42 Shredded Chicken Recipes That Require Little Preparation

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These 42 Shredded Chicken Recipes are quick, flavorful and use easy preparation methods. They are perfect for busy people who want to eat healthy, meal prep or cook simple, tasty family dinners.

Shredded chicken, also called pulled chicken is high in protein, which makes it perfect for people who exercise regularly. For more high protein meal ideas check out our 32 Bodybuilding Meal Prep Ideas to Build Muscle.

If you are looking for some delicious chicken meal prep, especially for weight loss here’s our 50 Healthy Chicken Meal Prep Ideas to Lose Weight, and check out these Best Side Dishes for Chicken.

How do you Make Shredded Chicken? 

Shredded chicken is delicious and so versatile which makes it great to have in your repertoire. It’s really simple and easy to make, all you need to do is cook chicken and shred it. There are some methods and ‘hacks’ that are better than others, so I will share with you the best way to make tender shredded chicken.

What kind of chicken is best for shredding?

When it comes to what type of chicken meat to use, this depends on your preference. Whole chicken, chicken breast and chicken thighs are all great for shredding. For a leaner, healthier option you should use chicken breast and for a slightly juicer, tender option use chicken thighs.

How long to boil chicken for?

Boiling chicken is the most common cooking method for pulled chicken. This is because it gives it a consistently soft texture and is very full proof. It’s important to make sure your chicken doesn’t overcook or it will become rubbery. 

For a medium sized chicken breast or boneless thigh you should check the internal temperature after 10 minutes, which should be at least 165°F. If the temperature is below, return to the pot and check every 3-5 minutes until cooked.

How do you shred the chicken?

Once the chicken is cooked and cooled slightly, place inside a large mixer bowl. Now either use two forks to pull the chicken apart or a hand mixer. A hand mixer is a fast hack that takes a fraction of the time.

How do you keep shredded chicken from drying out?

To stop the shredded chicken from drying out, it’s important to add the chicken to an airtight container straight after it’s cooled. The longer the chicken is left out unwrapped the dryer it will become.

How long can you keep shredded chicken in the fridge?

Shredded chicken is great to keep on hand in the fridge, especially for meal prep. Shredded chicken in an airtight container will last for 3 days in the fridge. If the chicken has been vacuum packed it will last for up to 7 days.

42 Recipes with Shredded Chicken    

With all these shredded chicken ideas, you will have enough to try a new pulled chicken recipe every fortnight for 1 and a half years. Don’t worry, they are all easy to make and delicious too!

Shredded Chicken Recipes Perfect For Meal Prep

1. Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls

These Instant Pot Chicken Burrito bowls are a quick and easy meal prep recipe! You can prepare 8 portions of these chicken burrito bowls in just 35 minutes, and they only use 5 ingredients! I like customising mine with some of my favourite toppings like sour cream, spicy salsa and cheese.

2. Shredded Chicken Salad (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)

This whole30 shredded chicken salad is fresh & crunchy, it’s perfect for people who follow either a paleo, whole30 or keto diet. It’s low carb and contains a range of veggies and fruits to give you that extra vitamin boost.

3. Sriracha Shredded Chicken Tacos

Healthy sriracha shredded chicken tacos to add a kick to your meal prep. Delicious tender chicken with crunchy cabbage and a kick of sriracha spicy goodness. Add a bit of feta on top for a creamy, salty kick and you got yourself a healthy wholesome chicken wrap that’s perfect to prep for the next day!

4. Chicken Teriyaki Casserole with Rice

Tasty chicken teriyaki casserole that’s easy and simple to make. It’s great for cooking in batches, so you can have it for family dinner and save the leftovers for meal prep. It’s high in protein, uses brown rice for complex carbs and has a mix of veggies, making this a tasty, healthy meal prep idea.

5. Instant Pot Salsa Chicken (With Frozen Chicken!)

When I meal prep, I like to buy in bulk, and most of the time it’s cheaper to do that. This means I sometimes freeze things and thaw them later in the week, and it always happens when I forget to take something out of the freezer. 

Luckily this recipe is a life saver! It’s actually made to use frozen chicken and it’s super quick and tasty! All you need is 2 ingredients, an instant pot and it’s done in 30 minutes!

6. Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos

We’ve got taco Tuesdays covered with these spiced shredded chicken tacos. They are really fuss free and just require adding the chicken and spices in the instant pot then quickly shredding them. The great thing is you can totally customize the toppings for nutritional needs and food preferences! Ideal for those busy days when you have no time for cooking!

7. Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Gà Bóp)

This simple Vietnamese chicken salad is so light and refreshing. It’s a classic dish from Huế in central Vietnam that uses fresh flavored ingredients like lime juice and coriander. This recipe is keto friendly containing 8.9 grams of carbohydrate per serving, pair this with some fluffy cauliflower rice for a delicious, healthy low carb meal.

8. Shredded Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken

This 15 minutes teriyaki chicken uses sweet and savoury Asian flavours, that are pressured cooked until mouth watering and tender. Pair this with some quinoa or rice and you have yourself a quick, flavorful meal prepped.

9. Pesto Chicken Salad

Pulled chicken pesto salad that’s fresh and creamy, taking just 15 minutes to make. This tasty chicken salad is perfect for cold meal prep in a sandwich or mixed with some cooked pasta. 

10. Instant Pot Vegetable Soup with Shredded Chicken

This shredded chicken vegetable soup is a time saver. It’s flavorful, hearty and packed with vegetables. This should be one of your go to healthy soup recipes when you’re in a rush. It can be made from start to finish in just 30 minutes.

11. Healthy Chinese Chicken Salad

A healthy Chinese chicken salad that is super light and full of crunchy veggies. It’s super healthy but still packed with flavor, using a delicious soy sesame dressing.

Leftover Shredded Chicken Recipes (All under 53 minutes)

12. Chicken Tinga Tacos (Tinga De Pollo)

Have you been wondering what to make with leftover shredded chicken? Then you are in the right place, these smoky Chicken Tinga Tacos use leftover shredded chicken with a fresh chipotle tomato sauce. It’s a classic southern Mexican dish that’s packed with spice! The best part is, you get so much flavor and they only take 30 minutes to make!

13. Buffalo Pulled Chicken Sandwich

These buffalo chicken sandwiches are a great way to use that leftover pulled chicken. You can whip up a batch of 4 in just 20 minutes, they are basically a healthy fast food! Each sandwich only contains 145 calories and is packed with protein. These pulled buffalo sandwiches are definitely getting included in my next summer bbq.

14. Crispy Chicken Apple Cabbage Salad

This crispy chicken salad might just be your next favourite salad. It’s made super easy by using leftover shredded chicken that’s crisped up in olive oil with lemongrass, ginger and garlic. That delicious flavor combination pairs really well with freshly chopped cabbage, minced herbs, apple and a light squeeze of lime.

15. Healthy Greek Yogurt Curried Chicken Salad

This healthy curried chicken salad is packed full of flavor! It’s perfect for those days you don’t want to turn on the oven or cook something over the hob. All you need is a mixing bowl and 10 minutes to make this delicious chicken salad. Try it in toasted bread for a delicious, healthy, quick chicken sandwich.

16. Street Corn Taquitos

Shredded chicken with a creamy filling wrapped in a corn tortilla then fried to golden brown. How good do these sound? These Taquitos are a classic Mexican street food, they have a tender creamy filling and a crunchy shell, try these with some spicy salsa and you are in for a win.

17. Keto Chicken & Mushroom Cauliflower Rice Casserole

Chicken and mushroom casserole is one of my favourite comfort foods, this keto friendly version is perfect for people following a low carb diet who enjoy this classic dish. It’s comforting, delicious and packed with healthy vegetables.

18. Low Carb Chicken Enchiladas

These low carb, low calorie chicken enchiladas are packed with flavor. Mexican seasoned chicken topped with enchilada sauce and gooey cheese. It’s hard to resist, and a meal the whole family will enjoy.

19. Rosemary Chicken Sandwich

This 10 minute rosemary chicken sandwich is perfect for people in a rush! It’s great for a tasty lunch sandwich to take to work, using fresh celery and a rosemary dressing. 

20. Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

Do you love the Olive Garden chicken and gnocchi soup? If so, you are going to love this copycat recipe, and as an added bonus it only takes 25 minutes. So it’s not only cheaper then the Olive Garden, it’s also quicker! It’s rich, creamy and packed with veggies and tender potato gnocchi.

21. Creamy Chicken Tomato Tortellini Soup

This easy, one pot, rich and creamy chicken soup is full of goodness. It uses leftover shredded chicken that’s heated in a creamy tomato sauce with fresh herbs. This high protein soup contains 23g per serving, and it only takes 16 minutes to make.

22. Leftover Chicken Stir-Fry

This recipe is perfect for when you have an abundance of leftover chicken. It uses long lasting frozen and pantry ingredients, you probably already have stocked. So you can simply whip it up in 15 minutes without worrying about going to the supermarket.

23. Low Carb Keto Chicken Soup

The most easy, low carb keto chicken soup that is comfort in a bowl. It is full of goodness using 4 types of vegetables and only has 3g of carbs per cup.

24. Curried Chicken Salad with Rotisserie Chicken

This Indian spiced shredded chicken recipe is perfect for spiced lovers. You can either make it mild or spicy, either pair amazingly with the creamy dressing. It’s packed with 6 fruit and veggies, making it a super easy way to hit your 5 a day.

25. Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas

These meaty chicken and black bean enchiladas have a spicy kick of green chillies, that help deliver that authentic Mexican spiced flavor. To make this recipe extra healthy, serve it with some fresh guacamole, salsa and green onions.

26. Tom Kha Gai Soup (Thai Coconut Soup)

Easy, 30 minute Tom Khai Gai that delivers authentic flavors and a creamy coconut sauce. It’s packed with healthy spices, herbs and veggies giving you an easy wholesome family dinner.

