Crockpot shredded chicken is majorly tender and juicy - perfect for hands-off weekly meal prep, super versatile, and even freezer-friendly! Paleo, Keto, Whole30.
Pat the chicken dry and rub the spices into the meat.
Transfer the meat to the crockpot in a single layer. Pour in the chicken broth.
Cover the crockpot with a lid, and cook until tender and juicy. - For boneless chicken breasts, I recommend cooking them on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 2-4 hours. - Chicken thighs should cook within that time frame - LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 2-4 hours - but on the upper end (or maybe slightly more). - For bone-in chicken, it can take 1-2 hours extra. No matter which cut you use, use a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat (avoiding bones) to test that it's safely cooked. It needs to reach 165ºF/74ºC to be safe to consume.
Once ready, remove the meat from the slow cooker and leave it to rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to settle and redistribute. It's then ready to shred (or dice) to your liking!
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Notes
Seasoning is optional: Feel free to omit the onion and garlic powder depending on how you plan to use the crockpot chicken (i.e., within a casserole or sauce, etc.).
The cooking time may vary: Based on the thickness/size of the chicken, whether it contains bones, your batch size, and even individual crockpot – so check on them 30-60 minutes BEFORE the earliest recommended time when first trying the recipe.
Use the leftover juices: You can drizzle it over the chicken, thicken it with cornstarch into a gravy, or reduce it to add to sauces.
The yield: This can vary, though 1lb of chicken meat will generally make about 2 cups of shredded chicken.
Why is my crockpot shredded chicken tough? Chicken can be tough when under or overcooked. If it seems rubbery, it’s likely undercooked and requires longer cooking in the liquid to become tender.How do you keep the shredded chicken moist after cooking? Stir some of the chicken juices/broth into the shredded chicken when using or storing it to keep it super juicy.Do I need to include the chicken broth? Technically, you can slow-cook the chicken without liquid. However, the broth adds flavor to the meat and creates more steam for super juicy meat that won’t dry out easily. Cooking it in plenty of liquid will help it become more tender with time.Check the blog post for more tips and serving recommendations!