Mexican Shredded Chicken

This recipe is a family favorite and perfect for many different meal ideas. I love to make a big batch of this and we can enjoy it for simple dinners or even lunches during the week. The chicken is so tender and packed with flavor.

Plus, the entire recipe comes together in under 30 minutes. Save time and money and make this chicken at home. It is so tender you can shred it with a fork. You may like these other easy skillet chicken recipes, Tex Mex Skillet Chicken Recipe, Easy Salsa Chicken Skillet Recipe, Skillet Chicken and Rice Burritos, and Quick Skillet Chicken Fajitas Recipe.

Why We Love Mexican Shredded Chicken

This Mexican Shredded Chicken Recipe is made with simple ingredients that we always have on hand. If I need a quick dinner, this has been my go-to recipe. It is loaded with flavor and the chicken cooks so tender and juicy in the cast iron skillet.

I love to have this chicken stored in the fridge as it makes it easy for my kids to reheat to make their favorite quesadillas or chicken bowls. The next time you need a filling, yet healthy meal idea make this Mexican Shredded Chicken.

Ingredients

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – You can substitute with boneless skinless chicken thighs
• Olive Oil – Feel free to use any type of oil that you prefer
• Salsa – You can use jar salsa or make Homemade Salsa Recipe
• Chicken Broth – If you are out, see Chicken broth substitutes
• Taco Seasoning or ½ a Packet – Make Homemade taco Seasoning made with cumin, paprika, and chili powder.

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

• Change Meat – We love this recipe with chicken but you can also use ground turkey or ground beef. We have even made it with cooked pulled pork or shredded beef roast.
• Add Beans – If you need to stretch your meat budget, try adding black beans or rice to the chicken mixture. It will still taste amazing. You can add salsa for even more flavor to the chicken mixture.
• Other Additions – To add a delicious variation, you can easily add in a tablespoon of minced garlic, chopped onion spice, or chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. We have even topped with shredded cheddar cheese for added a cheesy chicken mixture.

How to Make Mexican Shredded Chicken

Step 1 – First, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Next, add the chicken breast and season with the Taco Seasoning.

Step 2 – Brown each side of the chicken breasts but cooking it for approximately 3-5 minutes on each side over medium-high heat.

Step 3 – Reduce the heat to low, stir the chicken broth and salsa together, add it into the pan, cover with lid and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. I like to season with salt and pepper as well.

Step 4 – Shred with 2 forks in the sauce, top with lime juice and stir to thoroughly combine. Use tongs to serve over rice, salad, burrito bowls or in tortillas!  Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Skillet Recommendation – We use a cast iron skillet and it’s perfect for this recipe. I have the Lodge cast iron skillet but you can see all the different brands here.
• Shredding Chicken – You can easily shred the chicken with two forks but you can also shred with a hand mixer or stand mixer. This quickly shreds the chicken in the perfect pieces.
• Cooking Chicken – Cooking chicken in the skillet will vary depending on the size of the chicken. We recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken is fully cooked with an internal temperature of 165 degrees. You can also make Baked Mexican Chicken, Crock Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken or cook Mexican Chicken in the instant pot.

What to Make with Mexican Shredded Chicken?

This chicken is perfect for so many different dinner ideas. I love how versatile it is.

It is delicious in Taco Salads and we have an easy recipe for homemade taco bowls.  This is so quick and easy for busy weeknights. My kids love when we make chicken quesadillas or Cilantro Lime Shredded Chicken Tacos

Another favorite around here is nacho night! This chicken and a little of The Best Mexican White Cheese Dip Recipe make amazing nachos! It’s also great for parties. We have even used the chicken to make Green Chile Chicken Soup.

Mexican shredded chicken is yummy served with Spanish Rice, Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe or Mexican Rice. Did you know you can also freeze rice? I love making a double batch and putting some in the freezer. It’s so nice to be able to just take this out of the freezer.

Low carb? Top a big salad with shredded chicken. Quick and easy!

Can I Freeze Mexican Shredded Chicken? 

Freeze leftovers for an easy meal later. Sometimes we even double the recipe just to have enough to freeze. I like to freeze it in gallon freezer bags to save space in the freezer.

The bags lay flat and you can stack the bags on top of each other. We do a lot of freezer cooking and love to use hands free bag holders. While they are optional they are so handy.  They keep your bags open so you can just dump your ingredients inside.

You can snag them very inexpensively on Amazon and even though they are not required, I highly recommend them. It is like having another set of hands!