27. Pulled BBQ Chicken Casserole

This pulled bbq chicken casserole is a great way to use that leftover chicken. It’s quick and easy to make, using a variety of flavors both kids and adults love like sweet bbq sauce, sweetcorn, tender chicken and tasty cheddar cheese. It’s also a one pot meal that makes cleaning up take a matter of minutes.

28. Chicken Alfredo Bacon Pasta

This super easy chicken alfredo pasta is great for those lazy days. It only uses 5 ingredients, so it makes grocery shopping much easier, and cheaper. Use your favourite branded alfredo sauce and you are in for a quick and easy, bacony meal.

29. Thai Peanut Chicken and Rice Bowls

This simple and tasty Thai peanut chicken and rice bowl is not only quick but packed with nutrition and flavor. It pairs deliciously with the Thai peanut sauce, this is one recipe that you won’t get tired of.

30. Tomato Herbs and Chicken Salad over Arugula

This healthy fresh tomato and herb pulled chicken salad is one of my favourite mediterranean pulled chicken salad recipes. It uses a tangy balsamic vinaigrette that pairs beautifully with the fresh arugula and tomatoes. An added bonus too this recipe is that it only takes 15 minutes to make.

31. Latin Shredded Chicken Stew

Latin shredded chicken stew simmered in a tasty tomato broth with fresh garlic, onion, peppers and herbs. This recipe is packed with Latin flavors and is made with just a handful of fresh ingredients in under 50 minutes.

Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Recipes 

Slow Cookers are one of the best kitchen gadgets to reduce prep time! Most recipes just involve placing the ingredients into the cooker and setting it. (affiliate link opportunity / sentence / banner)

32. Mexican Pulled Chicken Sandwich

These Tender Mexican pulled chicken sandwiches are perfect for when you have a busy day planned! Simply place them in the slow cooker in the morning, turn to low  and they are ready for the evening! They use delicious Mexican spices that pair amazingly with creamy guacamole.

33. Slow Cooker Bbq Chicken Tacos with Slaw

Slow cooked tender, bbq chicken tacos that will have you craving more. The great thing about these bbq chicken tacos is not just that they are easy to make, but that they are healthy and packed with protein. Each taco contains a whooping 34 grams of protein and only 2 grams of saturated fat!

Need more high protein ideas? We have a bunch of High Protein Meal Prep Ideas to help you out!

34. Crockpot Salsa Chicken 

This crockpot salsa chicken recipe is a go-to favourite when you are short on time. It only uses 4 ingredients and all you need to do is dump the ingredients in the crock pot, set it and forget it. The great thing is, they freeze well so make a double batch and you have dinner for next week.

35. Veggie-Loaded Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken

Add some extra veggies into your meal plan with this veggie-loaded shredded Mexican chicken recipe. This healthy shredded chicken recipe only takes 5 minutes to prep and contains just 185 calories per portion! It’s perfect to add into your weight loss meal plan!

36. Slow Cooker Chicken And Black Beans

Delicious chicken slow cooked with tender black beans, corn, salsa verde and spices. Enjoy this tender spiced chicken with a bowl of rice or quinoa. It’s great for people who want to stay healthy as it contains plenty of good nutrition like complex carbohydrates, fibre, protein and potassium. 

37. Slow Cooker Crack Chicken

Trying to find a keto shredded chicken recipe? This slow cooked crack chicken only has 7.6 grams of carbohydrates and it’s so easy to make! All you have to do is add in the 7 ingredients and set the timer, then you got a creamy, tasty family dinner.

38. Crockpot Bbq Chicken Sandwich

If you are a lover of bbq pulled pork sandwiches you are going to love this recipe! This healthier version uses tender bbq pulled chicken with a sweet & smoky bbq sauce. It only contains 1g of saturated fat and 341 calories per portion, so it’s great for people trying to lose weight. Topped this recipe with some tangy slaw and you have yourself a tasty crockpot meal.

39. Crockpot Buffalo Shredded Chicken Sandwich 

This keto crockpot shredded buffalo chicken is great for those busy days. Even though the buffalo sauce is homemade, the whole dish only takes 5 minutes to prep.

40. Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Slow cooker, creamy white chicken chilli is so easy to make and it’s perfect for a hearty dinner. It’s made completely from scratch and only takes 10 minutes to prep. 

41. Slow Cooker Greek Chicken Pita Sandwiches

Tender flavorful chicken that’s slow cooked in yoghurt, oregano and lemon. It delivers tasty Greek flavors, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to make and how few ingredients you need.

42. Honey Sriracha Pulled Chicken and Waffles with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

If you love the classic, fried chicken and waffles you are going to love this! It’s a healthier twist on the classic, using sweet and spicy slow cooked pulled chicken with tasty homemade buttermilk ranch dressing. This honey sriracha pulled chicken and waffles is a foodies dream come true!