How to Make Shredded Chicken

5 from 4 votes

Shredded chicken is a common ingredient in so many recipes, yet it is often made the wrong way. Here's how to make it perfect every time.

Prep Time2

Cook Time20

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Shredded Chicken

Servings:

Calories: 183kcal

Author: Erica Walker

Equipment

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts
1/2 cup chicken broth (or water)
2 tablespoons Montreal chicken seasoning (or your favorite seasonings, to taste)
4 tablespoons butter (optional)

Instructions

Place chicken breasts in the bottom of an Instant Pot/Pressure cooker.
Add chicken broth to Instant Pot and top chicken with seasonings and butter.
Seal and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes (30 minutes if cooking from frozen) then quick release.
Remove chicken from Instant Pot and shred with forks or meat claws (or any method above).
Return shredded chicken to Instant Pot (optional) and combine with juices until ready to use in recipe.

For Crock Pot/Slow Cooker:

Place all ingredients in a slow cooker (adding up to an extra cup broth if needed to prevent burning)
Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours. You want the chicken to reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before shredding.

Notes

Freezing shredded chicken:

You can cook up the shredded chicken ahead of time and freeze it until you are ready to use it! You can thaw it in the fridge overnight and then add it directly to your recipe. The chicken will stay great in the freezer in a Ziploc or airtight container for up to 3 months.

Nutrition