Chicken is one of those universally loved proteins you can quickly turn into various dishes. And if there's one thing we can all agree on, shredded chicken is versatile beyond belief! You can put it in just about anything, and it'll taste amazing.
So you've cooked up a chicken and looking for ideas on what you should do with all the delicious shredded poultry. Whether you're looking for a simple recipe to put in your weekly rotation or something a little more adventurous, we got some fantastic shredded chicken recipe ideas you won't get tired of!
And for those who haven't shredded the chicken yet, we got some tips on how to do it best!
You can often see cooked shredded chicken as an ingredient in many recipes. If the recipe doesn't give you a step-by-step guide on how to cook the chicken before shredding, poaching, or simply boiling, it is the easiest way to go.
You can add your favorite spices, garlic cloves, and onion and have moist, flavorful chicken that shreds in seconds.
There is an even easier way for those times you feel extra lazy or tight on time - buy a cooked rotisserie chicken and shred it.
If you are not pressed on time, a slow cooker makes super flavorful chicken that is easily shredded.
Check out Crazy Good Slow Cooker Chicken for more tips.
This is the most old-school method to shred the chicken. On the plus side, it applies to any kind of chicken - whole roasted, rotisserie, chicken breast, or thighs and you don't need any equipment to do it successfully.
The downside of this method is that it is pretty time-consuming. You will have to wait until the chicken has cooled down entirely and shred it piece by piece.
This method also applies to most types of chicken cuts and is less messy and more efficient.
Place two forks at the center of the chicken piece and pull it apart until you reach the desired-sized shreds.
Using a stand or hand mixer is by far the easiest, fastest, and mess-free method for shredding chicken. The one thing to remember is it is only suitable for boneless chicken.
Place your cooked chicken into a bowl, set the mixer speed to low, and break it into shreds in seconds. This method is perfect if you need to make large amounts of shredded chicken.
Now that we got the shredding process out of the way check out all the delicious shredded chicken recipe ideas we are totally obsessed with.
This is a classic chicken tortilla soup filled with veggies, topped with shredded chicken, avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and fried tortilla strips.
Reminiscent of chili, garlic, and ginger, the chicken is cooked low and slow after being basted in butter and then in a sticky marinade of soy sauce and honey. Enjoy with your family.
Our BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese is a spicy chicken sandwich with the added gooey goodness of grilled cheese. Grilled and shredded chicken thighs are tossed with your favorite BBQ sauce, layered onto soft, buttered bread, and topped with shredded mozzarella, cheddar, and creamy avocado.
Delicious creamy Greek lemon chicken soup with rice is made with no cream or dairy. The creaminess comes from tempered eggs added to the broth.
Shredded chicken quesadilla is a great way to reuse leftover chicken. This recipe is so quick and easy to make too!
This pasta bake is loaded with chicken and cheese and is super filling! Sometimes I add a little aioli sauce if I’m in the mood for a garlicky dinner. Be sure to have cooked shredded chicken on hand, and cook your pasta first. The whole family should like this one!
An easy and healthy shredded chicken nacho dip that comes together in only minutes!
Shredded chicken enchilada casserole is your way to enjoy all the delicious Southwest flavors and do half the work making it. Perfect for Sunday dinner or a potluck!
Chicken Flautas is a quick and easy dish for an appetizer or a light dinner, and it can be done in 15 minutes. This recipe uses fewer ingredients but is more flavorful than you expect. Corn tortillas make the outside crunchy, combined with seasoned shredded chicken, and your preference topping will make this dish a perfect light meal.
This quick and easy homemade Cheesy Chicken Ranch Dip is delicious and full of flavor. It's great on crackers, tortillas, or veggie sticks.
If you are a fan of the brilliant comedy show that is Schitt's Creek you simply MUST try these Moira Rose's Aunt-chiladas!
This tasty family dinner is fun to assemble and, even more, fun to eat. The spicy enchilada sauce pairs perfectly with the gooey chicken-cheese filling rolled into a crispy tortilla.
And don't forget to FOLD IN THE CHEESE!
This BBQ Chicken Sandwich recipe couldn’t be easier! With only five ingredients and a special chicken shredding hack, you can have these juicy, flavorful sandwiches on the table for dinner in under half an hour. Enjoy the universally loved combo of BBQ chicken flavor and creamy ranch slaw in every bite, and maximize the experience for your taste buds!
Elevate an average quesadilla by loading up with this spicy and tangy chicken and vegetable filling. By reusing leftover chicken and veggies, tonight's dinner will come together in just under 15 minutes!
A recipe by Soy Vay: "A crunchy, zesty slaw tops the tender shredded chicken in these tacos garnished with fresh cilantro and Sriracha mayo. It’s all nestled in a warm corn tortilla. We’re hungry already!"
This Southern Eggs Benedict is has a southern BBQ twist on the delicious classic, with shredded BBQ chicken, homemade Hollandaise, and a poached egg.
This quick and easy pozole Verde recipe is like a warm hug in a bowl. This delicious Mexican-style stew is perfect for cold days and is filled with fresh flavors from the tomatillos, onions, and cilantro, a kick of spice from the serranos and chicken. The traditional recipe is hominy-based, but feel free to use chickpeas if you don’t have any hominy grits.
Enjoy this Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki recipe that will make the chicken melt in your mouth. Best served with rice for dinner and pack leftovers for lunch the next day.
These slow cooker chicken Verde bowls are loaded with flavor and the tender chicken just falls apart.
A healthy Southwest-style chicken and rice meal cooked to perfection in a slow cooker.
