Here are the easiest ways to shred cooked chicken. This tutorial will show you how to do it right, so you can use it in a lot of different recipes. Save time and money with these four simple methods.
Now that you’ve learned how to cook the perfect chicken breast, it’s time to use that perfectly cooked chicken in tons of delicious recipes. You can shred it and add it to enchiladas, salads, grain bowls, soups, and other things to get rid of it.
In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn exactly how to shred chicken using four different methods: your hands, two forks, a hand mixer and a stand mixer. This makes it easy to prepare meals ahead of time. For more delicious recipes using shredded chicken, see the list at the end of this post.
Shredded chicken is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many dishes like salads, sandwiches, wraps, soups, and casseroles. It adds protein and texture to meals without much effort. While you can buy pre-shredded chicken at the store, it’s cheaper and often tastier to shred it yourself. Here are some of the easiest ways to quickly shred chicken at home.
Cook the Chicken
The first step is cooking the chicken so it’s ready to be shredded. The best cuts to use are boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs since they’ll shred more easily without bones.
You can bake, grill, sauté, or poach the chicken. Just make sure to cook it until the middle is 165°F throughout. Undercooked chicken won’t shred well.
Poaching is one of the easiest ways to cook because the chicken is cooked slowly in liquid. Poach chicken breasts by cooking them slowly in broth or water with seasoning for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are fully cooked.
Let It Rest
Before shredding, let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute so the meat stays moist and tender. Shredding chicken when it’s too hot can make the meat dry and stringy.
Shredding Methods
There are a few easy shredding techniques to try
By Hand
One of the easiest ways to shred chicken is to do it by hand. Put the chicken on a clean cutting board and use your fingers to break it up into smaller pieces. This method works for all chicken cuts.
With Two Forks
Two forks can also be used to shred chicken into smaller pieces. Place the cooked chicken on a cutting board. Hold it steady with one fork and use the other to pull and shred the meat. Keep shredding until you get the desired texture.
Stand Mixer
A stand mixer makes quick work of shredding chicken. Put the chicken in the bowl and use the paddle attachment on low speed for about 10-20 seconds until shredded uniformly. This technique works best for boneless chicken.
Hand Mixer
Similarly, a hand mixer on low speed can shred cooked chicken in a bowl in seconds. Use a deep bowl so chicken doesn’t fly out. Hand mixers are great for smaller batches.
Store and Use the Shredded Chicken
Once shredded, the chicken can be used right away in recipes or stored for later. To store, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. You can also freeze shredded chicken for up to 4 months.
Some easy recipe ideas that use shredded chicken include:
- Chicken salad sandwiches or wraps
- Tacos or burrito bowls
- Casseroles like chicken pot pie or enchiladas
- Soups like chicken noodle or chicken tortilla soup
- Salads with chicken on top
- Stir fries with shredded chicken
You can save money and change the taste of the chicken by shredding it yourself at home. It’s quick and easy to poach the meat and then shred it by hand, with forks, or in a mixer. You can quickly make healthy meals for dinner or meal prep when you have shredded chicken on hand.
Method 3: use a hand mixer
I recommend only using boneless cooked chicken breast & thighs with this method.
Step 1: place your cooked chicken breast or thighs in a deep bowl.
Step 2: use a hand mixer on low speed to carefully break apart the chicken into shreds.
Step 3: continue with step 2 until your chicken is evenly shredded. You may need to shred larger pieces apart as you go to get nice, even shreds of chicken.
How much shredded chicken am I getting?
A lot of recipes say to shred a certain amount of cooked chicken. But how much chicken should you start with?
As a rule of thumb: 1 pound of cooked, boneless chicken (breasts or thighs) will make about 2 ½ cups of shredded chicken.
The SECRET to shredding chicken #chicken #foodhacks #cooking
FAQ
How do you make Shredded chicken?
You’ve come to the right place if you’ve ever wondered how to make shredded chicken. Here are the three best ways to do it: Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer: This is the fastest way to do it. Put your slightly cooled chicken into a stand mixer (or bowl if you’re using a hand mixer) with the paddle attachment.
Can you make Shredded chicken with a fork?
There are two main ways to make shredded chicken—you can either use a fork or a stand mixer. We examine the pros and cons of each method and share the best way to cook chicken for shredding, the best chicken cuts for shredding, how to store shredded chicken, and our favorite ways to use this versatile protein.
How do you shred chicken with no mess?
Luckily for all of us, there’s an easy, foolproof way to shred chicken with minimal mess. It’s easy: just put cooked chicken that has been boned and skinned into a stand mixer with a paddle attachment and turn it on medium speed. (You can also use a large bowl and an electric hand mixer—more on that below. ).
Can You shred chicken immediately after it rests?
However, if you’re using mixer or food processor, you can shred the chicken immediately after it rests. There are 4 simple ways to shred chicken: with your hands, a mixer, or a food processor.
How do you shred a chicken breast?
Step 1: after you’ve cooked your chicken, be sure it’s cool enough to handle with your hands (but still warm) before shredding. Place your chicken on a clean surface like a cutting board or plate. Step 2: use your hands to pull the chicken breast apart into even pieces until the chicken is shredded into desired sized pieces.
Do you need to cook chicken before shredding?
Of course, before you shred your chicken you’ll need to cook it. You can use really any method, including baking, grilling, slow cooking, pressure cooking, etc. But our favorite method for cooking chicken for shredding is boiling. Not only is it fast and easy, but it also keeps the chicken moist and tender so that it’s easy to shred.
How long should you boil chicken breast to shred?
- Place the chicken in a single layer in the bottom of a pan: It’s ok if the pieces overlap a little. …
- Cover with an inch of water: Add the salt and any seasonings you’d like to use. …
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat: …
- Cover and simmer for 8 to 15 minutes: …
- Cool briefly, then shred or slice: