There are few kitchen ingredients as versatile as good 'ol shredded chicken. Just think about it! Shredded chicken is the star ingredient in tons of your favorite recipes—spicy chicken enchiladas, cheesy chicken spaghetti, cool and creamy chicken salads, hearty party dips and who can forget all those delicious chicken soups and stews? But if you've ever spent time shredding chicken by hand, especially in large amounts, you know it can be messy and time consuming. The good news? It doesn't have to be! Below we break down how to shred chicken in four easy ways, from using your hands to putting a few kitchen gadgets (that you likely already own) to work.
The beauty of shredded chicken is you can start with poultry prepared a variety of ways. Shred grilled chicken breasts to give tacos and salads some smoky flair. Drop a broken-down fryer into a pot of water to boil for simple shredded chicken that can go in a number of dishes. Just be sure to remove bones as you shred (and save them for stock)! Or, you can shred roast chicken with lots of herbs to flavor your favorite pasta dishes. Heck, you can even snag a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store! Ree Drummond loves using this time-saving trick. So go ahead, cook your chicken and get to shredding; soon you'll be on your way to making all kinds of delicious chicken dinners!
What's the easiest way to shred chicken?
Everyone seems to prefer a different method for shredding chicken, but here are a few that work well!
Use Your Hands
Using your hands to shred chicken is a no-brainer. For small batches of chicken, it’s relatively quick and easy. Plus, it requires no special tools. Just be sure the chicken is cool enough handle before you begin.
Grab Two Forks
Grab two forks, put the chicken on a cutting board so you have plenty of room, and get to work. Use the forks to pull in opposite directions and let the tines help shred the chicken in pieces as big or as small as you please. Since it’s a more hands-off approach, you can start with warmer chicken, too.
Try a Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer
While it may be a more nuanced approach, a mixer works wonders at shredding chicken. You can use the beater attachment for a hand mixer, but a paddle attachment works great for a stand mixer. This is a quick method that requires almost no effort. Just be sure to keep the mixer on low so you don’t have shredded chicken flying about your kitchen.
The Pioneer Woman The Pioneer Woman Vintage Floral 10-Cup Food Processor
The Pioneer Woman The Pioneer Woman Vintage Floral 10-Cup Food Processor
The Pioneer Woman The Pioneer Woman Vintage Floral 10-Cup Food Processor
The Pioneer Woman The Pioneer Woman Vintage Floral 10-Cup Food Processor
Toss It In a Food Processor
When finely shredded chicken is your goal, the food processor is there to lend a helping hand. This is a great method for chicken salads that call for tiny shreds and a uniform texture. Just give the chicken a few pulses until it reaches your desired shred size, but beware: because the blades are so sharp, your chicken can go from perfectly shredded to downright mush in seconds, so keep a careful eye on it!
Is it easier to shred hot or cold chicken?
Chicken shreds best when it's still a little warm, but be sure to let the chicken rest at least 10 minutes after it finishes cooking before you begin. If you're shredding the chicken with your hands or with forks, you'll likely need to wait a bit longer until the chicken is cool enough to handle. However, if you're using mixer or food processor, you can shred the chicken immediately after it rests.
