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Learn how to shred chicken. Save time and shred a ton of meat in just seconds!
How to Shred Chicken:
Here are our 5 easy ways.
- Use your Hands to Shred Chicken – After the chicken is cooked through, allow it to cool enough to handle but make sure that the chicken is still warm. Use your hands to pull the chicken apart into smaller pieces for your favorite recipes.
- Use 2 Forks – After the chicken is cooked through, allow it to cool enough to handle on a cutting board but make sure that the chicken is still warm. Place 2 forks into the center of the chicken breasts and pull the chicken apart in the opposite direction. Continue this process until the chicken breasts are shedded into even pieces.
- Use a Hand Held Mixer – Place the cooked chicken breasts in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand held mixer on low speed to break apart the chicken into pieces. Continue this process until all the chicken is shredded.
- Use a Stand Up Mixer – Place the cooked chicken breasts in the bowl of a stand up mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed to break apart the chicken into pieces. Continue this process until all the chicken is shredded.
- Use a Large Kitchen Knife – Place the cooked chicken on a cutting board. Use a large knife to dice or slice the chicken based on your preference to be used in your favorite recipes.
Let’s get started!
How to make shredded chicken:
- Place the chicken in a large stock pot. Season with the salt and pepper.
- Cover the chicken in the pot with water making sure that itโs more than 1 inch over the chicken breasts.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat.
- Once the mixture is boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover.
- Cook until the chicken is cooked through (chicken will be completely white when cooked) and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. This generally takes approximately 20-30 minutes depending on the size and quantity of the chicken breasts that you are cooking.
- Remove chicken and allow it to cool so that the chicken can be handled, then shred based on your preference and the chicken is ready to enjoy!
How to freeze shredded chicken:
This is so easy! Just put the chicken in freezer bags or containers and freeze until needed.
I like to freeze the chicken in individual portions so that I can just grab it when I’m cooking. This is a big help and makes dinner so easy.
There are so many ways to use shredded chicken and being able to grab and go sure makes life easier. You will see a big difference once you start using your frozen chicken in how less time it takes
This is a great way to meal prep. It really does not take much time to do this in advance but the time savings in the end are huge.
I think it also saves money because you want be so tempted to get take out or eat out. Knowing you have shredded chicken in the freezer ready to go, makes it so easy.
While you are freezing the chicken, you might also want to learn how to freeze peppers and how to freeze onions to save even more time in the kitchen!
Little things like this make life much easier during the week. It all adds up to a lot of time savings and you can spend more time with your family.
Print the instructions on how to Shred Chicken Here:
How to Shred Chicken
Learn how to shred chicken easily with your KitchenAix or hand Mixer. Save time and shred a ton of meat in just seconds! How to make shredded chicken.
Servings: 6
Calories: 57kcal
Ingredients
- 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Place the chicken in a large stock pot. Season with the salt and pepper.
- Cover the chicken in the pot with water making sure that itโs more than 1 inch over the chicken breasts.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat.
- Once the mixture is boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover.
- Cook until the chicken is cooked through (chicken will be completely white when cooked) and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. This generally takes approximately 20-30 minutes depending on the size and quantity of the chicken breasts that you are cooking.
- Remove chicken and allow it to cool so that the chicken can be handled, then shred based on your preference and the chicken is ready to enjoy!
Notes
There are multiple options when shredding your chicken. Here are our 5 easy ways.ย
Use your Hands to Shred Chicken – After the chicken is cooked through, allow it to cool enough to handle but make sure that the chicken is still warm. Use your hands to pull the chicken apart into smaller pieces for your favorite recipes.ย
Use 2 Forks – After the chicken is cooked through, allow it to cool enough to handle on a cutting board but make sure that the chicken is still warm. Place 2 forks into the center of the chicken breasts and pull the chicken apart in the opposite direction.ย Continue this process until the chicken breasts are shedded into even pieces.ย
Use a Hand Held Mixer – Place the cooked chicken breasts in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand held mixer on low speed to break apart the chicken into pieces. Continue this process until all the chicken is shredded.ย
Use a Stand Up Mixer – Place the cooked chicken breasts in the bowl of a stand up mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed to break apart the chicken into pieces. Continue this process until all the chicken is shredded.
Use a Large Kitchen Knife – Place the cooked chicken on a cutting board. Use a large knife to dice or slice the chicken based on your preference to be used in your favorite recipes.ย
How to Store Leftover Chicken:ย Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze in a freezer safe container for a bag for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 57kcal | Protein: 11g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 58mg | Potassium: 185mg | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Recipes to make with shredded chicken:
- Easy Chicken Salad
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos Recipe
- Balsamic Pulled Chicken Sliders
- Crockpot Pulled Chicken Recipe
- Crockpot Root Beer Chicken Sandwich
- The BEST Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
- Crockpot Chicken Ranch Tacos
I wonโt ever shred chicken any other way ever again! Thank you for the tip!
I have used the flat blade beater attachment in my stand up mixer before and it worked great!
Have used my mixer for shredding, for as long as I can remember. Best shortcut!
Also, I invested in a vacuum sealer. I live alone, but cook enough for at least 4 people. By using the vacuum sealer, I can freeze leftovers without worrying about freezer burn. This is how I’m able to keep food costs down (that + your recipes).
What attachment so you use with your stand up mixer?
I have never tried it when it is cooled, but I hear that is works best when the chicken is still warm.
I think this is a great idea! Can you do this with meat that has cooled??