Shredded Chicken Recipes
Shanthi Appelo, MS, RD
| 2 min read
If there’s one ingredient that deserves a permanent spot in your weekly meal rotation, it’s shredded chicken. Affordable, protein-packed and endlessly adaptable, shredded chicken works just as well in quick weeknight meals as it does in make-ahead lunches or family-friendly dinners.
Chicken is a lean source of high-quality protein. Protein plays a critical role in supporting muscle maintenance, immune health, hormone production and satiety, helping you feel fuller for longer after meals.
Once cooked and shredded, chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days or frozen for longer storage. Keeping it lightly seasoned (or unseasoned) allows you to customize flavors later, so you’re not locked into one cuisine or recipe.
Tips for Making the Best Shredded Chicken
- Don’t overcook: Chicken that’s cooked just until tender will shred easily and stay moist.
- Shred while warm: Chicken pulls apart more easily when it’s still warm.
- Add sauce after cooking: This helps prevent dryness and keeps flavors fresh.
Try one of these shredded chicken recipes:
Buffalo chicken dip is a fan favorite at any tailgate—creamy, spicy and difficult to stop eating. This lighter version, made with cottage cheese and less cream cheese, keeps the flavor but dials back the heaviness. It also packs in more protein, making you feel satisfied with less. Serve with celery sticks and whole-grain crackers alongside the tortilla chips to mix in more wholesome dippers.
Traditional tostadas are made up of fried corn tortillas, topped with refried beans and beef and toppings. In this lighter version, flour tortillas are baked with spray oil to achieve a crispy base. Lighter in saturated fat and overall calories, this recipe is made with saucy pulled chicken.
If you grew up in Michigan ─ or anywhere with long, gray winters ─ you likely know some version of this soup. It’s bright, cozy and nostalgic for many. The lemon adds lift, the rice makes it satisfying, and the chicken brings it all together into something that feels like home in a bowl.
This slow cooker recipe makes taco chicken easy and delicious. Tomatoes and chiles are added to chicken in a slow cooker and add flavor, antioxidants, fiber and vitamin C to the mix.
