By Becky Hardin
Updated Jun 10, 2025
Perfect for meal prep, this Crockpot Shredded Chicken is flavorful and great for soups, stews, chilis, salads, and so much more. Just pop chicken breasts in the slow cooker and voila! Delicious all-purpose chicken!
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Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
If you’re looking for a simple, flavorful, and versatile protein to streamline your meal prep, this Crockpot Shredded Chicken is a game-changer. With just a few basic ingredients—chicken breasts, broth, and seasonings—you can set it and forget it while the slow cooker works its magic. The result is tender, juicy chicken that’s perfect for tacos, salads, soups, sandwiches, or meal prep throughout the week. Plus, it’s freezer-friendly, making it a must-have staple for busy weeks.
Tips for Beginners
- The key to moist chicken is to cook the chicken low and slow.
- Cook the chicken in a single layer to avoid uneven cooking.
- Do not cook chicken from frozen in the crockpot. It spends too much time in the “temperature danger zone,” which could cause food poisoning.
- Use the two-fork method to shred the chicken. Pull forks through the chicken in opposite directions. You could also invest in meat shredding claws or shred the meat in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
- Toss the cooked shredded chicken in its juices before serving.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts bone-in also work
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
- ▢ 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
Video
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts into a crockpot. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Pour the broth over the chicken. 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours.
- Transfer the chicken to a bowl and shred it with two forks. Use or store as desired.
Equipment
- Crockpot
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Crockpot Shredded Chicken Step by Step
Season the chicken : Place 3 pounds of chicken breasts into a crockpot. Season with ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Pour 1 cup of the broth over the chicken.
Cook the chicken: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours.
Shred: Transfer the chicken to a bowl and shred it with two forks.
Store or use : Store in the refrigerator or use as desired.
Variations
Though I love this shredded chicken as is, I often customize it depending on how I plan to use it. My favorite flavor options include:
- Blackened seasoning
- Creole seasoning
- Chili seasoning
- Fajita seasoning
- Taco seasoning
How to Store
Store leftover shredded chicken in an airtight container or Ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Enjoy cold or reheated in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through.
To freeze crockpot shredded chicken breasts, portion the shredded chicken into one large or several small Ziplock bags, seal, then press the chicken into a flat, even layer. Lay in the freezer until solid, then store for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
This easy crockpot shredded chicken recipe is so versatile, you can use it in so many ways. Add it to a Cobb salads , throw it into chicken soup, make baked chicken tacos , or make our delicious chicken salad pie .
more shredded chicken recipes we love
Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken
Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
Crockpot Italian Chicken
Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Crockpot Shredded Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts bone-in also work
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts into a crockpot. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Pour the broth over the chicken. 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours.
- Transfer the chicken to a bowl and shred it with two forks. Use or store as desired.
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
