Shredded chicken breast is one of the most versatile ingredients to have on hand With a bit of pre-planning, you can cook up a batch of shredded chicken at the start of the week to use in various quick and easy meals throughout the days ahead
Having ready-to-go shredded chicken makes whipping up all kinds of delicious dishes a breeze. From comforting casseroles to hearty salads and soups the possibilities are endless when it comes to transforming shredded chicken into crave-worthy creations.
If you find yourself wondering “what can I make with shredded chicken breast?”, here are 24 tasty ideas to inspire you:
Salads
Shredded chicken is a perfect high-protein addition to fresh and vibrant salads. Try tossing it in these recipes:
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Cobb salad – Combine shredded chicken with bacon, avocado, tomato, hard-boiled egg, and blue cheese.
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Greek salad – Mix shredded chicken with cucumbers, bell peppers, red onion, olives, and feta cheese.
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Chicken Caesar salad – Toss shredded chicken with crisp romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, croutons, and Caesar dressing.
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Mexican-style chicken salad – Combine shredded chicken with corn, black beans, peppers onion cilantro, and Mexican dressing.
Pasta Dishes
Shredded chicken makes an easy protein topper for all your favorite pasta recipes. Add it to:
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Chicken alfredo – Toss with fettuccine, creamy alfredo sauce, and veggies.
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Chicken carbonara – Mix into a sauce of bacon, parmesan, eggs, and peas over linguine.
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Chicken primavera – Sprinkle over spiral pasta with fresh spring veggies and basil pesto.
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Chicken cacciatore – Simmer with tomatoes, mushrooms, onion, and herbs over penne.
Soups
Shredded chicken can quickly transform a simple broth into a hearty, protein-packed soup. Simmer it in:
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Chicken noodle soup – With carrots, celery, onion, noodles, and herbs.
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Chicken tortilla soup – Along with corn, black beans, peppers, onion, and tortilla strips.
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Chicken and rice soup – Mixed with rice, carrots, peas, and parsley.
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Chicken corn chowder – Combined with corn, potatoes, onion, and cream.
Sandwiches and Wraps
Pile shredded chicken onto bread, rolls, and tortillas for easy hand-held meals. Stuff it into:
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Chicken salad sandwiches – Mixed with mayo, celery, and herbs.
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BBQ chicken sandwiches – Topped with barbecue sauce and melted cheese.
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Chicken Caesar wraps – Combined with romaine, parmesan, and Caesar dressing.
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Buffalo chicken wraps – Tossed with hot sauce, lettuce, tomato, and ranch dressing.
Casseroles
For comforting, family-friendly baked dishes, shredded chicken is the star ingredient. Include it in:
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Chicken enchilada casserole – With tortillas, enchilada sauce, beans, and cheese.
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Chicken pot pie casserole – Combined with frozen mixed veggies and cream of chicken soup.
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Chicken broccoli casserole – Along with broccoli, rice, cheese, and cream of mushroom soup.
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Chicken divan casserole – Topped with broccoli and melted cheese sauce.
Asian Favorites
Shredded chicken complements traditional Asian flavors beautifully. Try it in:
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Chicken fried rice – Stir-fried with rice, veggies, soy sauce, and sesame oil.
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Chicken lettuce wraps – Served in lettuce leaves with hoisin sauce and water chestnuts.
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Chicken pad thai – Tossed with rice noodles, peanuts, and pad thai sauce.
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Chicken ramen noodle soup – Simmered in broth with ramen noodles, mushrooms, and scallions.
Tacos and Bowls
Pile flavorful shredded chicken into tortillas, over rice, or on nachos for easy weeknight meals. Top it with:
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Chicken quesadillas – With melted cheese, peppers, and onions.
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Chicken taco salad – Over lettuce, beans, corn, cheese, and salsa.
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Chicken burrito bowls – Added to rice, beans, veggies, avocado, and salsa.
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Chicken nachos – Sprinkled over tortilla chips with melted cheese, salsa, etc.
Pizza
For a fun spin on pizza night, use shredded chicken as an easy protein-packed topping. Sprinkle it over:
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BBQ chicken pizza – With barbecue sauce, red onion, and cheddar cheese.
