30+ Shredded Chicken Recipes for easy weeknight dinners

These Shredded Chicken Recipes are easy dinner ideas that are perfect for meal prep because they all start with easy shredded chicken (Instant Pot and Crockpot recipes included).

Looking for more easy meal inspiration? Check out my collection of Dinner Recipes or my collection of Chicken Recipes here!

I’ll admit, when I was young, newly married, and childless, I hated leftovers.

Cooking was something I loved, and if I made a huge batch of something and was then forced to eat it for days on end? Not something I looked forward to!

But as life gets busier, the more I value having something prepped and ready in the fridge.

That’s where these Shredded Chicken Recipes come in.

Why shredded chicken is the perfect meal prep:

Shredded Chicken is such a great thing to have prepped ahead because of how versatile (and delicious!) it is!

It really goes with anything, and you can add more or less seasoning or other sauces depending on what you want to do with it.

It’s lean, it’s healthy and high in protein — basically, it checks all of my boxes!

I’ve included two different ways to make chicken for these shredded chicken recipes — in the Crockpot and in the Instant Pot. These are my favorite ways to make tender, juicy shredded chicken without babysitting it on the stove.

From there, the options are endless!

How to make Shredded Chicken (3 ways):

If you’re looking to make a big batch of cooked chicken for these pulled chicken recipes, here are 3 of my favorite ways to do it.

1. Try this stovetop Shredded Chicken Recipe when you need it quickly and your chicken is thawed and ready to cook.
2. Try this Crockpot Shredded Chicken recipe when you’ve got a few hours to let it cook and you want something hands off.
3. Try this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken recipe if you’ve got an instant pot, have fresh or frozen chicken, and want something quick and hands off.

See more of my shredded chicken recipe tips down below! Now here are some of our favorite ways to use that pulled chicken to make dinner time easier.

The Best Easy Shredded Chicken Recipes

Tap the heading or the image to go to each recipe.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is made with penne pasta, crispy bacon, and juicy chicken pieces tossed in a flavorful ranch cream sauce. It’s ready in 40 minutes!

Chicken Rice Soup

This Chicken Rice Soup is a hearty, healthy soup recipe that’s perfect for fall! Loaded with vegetables, lean chicken and brown rice it can be made stove top or slow cooker.

Chicken Tortellini Soup

This Chicken Tortellini Soup is loaded with vegetables, tender shredded chicken and cheese tortellini! Easily made stove top or crockpot, with fresh or frozen chicken!

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

This Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings recipe is a slow cooker version of a classic comfort food! Tender chicken, loads of veggies, and fluffy homemade dumplings are simmered in a thick and flavorful gravy.

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

This Chicken Broccoli Alfredo is the perfect easy pasta dinner! Tender Cavatappi pasta and cooked broccoli are tossed in a rich and cheesy cream sauce, then topped with juicy slices of chicken.

Tuscan Chicken Pasta Bake

This Tuscan Chicken Pasta Bake is cheesy, creamy, and so flavorful! Penne pasta is baked in the best homemade sauce and made hearty with bites of chicken spread throughout. Perfect for those crazy weeknights when you need something comforting and easy!

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

This Chicken Pot Pie Soup is thick and creamy, loaded with vegetables and tender pieces of chicken! It is made in one pot and topped with biscuits or pastry, making it the perfect cold weather comfort food. 

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is made with chicken broth, savory vegetables, tender chicken, Orzo pasta, herbs and fresh lemon for a zesty kick! It’s a healthy soup recipe that is comforting and flavorful!

White Chicken Chili

This Chicken Pot Pie Casserole is a completely made-from-scratch comfort food classic! It’s packed with veggies and tender bites of chicken then layered with a fluffy homemade biscuit topping.

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

This Chicken Pot Pie Casserole is a completely made-from-scratch comfort food classic! It’s packed with veggies and tender bites of chicken then layered with a fluffy homemade biscuit topping.

One Pot BBQ Chicken Pasta

This One Pot BBQ Chicken Pasta is full of smoky and savory flavors, with tender chicken breast, crispy bacon, and your favorite BBQ sauce – it’s an easy one-pan meal the whole family will love!

Chicken Dumpling Soup

This Chicken Dumpling Soup recipe is made with sautéed vegetables, creamy potatoes, and tender chicken in a rich and flavorful broth. Homemade dumplings are simmered on top for the ultimate comfort food!

