Easy Shredded Chicken

This may be common knowledge, but finding a solid, basic shredded chicken recipe felt like looking for a needle in a haystack. Most recipes that come up (at least for me) on Pinterest are full meals with 16 other ingredients loaded into the crockpot. Sometimes you just need plain shredded chicken. I love this recipe because it is so easy, simple, and versatile, which makes it a great base for any recipe. And it only uses 1 ingredient: chicken.

I use frozen chicken when I make my shredded chicken, because most times I make it, it’s because I forgot to take it out to thaw the night before. This is also a great method even if you don’t need shredded chicken and just need your frozen chicken ready for dinner. When I made this for my barbecue chicken pizzas the other night, I only ended up needing 1 breast for the two pizzas. I kept the other breast whole and it stored perfectly in the fridge. It will still “shred” cold, but the pieces will be chunkier. I love using this for pizzas, salads, tacos, anything you could use chicken for. Because it’s such a basic recipe, it is also super adaptable. Throw a jar of salsa in with your frozen chicken, and you’ll have shredded chicken tacos ready in a snap. Or you could add in a jar of pesto and have a yummy pasta dish on the table that everyone will love. My grocery store has oddly been out of pork, so this would be a great alternative to pulled pork sandwiches. Just mix in your favorite sauce and it's ready for a bun. The possibilities are endless.

This summery salad was so easy to put together and it actually used second-day chicken. You can reheat it or leave it cold. I have a great homemade salad dressing recipe as well as the BBQ chicken pizza recipe in my Recipes highlight on Instagram, so make sure to check those out!

Easy Shredded Chicken

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* prep time: 2 minutes
* cook time: 6 hours
* total time: 6 hours
* servings: 2-4

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Ingredients:

– 2-4 chicken breasts
– salt and pepper
– 1/2 - 1 cup water or chicken broth optional

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Instructions:

1. Add chicken breasts to your crockpot.
   
   
2. If using frozen chicken there is no need to add additional liquids. If you are using thawed chicken, add the water.
   
   
3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. If the frozen chicken doesn't release enough liquid, or if you will be cooking 2 breasts for more than 6 hours, add some water or broth in.
   
   
4. Using 2 forks, shred the chicken. Use in your favorite recipes or let cool and store in the fridge for later.
   
   

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Notes:
– Check out my Instagram for a super easy bbq chicken pizza recipe.
– Add a jar of salsa or pesto at the beginning of cooking to create super easy and flavorful chicken to add to tacos or pasta.
– Use your shredded chicken throughout the week on salads, wraps, or even in soups for some added protein.