This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
WW Recipe of the Day: How to Shred Chicken for Shredded Chicken Recipes
Lots of recipes call for shredded chicken, but how do you shred it? Buying a rotisserie chicken for your chicken salad or skinny impossibly easy chicken broccoli pie is a great solution and those are tender enough to shred with your hands.
You probably have eaten shredded chicken lots of times in soups, casseroles, sandwiches, salads, burritos and enchiladas. And probably have never given how to shred chicken an ounce of thought until encountering a recipe calling for ‘shredded chicken.’
While editing my Favorite Ways to Use Rotisserie Chicken eBook, my brother, Peter, asked about it.
And I immediately thought, good question! And then I thought, “Oops, I’ve got several recipes calling for shredded chicken and never thought once about including instructions for how to shred it.”
So here you will find written instructions as well as a couple helpful videos. And at the end of the post, I’ve included some of my favorite recipes calling for shredded chicken. I hope it helps!
But first, if you don’t have already cooked chicken on hand you’ll need to cook some and let it cool before shredding it. The easiest option is to poach it.
Poach your Chicken to Shred
Poaching is the quickest easiest way to cook chicken for shredding. The low temperature and moist-heat cooking method cooks the chicken gently and prevents it from overcooking too quickly. Add boneless skinless chicken breasts to a large skillet (affiliate link) in a single layer and cover with water or chicken broth. Place over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Cover the pan, turn off the heat and allow the chicken to sit for 20 minutes. Remove the cover and transfer to a cutting board (affiliate link). Let cool slightly and then shred or chop as desired.
How To Shred Chicken: The Written Instructions
- Ideally you would start with cooked chicken that is cooled slightly but still warm. But cooled leftover chicken, such as leftover rotisserie chicken, can be shredded too.
- Use one hand or a fork to hold the chicken steady. With the other hand, use another fork to scrape and tear the chicken meat into small, shredded pieces. If chicken shreds get stuck in the fork, just pull them off. Repeat the process until the chicken is completely shredded. You can also just pull the chicken apart with your hands it it’s easier, which is what I usually do.
- Use the shredded chicken right away. Or transfer the shredded chicken to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to four days. You can use the shredded chicken in casseroles, salads, tacos, curries, and sandwiches.
How to Shred Chicken with a Fork:
While doing research to find a good how to shred chicken video, I learned something new. You can shred chicken with your stand mixer too. Here’s a video demonstration…
I have severe rheumatoid arthritis, so I always avoided recipes with shredded chicken because shredding with a fork is brutal on my hands. Using the mixer was a revelation for me – I can’t believe how fast it is or how well it works! And no pain!
I couldn’t believe what a revelation it was when I first saw the video. I’d never thought about the implications for those with arthritis! Thanks for letting me know.
Warmly,
Martha