How to Make Shredded Chicken is a staple recipe to use in so many ways. This shredded chicken recipe is easy, fast, less expensive to make yourself with fantastic flavor and a fun mess-free shredding trick!
Sometimes it is the most simple of recipes that become the most useful and loved.
A great example is this Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast recipe.
It’s simple and something used in many recipes AND is much better homemade.
Jump to:
- Why Make this Shredded Chicken Recipe
- How to make Shredded Chicken Breast
- Making Homemade Shredded Chicken Recipe – Step by Step
- Shredding Tips
- How to Use Shredded Chicken
- How to Store Shredded Chicken Breast
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Best Chicken Breast Cooking Recipe too!
- EQUIPMENT USED in this Homemade Shredded Chicken Recipe
- More Recipes You’ll Love
- Recipe
Why Make this Shredded Chicken Recipe
After making this easy, moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast recipe, you’ll never be tempted to buy shredded chicken again!
- It’s done in 20 minutes from cooking through shredding, with fantastic flavor.
- A special trick makes shredding fast and mess-free!
In the past when I needed shredded chicken for a recipe I would go to my local market and pick up a moist, succulent rotisserie chicken they crank out a few times a day.
Once home I’d pull off some of the breast meat and using two forks would shred the meat by hand.
This was convenient and I did rarely had time to make a chicken myself.
That is, until one day when I had little time to make a recipe using shredded chicken breast, and there weren’t any rotisserie chickens at the store.
I was out of luck!
Instead I bought some boneless, skinless chicken breasts, already having a fabulous way to cook them quickly without losing any moisture (you can see an example in this Tarragon Pesto Chicken Breast with Dressed Greens recipe).
With a few tweaks I found a great way to make homemade shredded chicken breast, keeping the meat more flavorful as with roast chicken, rather than the flavor of stewed chicken which is another way to make shredded chicken.
How to make Shredded Chicken Breast
The process is super simple and it’s done in less than 20 minutes!
The best part? It’s shredded in a mixer; no forks required.
There are some tips for using the mixer shared below and you can watch the video too.
Making Homemade Shredded Chicken Recipe – Step by Step
Making this homemade shredded chicken recipe is so easy and makes the best shredded chicken ever!
Please refer to the printable recipe card below for recipe specifics.
STEP 1: In a large skillet with a lid, preferably non-stick, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
STEP 2: Salt and pepper the chicken breasts and them to the pan to brown for 4 minutes.
STEP 3: Flip over and brown for another 4 minutes.
STEP 4: Add the chicken broth, reduce to medium-low, put the lid on the skillet and allow to simmer for 5-8 minutes.
NOTE: Chicken should register 160-165 degrees (it will continue to cook when removed from heat).
STEP 5: Remove the chicken from the skillet and allow it to rest for 3 minutes.
STEP 6: Place the chicken in the bowl of a standing mixer. Turn the mixer on the lowest setting, or 1, and mix until the chicken is shredded to the desired texture.
Shredding Tips
The chicken must be warm to shred well however allowing it to rest a few minutes creates the best texture without becoming stringy and dry.
Do not run the mixer over the lowest setting and be sure to stop the mixer as soon as the desired texture is reached.
TIP for Making Different Sizes of Shredded Chicken Breast
Making shredded chicken in different sizes is easy by controlling the length of time the mixer runs.
For large pieces, run the mix only briefly. For finely shredded chicken breast, run it longer.
Approximate times: 20-30 seconds for larger pieces; 45-60 seconds for the fine shredding shown in the photos.
Watching the shredding and stopping the mixer when it’s done is the way to go.
How to Use Shredded Chicken
Homemade shredded chicken breast meat can be used for many recipes. Here are just a few ideas:
- Mexican dishes including tacos and enchiladas
- Green Chile Chicken Totchos
- Muffin Tin Mexican Bowls
- Salads
- Soups
- Sandwiches
- Omelets
How to Store Shredded Chicken Breast
Store homemade shredded chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store in freezer bag or freezer container and freeze for future recipes.
The Best Chicken Breast Cooking Recipe too!
Though this recipe is geared toward how to make fantastic homemade shredded chicken breast, the method to cook the chicken is also a winner.
It is the way I always cook boneless skinless chicken breasts for recipes like Pink Peppercorn Sherry Cream Chicken.
Chicken breasts are a lean cut of meat especially when cooked boneless and skinless.
This cooking method makes moist chicken breasts every time with great flavor and it’s SO easy!
Once you make chicken breasts this way you’ll never want them any other way!
EQUIPMENT USED in this Homemade Shredded Chicken Recipe
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- Chicken Enchilada recipe
- How to Make Simple Syrup: 8 Recipes and Suggested Uses
- Quiche Lorraine: A Classic Cheesy Bacon Quiche
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There are various brands that make both of these items in multiple price points.
Recipe
Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 1/4 pounds Boneless , Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/4 teaspoons Black Pepper , preferably freshly ground
- 3/4 cup Low Sodium Chicken Broth
Instructions
- Sprinkle chicken breasts with the salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet with a lid, preferably non-stick, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and brown for 4 minutes.
- Flip over and brown for another 4 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth, reduce to medium-low, put the lid on the skillet and allow to simmer for 5-8 minutes. NOTE: Chicken should register 160-165 degrees (it will continue to cook when removed from heat).
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and allow it to rest for 3 minutes.
- Place the chicken in the bowl of a standing mixer. Turn the mixer on the lowest setting, or 1, and mix until the chicken is shredded to the desired texture (20-30 seconds for larger pieces; 45-60 seconds for the fine shredding shown in the photos).
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Published originally: February 21, 2016
Trang says
This turned out so moist! I started baby led weaning with my new baby and it’s nice because she can eat this but so can the whole family.
Taylor says
This is the BEST and easiest way to make shredded chicken breast! We love using it in salads, soups, tacos, you name it. Love having it on hand throughout the week for easy meals!
Ashley says
This was so easy to make and tasty! We will be using it through the week to make lots of different meals.
Fatima T says
This shredded chicken is always a great addition for any meal or quick snack. I love using it for salads as well.
Eileen M Loya says
I also buy rotisserie chicken when I need to make shredded chicken but I think making your own is more budget friendly and delicious too. I will follow your recipe instructions the next time I would need shredded chicken.
Toni Dash says
The flavor is totally different too. I think you’ll love this recipe!
Sisley White says
Shredded chicken breasts are so useful for all sorts of meals and this makes it easy!
Jess says
I love making this to freeze and then have on hand for easy meals throughout the week!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
Oh wow, this looks so delicious. My family is going to devour it!
Aimee Mars says
This is one of those recipes you bookmark and then make again and again! My shredded chicken has always turned out to be too dry and now I have the perfect recipe to use instead. I’m already thinking of all the things I can make using this chicken.
Maryann says
Love this recipe! Chicken is so yummy and tender:) I make it all the time to have in hand for quesadillas and chicken salad:)
Toni Dash says
Yay! So glad to hear that Maryann! It’s one of mine too.