tough? ›

Overcooking might play a role in your chicken's tire-like texture. Leaving chicken in a pan, oven, or grill for just a little too long can suck the moisture right out and leave you with a dry, rubbery bird. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

Should you boil chicken if you want to shred it? ›

Poaching is the best way to cook chicken for shredding. It's really fast and it keep the chicken moist so that it's tender enough to shred. Add boneless skinless chicken breasts to a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.

Is it better to let chicken cool before shredding? ›

Is it better to shred chicken hot or cold? It's best to shred chicken when it's hot or warm and not when it's cold. It's much easier to pull the chicken apart with your hands or forks when it's warm. However, if you are cutting or slicing chicken, it's easier to do so with a knife when it's cold.

How do chefs shred chicken? ›

Since your meat will be tender and juicy right after cooking, the lowest setting is all you need to quickly shred up into pieces of your desired size. Place the still-warm chicken in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat the chicken on low until the it reaches your desired size; about 1 minute for average shredded chicken.

How many chicken breasts for 4 cups of shredded chicken? ›

Shredded Chicken by Cups Yield Chart
Chicken breastsAmount Shredded
8oz breast (approx 1)1 ⅓ cup
12oz breast (approx 2)2 cups
16oz breast (approx 2-3)3 cups
24oz breast (approx 3-4)4 cups
1 more row
Mar 13, 2023

How many chicken breasts do I need for 6 cups of shredded chicken? ›

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: 2 pounds of raw chicken breast will give about 6 cups of pulled chicken.

How many people will 3lbs of shredded chicken feed? ›

How many people will 3 pounds of shredded chicken feed? - Quora. A pound is 16 ounces. Assuming each person eats 4 ounces per serving and has only one serving each, 3 pounds should feed 12 people. However, always plan for extra food.

Should I store shredded chicken in liquid? ›

Storage: Place cooked and shredded chicken with its juices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up 4 days. Reheat: I usually add the shredded chicken to recipes and heat it that way, but if you'd like to heat just the chicken add a couple tablespoons of broth or water to a pan on medium low heat.

How do you reheat shredded chicken so it doesn't dry out? ›

Add several tablespoons of chicken stock or water—just enough so that there's a very shallow layer of liquid in the pan. Then cover the pan tightly with a double layer of foil. The steam created by the water will help ensure the meat stays nice and moist.

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