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    Home » Main Dish

    How to Shred Chicken - 4 Easy Methods

    Published: May 5, 2022 by Andrea · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    How to shred chicken in 4 easy methods is a great guide to shred any type of cooked chicken fast and effectively. With these methods, getting perfectly shredded chicken for any meal has never been easier. These methods are a great way to save time and money and have chicken ready for meals in the crockpot, to the perfect taco night.

    Shredded chicken in a dish.
    Jump to:
    • How to your cook chicken
    • Top Tip
    • Equipment
    • Storage

    How to your cook chicken

    The key to shredded chicken is to have good cooked chicken. Here are our favorite ways to cook chicken in order to shred well.

    • Grilled Chicken
    • Instant Pot Chicken
    • Crockpot/Slow Cooker Chicken
    • Air Fryer Chicken
    • Pan cooked chicken
    • Poached Chicken

    Time needed: 10 minutes.

    These foolproof methods will help you shred chicken more easily and efficiently. From a grilled chicken breast to a rotisserie chicken, these methods will come in hand at any time.

    Once you have perfectly shredded chicken, you can make meals like our Chicken Caesar Pitas, or our Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos.

    1. Using your hands

      This method can be used with a cooked skinless boneless chicken breast, or a whole chicken.

      Let your cooked chicken cool so it can be easily handled. If you try to shred the chicken too soon, it may be too hot and could burn you.

      Place the chicken on a clean surface, like a cutting board or platter.

      With clean hands, tear pieces of chicken off and make into desired size.
      Shredding chicken by hand.

    2. The 2 Fork Method

      This method is best used with chicken breast, thighs, and drumsticks, and even whole in bone chickens.

      First, place the cooked chicken on a cutter board or plate.

      Then, with two forks, place one for in the cooked chicken and gently pull off pieces of chicken with the other fork.

      Shred the chicken until the entire chicken is the desired size pieces.
      Shredding chicken using two forks.

    3. The Hand Mixer Method

      This method is best used for skinless boneless chicken breasts, or any chicken that has been removed from the bone.

      Place the cooked chicken in a medium sized mixing bowl with high sides.

      Next, with a hand mixer, beat the chicken on a low speed until the chicken pieces are the desired sizes. Be sure to hold on to the bowl while mixing, it will move a lot. Shredding Chicken Using a hand mixer.

    4. The Stand Mixer Method

      This method is best used for skinless boneless chicken breasts, or any chicken that has been removed from the bone.

      Place the cooked chicken into a stand mixer.

      Lower the paddle and beat on a low setting until the chicken is in even pieces at the desired size.

      Chicken in the the stand mixer can be easily beaten to too small of pieces. Make sure to keep and eye on the chicken while beating. Shredding Chicken with a stand mixer.

    5. How to Shred Rotisserie Chicken

      Shredding a whole chicken or rotisserie chicken in bone is easy.

      First, once the cooked chicken is cooled, remove the chicken meat from the bones.

      Next, place the meat in a medium sized bowl.

      Use any of the 4 methods listed above to shred the chicken once it is off of the bone.

      This method is great for shredding our air fryer spatchcock chicken.
      air fryer spatchcock chicken cut to show moist tender meat and crispy outside

    6. How to Shred Chicken in the Crockpot or Instant Pot

      Once your chicken is cooked, shredding chicken in the crockpot or instant pot is easy!

      Once the chicken is fully cooked, the best methods to use are the two fork method or the electric hand mixer.

      Both methods allow you to get desired results without having to remove the chicken from the crockpot or instant pot.

    Top Tip

    Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

    To shred boneless skinless chicken breast, all four methods work great. This is a very easy chicken to work with as no bone or skin get in the way.

    Our personal favorite method for shredding this type of chicken is using the stand mixer. It is fast and efficient and gives you perfectly even chicken without extra work.

    Bone-in Chicken

    Bone-in chicken with or without skin can be tricky to shred. The electric hand mixer and stand mixer won't work initially because of the bone.

    We suggest letting the chicken cool to a temperature that is easy to handle and use the by-hand method to remove as much of the chicken from the bone as possible. Your hands will be able to get close to the bone and not waste any chicken.

    Once you have removed the chicken from the bone, place the chicken in a bowl and you are now able to use any of the 4 preferred methods.

    Shredded Chicken on a platter.

    Equipment

    Depending on what method you choose you will need

    • 2 forks
    • electric hand mixer
    • stand mixer

    Storage

    Once the chicken is the desired size you prefer, use the chicken for your next meal, store in the refrigerator in an air tight container, or freeze.

    Store leftover chicken in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an air tight container.

    Freeze any leftovers in a freezer bag or air tight container up to 2-3 months.

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    More Main Dish Recipes

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    • Instant Pot Taco Meat
    • Homemade Chicken Taco Seasoning
    • Delicious Ham and Potato Soup Crock Pot

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    nicole and andrea

    Hi, we are Nicole and Andrea! As busy moms our favorite meals are easy, healthy and delicious. While we love eating nutritious meals, we also strongly believe in moderating them with yummy desserts! We love hiking, going to the beach and doing Spartans.

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