Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

A crockpot basin filled with shredded chicken.

5 from 4 votes

A super easy recipe for cooking a large portion of shredded chicken, seasoned so it can be used in a wide variety of dishes. Perfect for meal prep!

Prep Time5

Cook Time4

Total Time4 5

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: Servings

Calories: 133kcal

Author: Meredith

Equipment

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 Cup chicken broth (low sodium works great)
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
¾ teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

Add the chicken breasts to the basin of your slow cooker (it's ok if they overlap a bit, or if you have more than one layer).
Pour the broth over the chicken and then sprinkle the seasonings on top.
Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through (temperature at 165°F) and is fall apart tender.
***We recommend cooking on the low setting if time allows.***
Shred the chicken. Option to use two forks to pull apart, or use your stand mixer with a paddle attachment on low speed to shred 1-2 breasts at a time (it will take just a few minutes to shred all of the chicken this way).

Notes

*Cooking Time Note*

Typically, it's recommended to cook chicken breast on the slow cooker's low setting for 6-8 hours, or on the high setting for 3-4 hours until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F. However, in my 6-quart slow cooker, chicken breast is often to temperature and tender on the LOW setting after 3 hours and 30 minutes. For the first time making this recipe, I recommend cooking on the low setting and checking it early to gauge how long your slow cooker needs to cook your shredded chicken.

Storage:

Store shredded chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I like to add ½-1 Cup of extra liquid from the crockpot (after skimming off any fat) to my container to help keep the chicken moist. You can also freeze shredded chicken if desired. To do so, transfer fully cooled shredded chicken to a labeled and dated airtight container or ziptop freezer bag(s) and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition