This slow cooker shredded chicken takes just minutes to get started, and results in perfect, easily shredded chicken in just a few hours.
This slow cooker shredded chicken is barely even a recipe. But it’s a fantastic way to cook chicken with little to no effort and I love having this “recipe” when I’m meal prepping for the week.
I use this method all the time, both to use the meat right away in a recipe that calls for cooked chicken, as well as to freeze for future fast and easy meals.
This is one of the best ways to make shredded chicken, as it’s beyond simple. The other method I use on a pretty regular basis is this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken recipe.
It’s perfect for when you need cooked chicken for a recipe really quickly, or when you forgot to defrost your meat for dinner and need to cook it from frozen.
Is it safe to cook frozen meat in a slow cooker?
I don’t recommend cooking frozen meat in a slow cooker, as it takes too long for the meat to cook this way. Since frozen meat takes so long to cook, this increases the risk of food borne illness.
When cooking in the slow cooker, frozen meat will take a long time to come to a safe internal temperature, and this means that there is more time for bacterial growth to occur.
So thaw your chicken before making this slow cooker recipe, or use a pressure cooker instead!
How to make Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken:
- Make sure to use fresh, not frozen, chicken for this recipe. For food safety reasons, you shouldn’t cook frozen meat in the slow cooker. If you want to cook your chicken from frozen, use my Instant Pot Shredded Chicken recipe instead.
- You can easily pull the chicken breasts apart using two forks and pulling them apart. The meat shreds very easily when you do this while it’s still warm. If it’s not shredding easily, it may not be quite cooked enough, so let it cook for another 30-60 minutes.
- Chicken breast is cooked through when it reaches an internal temperature of 165F. Using an instant read thermometer and checking the internal temperature is the best way to know that it’s done.
- This cooked, shredded chicken freezes very well so you can have cooked, ready to use chicken stored in the freezer for quick and easy meals.
Here are some great recipes to use shredded chicken in:
- Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Chicken Parmesan Casserole
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Pesto Chicken Pizza Rolls
- Pesto Chicken Pull Apart Sliders
Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
This slow cooker shredded chicken takes just minutes to get started, and results in perfect, easily shredded chicken in just a few hours.
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2-3)
- 1/2 cup chicken stock or water
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place the chicken in the crock of your slow cooker and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Add the chicken stock or water and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours.
- Remove the chicken to a plate or shallow bowl and shred with two forks. It shreds most easily when done immediately while it’s still hot.
- Use the shredded chicken immediately in any recipe calling for cooked chicken, or freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Notes
This recipe can easily be increased to make more at once. I usually make as least double this and then freeze some of it to have on hand for quick meals.
Recommended Products
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1/2 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 40Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 94mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 7g
Nutrition Information is estimated based on ingredients used and may not be exact.
I’ve also shared this Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Recipe over on Food Fanatic.
Tara
Monday 28th of January 2019
If I want 6 pieces do I put all in at once and increase water/stock to 1 cup? Thanks!
Stacey
Tuesday 29th of January 2019
Yes, that's what I would do!
John
Sunday 23rd of July 2017
Since you have frozen the slow-cooker chicken just add it to your dish just enough time before serving for it to rewarm. You don't want to re-cook it and lose the juiciness of the chicken.
Sam
Tuesday 27th of June 2017
Cook a few pounds then throw it into the mixer. Use the paddle attachment & it will shred in under a minute. Bag & freeze what you don't need immediately.
Vicki
Monday 29th of May 2017
Does the recipe change if the chicken is frozen?
stacey
Monday 29th of May 2017
Hi Vicki - I wouldn't recommend it as it's actually considered unsafe to cook meat from frozen in a slow cooker, as there's the risk of harmful bacteria contaminating the meat before it reaches a safe temperature. It's safer to thaw the chicken first!