One Pan Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

This Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is made in ONE pot with just SIX ingredients and in 30 minutes! It really doesn’t get easier or more flavorful than this. 

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

This Chicken Gnocchi Soup is better than Olive Garden! Loaded with tender chicken, chunks of vegetables, and spinach in a creamy, flavorful broth, it’s made in 30 minutes!

Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake

This Chicken Alfredo Bake is an easy meal-prep and freezer friendly dinner option! Tender pasta and chicken are tossed in homemade Alfredo sauce, topped with cheese, then baked until hot and gooey.

Instant Pot White Chicken Chili

This Instant Pot White Chicken Chili is creamy and hearty with just the right amount of spice! Loaded with lean chicken, white beans, green chiles, and corn, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Chicken Bacon Rice Soup

This Chicken Bacon Rice Soup is easy to make and comes together in just 25 minutes using only one pot! It’s thick and creamy and full of flavor!

Chicken Noodle Casserole

This Chicken Noodle Casserole is classic comfort food ready with just 15 minutes of prep! Tender egg noodles, veggies, and juicy bites of chicken baked in a rich cream sauce.

Creamy Italian Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

This Creamy Italian Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup is hearty, healthy, and flavorful. It’s packed with tender chicken, garlic, roasted red pepper, a touch of cream, parmesan, and more.

Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup

Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup is a comforting soup that’s easy to make with just six bold ingredients! With tender chicken, beans and corn in a flavorful broth, this slow cooker soup is sure to be a hit!

Italian Chicken Tortellini

This Italian Chicken Tortellini is an easy meal made in just one pot! It’s loaded with cheese tortellini, roasted red peppers, spinach, tomatoes, herbs, and cheese!

One Pan Chicken Chow Mein

This One Pot Chicken Chow Mein is a fast and healthy dinner the whole family will love! Loaded with juicy chicken, bell peppers, cabbage, peas and carrots, it’s ready in about 30 minutes!

Chicken Spaghetti

This Chicken Spaghetti is the perfect quick, easy, family-friendly dinner! It has spaghetti noodles, tender bites of chicken, and veggies all smothered in a chili-spiced cheddar cheese cream sauce.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is made with seasoned chicken breast, rotini pasta, Caesar dressing, Parmesan and garlic bread croutons. It’s a light but still hearty summer meal, perfect for picnics!

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

This easy Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup recipe is one of my favorite meals to warm up with on a cold winter day! With juicy chicken, vegetables, and an aromatic mix of seasonings, it’s a family favorite!

Chicken Enchiladas

This Easy Chicken Enchiladas recipe is one we’ve used time and time again to make the BEST chicken enchiladas. Made with tender chicken cooked in enchilada sauce with onions and peppers, corn or flour tortillas and plenty of cheese.

Chicken Quesadilla

This Chicken Quesadilla is an easy dinner idea! Tortillas layered with juicy bites of chicken, melty cheese, and veggies — kids and adults love them!

White Lasagna Soup

This White Lasagna Soup is your favorite pasta bake in soup form! It’s rich, creamy, and packed with tender chicken, veggies, and cheese!

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This delicious Chicken Enchilada Casserole is made by layering juicy shredded chicken, homemade red enchilada sauce, corn tortillas, and loads of melty cheese!

How to shred chicken:

I guess I’m a little old school this way, but I prefer to just use two forks and pull it apart.

There are lots of people who use a hand mixer or stand mixer, and just get in there and it’s shredded in a minute or less, but I find the chicken turns to mush and is super fine.

I like to shred my chicken with forks because I can make the chunks as big or small as I want, and keep some of the texture of the chicken (so you can see it actually is chicken!).

You do you 😉

And now what to do with all of that delicious chicken! Here’s your dinner inspiration for the week ahead:

How to store shredded chicken:

Cooked, shredded chicken can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for 3-6 months.

This makes it a great dinner component to make ahead for busy days!

How to swap shredded chicken for uncooked chicken in recipes:

Some of these recipes call for cooked cubed or shredded chicken, and some call for raw chicken.

Swapping pre-cooked shredded chicken for the raw chicken in any of these recipes is a great way to cut down on prep and cook time and make life easier!

Since the chicken doesn’t require any cooking, you can simply stir it in to soups and pastas in the last few minutes of cook time to reheat.

For casseroles, you will want to add in the chicken before it goes into the oven.