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Buffalo chicken pizza – Along with hot sauce, blue cheese crumbles, and mozzarella.
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Chicken pesto pizza – Topped with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and parmesan.
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Chicken ranch pizza – Combined with ranch dressing, bacon, and shredded mozzarella.
Savory Pies and Hand Pies
Enclose shredded chicken in a flaky crust for satisfying comfort food. Make:
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Chicken pot pies – Top chicken stew with puff pastry or pie dough.
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Chicken empanadas – Fill dough rounds with chicken, cheese, veggies, etc.
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Chicken hand pies – Stuff chicken mixture into small pie dough pockets.
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Chicken galette – Wrap shredded chicken, veggies, and cheese in a rustic tart crust.
Hearty Skillets
Cook shredded chicken right in the skillet along with veggies and sauce for quick one-pan meals. Sizzle it up in:
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Chicken fajita skillet – With peppers, onions, spices, and tortillas on the side.
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Chicken stir fry – Tossed with veggies and teriyaki or orange sauce.
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Chicken broccoli Alfredo skillet – Simmered in creamy Alfredo with broccoli florets.
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Chicken enchilada skillet – Topped with enchilada sauce, beans, and cheese.
With shredded chicken breast in your fridge or freezer, you’ll always be ready to make a quick, delicious home-cooked meal. This versatile ingredient lets you reinvent leftovers while keeping dinner easy and full of flavor. Next time you’re wondering what to make, try one of these 24 tasty ideas for transforming shredded chicken into crave-worthy dishes.
Can I use Another cut of chicken?
This shredded chicken recipe is intended for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, however, it will also work well with boneless, skinless chicken thighs or bone-in chicken breasts. However, you will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. For bone-in chicken breasts, extend the cook time; for thighs, check them early.
sear THE CHICKEN
You will want to use a nonstick skillet for this recipe (this one is my absolute favorite, pictured). It allows the chicken to brown on the bottom without any chance of sticking, tearing, or drying out. You’ll start by heating a drizzle of olive oil in the pan over medium heat. Add the chicken in s single layer, then cook for 5 minutes. The bottom of the chicken should be golden brown at this point.
My favorite shredded chicken
FAQ
What else can you do with shredded chicken?
- 01 of 40. Chicken Pot Pie Soup. …
- 02 of 40. Marry Me Chicken Soup. …
- 03 of 40. Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup. …
- 04 of 40. Chicken Gnocchi Soup. …
- 05 of 40. Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas. …
- 06 of 40. Green Chile Mac And Cheese With Chicken. …
- 07 of 40. Poppy Seed Chicken. …
- 08 of 40.
Where can I use shredded chicken?
- Roast chicken for weeknight leftovers. A star rating of 0 out of 5. …
- Thai chicken & mushroom broth. …
- Chicken & pesto pasta. …
- Chicken soup. …
- Creamy spinach, basil & chicken pasta. …
- Chicken, green bean & sundried tomato salad with chicken fat croutons. …
- Chow mein. …
- Waste-nothing chicken & dumpling stew.
What can you do with shredded chicken?
For instance, it can be a prime component of a creamy, cheesy dip — like Buffalo chicken dip — which can be enjoyed with crackers, chips, or pita bread. Having shredded chicken on hand also makes it easy to throw together a Cobb salad, and can add a bit of robustness to soups. You can even use the shredded chicken to tweak your go-to dishes.
What to eat with shredded chicken?
Shredded chicken flavored with mayo stuffed and toasted in slices of bread. In house blended tea leaves which is slowly brewed in milk. Soft Indian bread served with butter. Veggies and cheese toasted in slices of bread. Shredded chicken flavored with cheese stuffed and toasted in slices of bread. Classic plain shredded chicken with mayo sandwich.
How do you cook with shredded chicken?
The first step in cooking with shredded chicken is learning the best way to shred it. Once you’ve got that down, you’re ready to take on ideas like Ree Drummond’s favorite pasta salad filled with sweet grapes, crunchy almonds, and tender chicken. Speaking of salads, have you ever scooped up salad with a chip?