Published on October 3, 2021 / Last updated on December 5, 2022
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).
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:
Using the stovetop to make Shredded Chicken is quick and easy!
The result is incredibly juicy and tender chicken that’s perfect for any of these recipes.
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.
Shredded Chicken Recipes:
Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
These Instant Pot Chicken Tacos come together quickly and can be made from fresh or frozen chicken breasts or thighs (or both!)! Perfect for tacos, salads, or taco bowls.
The easiest Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup — gets thick and creamy, unlike those recipes that just add milk or cream. Perfect for a chilly day!
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.
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!
This Chicken Alfredo Pizza is creamy, cheesy and loaded with chunks of chicken, crispy bacon and spinach! With homemade pizza dough and homemade Alfredo sauce.
This Chicken Tetrazzini is made with juicy shredded chicken, sauteed mushrooms, peas, and a creamy homemade sauce, topped with cheese and baked until golden!
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.
This White Chicken Chili is ultra thick and creamy, with shredded chicken, white beans and corn and just the right amount of spice! Make ahead and freezer friendly, perfect for pantry cooking.
This Chicken Pot Pie is made with homemade pie crust, a thick and creamy filling of chicken and vegetables and baked to golden perfection. The perfect comfort food dinner!
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!
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.
This Chicken Gnocchi Soup is better than Olive Garden! Loaded with tender chicken, chunks of vegetables, spinach in a creamy, flavorful broth – don't forget the crusty bread!
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.
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!
This Instant Pot Chicken Tortellini Soup is loaded with vegetables and cheese tortellini! The perfect chicken soup for a chilly day — made in 30 minutes or less and freezer friendly!
This Cheesy Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti is an easy crockpot meal for busy weeknights! It’s made healthier with no canned soups, lean chicken breast and added veggies, and it cooks completely in the slow cooker for less clean up! Includes step by step recipe video.
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.
This Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice is easy, cheesy, and loaded with veggies, fiber and protein for a complete slow cooker dinner that the kids will love, too!
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!
{Slow Cooker} BBQ Chicken Chili Mac: a hearty one-pot pasta meal that cooks completely in the crockpot! Forget dirtying other dishes — you can cook it all together without risking mushy pasta. www.thereciperebel.com
These Chicken Alfredo Quesadillas are an easy lunch, dinner or snack! They’re filled with leftover chicken, Alfredo sauce and cheese — easy comfort food! A 10 minute meal.
Chicken Enchilada Bake is layers of shredded chicken, corn tortillas, green enchilada sauce and cheese topped with a flavorful homemade salsa! It’s a family friendly meal that satisfies!
Loaded with juicy chicken, bell peppers, cabbage, peas and carrots, this One Pot Chicken Chow Mein is a fast and healthy dinner the whole family will love!
This Healthier Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Bake is a healthier version of a Pioneer Woman classic — completely homemade with no cream soups! It’s an easy make ahead and freezer friendly meal.
Light Thai Peanut Chicken Flatbread is a quick and healthy recipe perfect for a weeknight dinner! A thin and crispy flatbread is topped with Crock Pot Thai Peanut Chicken, cheese and crunchy vegetables and peanuts.
Creamy Chicken Fajita Chopped Salad comes together in less than 15 minutes! It is packed with fresh veggies, butter lettuce, creamy white cheddar dressing and fajita seasoning.
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).
In a large skillet, whisk together broth, Italian seasoning, seasoning salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Add chicken breasts to the pan and bring to a simmer over high heat.
Reduce heat to a low simmer (don’t boil!) over low or medium-low heat and cover.
Cook for 15-20 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken breasts reads at least 165 degrees F.
Remove chicken from the pan and shred using two forks or an electric mixer. Serve or place back into the liquid to keep warm and moist.
Store in the liquid in the refrigerator, or reserve the liquid for another use (it has great flavor!). Cooked chicken can be stored up to 4 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.
My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!
I’m still learning from you, but I’m making my way to the top as well. I definitely enjoy reading all that is written on your blog.Keep the stories coming. I liked it!
Wow!! What a creative, delicious list to choose from for chicken dinners! I can’t wait to try them all! Mostly the healthier side of things…but dang, the comfort level of a lot of these foods makes my taste buds water! Thank you so much for sharing this gold mine of recipes!
This is the goldmine of chicken recipes! I bookmarked this page, so I can easily find a tasty idea for dinner! Thank you for making my life so much easier! 🙂
I’m debating on the chicken noodle soup or chicken taco bake or chicken tater tots..all look delicious..going shopping soon..I’ll try a few..thank you for the ideas!!
See – NOW – I have a problem with this list! I really don’t appreciate it either!! I STILL don’t know what to do with my shredded chicken for dinner tonight because all these recipes look amazing and my mouth is absolutely watering! Thank you for all these great ideas! I printed several and can’t wait to try them!
okeechobee boar hunting says
I’m still learning from you, but I’m making my way to the top as well. I definitely enjoy reading all that is written on your blog.Keep the stories coming. I liked it!
Angel says
Wow!! What a creative, delicious list to choose from for chicken dinners! I can’t wait to try them all! Mostly the healthier side of things…but dang, the comfort level of a lot of these foods makes my taste buds water! Thank you so much for sharing this gold mine of recipes!
Andrea Thueson says
This is the goldmine of chicken recipes! I bookmarked this page, so I can easily find a tasty idea for dinner! Thank you for making my life so much easier! 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Andrea!
wilhelmina says
I love all the things that shredded chicken can be used for, such a great addition to so many recipes! Thanks for the great list of ideas!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Wilhelmina!
Toni says
This is such a great list! Thanks for sharing! I wish I could try all these!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Toni!
Natalie says
Love this list!! We use shredded chicken many times during the week & I always need more recipes to try!
Ashley Fehr says
We always have a ton too!
Garrett says
So many amazing dinner ideas! We always seem to have leftover shredded chicken in the fridge.
Ashley Fehr says
We do too!
Theresa Coster says
I’m debating on the chicken noodle soup or chicken taco bake or chicken tater tots..all look delicious..going shopping soon..I’ll try a few..thank you for the ideas!!
Ashley Fehr says
My pleasure!
Tiffany says
See – NOW – I have a problem with this list! I really don’t appreciate it either!! I STILL don’t know what to do with my shredded chicken for dinner tonight because all these recipes look amazing and my mouth is absolutely watering! Thank you for all these great ideas! I printed several and can’t wait to try them!
Ashley Fehr says
Haha, thanks Tiffany!
Anna says
I always have shredded chicken in the freezer! This collection is so helpful. Thank you!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Anna! me too!
Stephanie says
I made the spaghetti bake and it was so stink’n good! Can’t wait to make more!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Stephanie!
Cyd says
LOVE this collection of recipes! So many great finds here for weeknight dinners – thank you!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Cyd!
Taryn says
These all look so good! I can’t decide which to try first.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Taryn!
Nellie Tracy says
Great compilation of shredded chicken recipes. Some of these are old favorites and some are new! Thank you!
Ashley Fehr says
thanks Nellie! Mine too!
Not-that-Mrs-Carter says
Love this list! Thank you!!