Cooking chicken breast in a crockpot is one of the easiest ways to make delicious, tender, shredded chicken for meals throughout the week. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can have a batch of versatile shredded chicken ready in a few hours with little effort
Why Cook Chicken Breast in a Crockpot?
There are several benefits to using a crockpot to cook chicken breasts for shredding
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Convenience – Simply add the ingredients to the slow cooker in the morning or evening, turn it on, and let it cook while you go about your day. No need to monitor it constantly.
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Tender, juicy chicken – The slow, moist heat of the crockpot gently cooks the chicken over several hours, resulting in very tender and moist meat that shreds easily. Chicken cooked in a crockpot is less likely to dry out compared to oven baking.
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Flavorful – The chicken cooks in its own juices, allowing it to absorb flavor as it cooks. Spices and seasonings added at the beginning infuse the chicken with extra taste.
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Versatile – Shredded crockpot chicken can be used in a variety of recipes like tacos, sandwiches, casseroles, soups, and salads. It’s a handy staple to have ready to go in the fridge.
How Long to Cook Chicken Breasts in a Crockpot
Cooking time can vary slightly depending on the size and amount of chicken breasts, your crockpot model, and whether you cook on low or high heat. Here are some general guidelines:
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Boneless chicken breasts – Cook for 1 1/2 – 3 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH
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Bone-in chicken breasts – Cook for 4-6 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH
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Chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless) – Cook for 3-4 hours on LOW or 2-3 hours on HIGH
The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the meat shreds easily using two forks.
Tip: Avoid overcooking, which can make the chicken dry and tough. Start checking about 30 minutes early and continue cooking if needed until fully cooked through.
How to Shred Crockpot Chicken Breast
Once cooked, there are a few easy methods to shred the chicken:
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Two forks – Place chicken on a cutting board or plate. Use two forks to pull chicken into shreds.
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Hand mixer – Break chicken into smaller pieces in the crockpot. Use a hand mixer on low speed directly in the crockpot to shred the chicken.
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Stand mixer – Transfer chicken pieces to a bowl. Use the paddle attachment of a stand mixer on low speed to shred.
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Hands – When chicken is cool enough, simply pull it apart into shreds using your fingers.
Crockpot Shredded Chicken Ingredients
The beauty of this recipe is you need very few ingredients!
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Chicken breasts – Boneless, skinless breasts work best, but you can use bone-in or chicken thighs as well.
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Seasonings – Salt, pepper, herbs, and spices like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, etc. Add up to 2 teaspoons total.
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Liquid (optional) – 1/2 cup broth, water, or apple cider vinegar. Not required but can add extra moisture.
That’s it! No need for oil or other add-ins. The chicken will cook up moist and flavorful on its own.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for easy shredded crockpot chicken breast:
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Add chicken breasts to crockpot. Sprinkle both sides liberally with salt and pepper.
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Add any additional seasonings you want. Garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, etc.
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Pour in liquid (broth, water, cider vinegar – about 1/2 cup) if desired.
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Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
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Check temperature to ensure chicken is fully cooked through (165°F).
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Transfer chicken to a plate or leave in crockpot. Let rest 5 minutes.
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Use two forks or hands to shred chicken right in the crockpot or on the plate.
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Use shredded chicken as desired or store covered in refrigerator up to 4 days.
Flavor Variations
While basic salt and pepper seasoning lets you use the chicken in anything, you can also add extra flavor with spices tailored to how you plan to use the meat:
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Mexican – cumin, chili powder, garlic, oregano
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BBQ – smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, brown sugar
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Italian – basil, oregano, parsley, fennel seeds, garlic
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Asian – ginger, garlic, sesame oil, red pepper flakes
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Indian – garam masala, coriander, cumin, turmeric
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Cajun – cajun seasoning, thyme, paprika, garlic, onion
Tips for Moist and Tender Chicken
To ensure your crockpot chicken breast shreds up tender and moist, follow these tips:
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Don’t use frozen chicken breasts. Always thaw first.
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Avoid overcooking. Start checking early and continue cooking if needed.
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Cook on LOW heat for best results. HIGH can dry out the chicken.
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Let chicken rest 5-10 minutes before shredding to redistribute juices.
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Use a thermometer to check doneness instead of appearance.
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Add broth, vinegar, or water to provide extra moisture.
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Keep crockpot at least 1/2 to 2/3 full for even heating.
How to Use Shredded Crockpot Chicken
The possibilities are endless when it comes to ways to enjoy delicious shredded crockpot chicken breast! Here are some ideas:
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Tacos – with sautéed peppers and onions, cheese, lettuce, etc.
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Quesadillas – with cheese, peppers, beans, salsa
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Sandwiches – classic chicken salad, BBQ chicken, buffalo chicken
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Wraps – Caesar chicken wrap, buffalo chicken wrap
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Salads – chef salad, chicken caesar salad, taco salad
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Soups – chicken noodle soup, chicken tortilla soup, chicken and rice soup
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Casseroles – chicken enchilada casserole, chicken pot pie
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Pizzas – buffalo chicken pizza, BBQ chicken pizza
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Pastas – chicken alfredo, chicken & broccoli ziti
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Stir fries – chicken and veggies
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Breakfast – breakfast burritos or tacos
With a batch of shredded crockpot chicken breast ready to go in the fridge, you’ll have the key ingredient for endless quick and easy meals all week!
FAQs
Can I shred the chicken right in the crockpot?
Yes! After cooking, use a hand mixer or two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker.
Should I add liquid to the crockpot?
Optional, but 1/2 cup broth, water, or vinegar can add extra moisture. The chicken will still cook up moist without it.
What temperature should the chicken reach?
Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to be sure.
How long does cooked shredded chicken last?
Store cooked shredded chicken covered in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can freeze for longer storage.
Can I use frozen chicken breasts?
No, always thaw chicken completely before cooking to ensure food safety and even cooking.
Cooking chicken breasts in the crockpot makes it so easy to have a batch of versatile, flavorful shredded chicken ready to enjoy in all kinds of recipes. With just a few ingredients and hands-off cooking, you’ll have tasty shredded chicken in a few hours!
The Best Way to Shred Chicken
Once the chicken is cooked let it cool down a bit and then it’s time to shred it. I recommend shredding the chicken while it’s still warm because it’s much easier than shredding cold meat.
- With two forks – place cooked chicken on plate or shallow bowl and use two forks to pull apart pieces of the meat
- With your hands – sometimes it’s easier to use your hands to pull the pieces apart! Just be sure the chicken is cool enough to touch if you’re using your hands.
- With a mixer – just place the cooked chicken in a large mixing bowl and use a hand mixer on low to break the chicken into pieces. You can also use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. This is a big time saver, especially if you’re shredded a large quantity.
Can You Freeze Shredded Chicken?
Yes! This is a great meal planning hack – shred your chicken ahead of time and freeze for the week (or weeks!) ahead. Pro tip: portion out your chicken rather than putting a whole bunch in one freezer container, that way you can just take out the container or ziplock and add the meat to your soup, skillet or sauce.