Easy Shredded Chicken is a go-to, versatile chicken dish that’s not only extremely easy to make but also incredibly adaptable to various culinary creations. Full of flavour, this quick and easy chicken recipe is our go-to fix-it-and-forget-it chicken dish.

Originally published on our first website in November 2020. Updated with new information in June 2025.

A bowl of easy shredded chicken with a plate of grated cheddar cheese, a bowl of sauce, a plate of lettuce and a pile of tortillas on a white and blue striped cloth.

And what’s great about this chicken recipe is, it can be used in so many ways, making it a great dish for meal planning. Or use it for work and school lunches.

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Shredded Chicken Ingredients

The ingredients in this recipe are simple and ones that I always have on hand

Boneless, Skinless Chicken: Either breasts or thighs can be used in this recipe. Chicken breasts are my go-to because they tend to shred easily.
Chicken stock: This is the same as broth. The recipe calls for low-sodium chicken stock, but regular stock can be used. If using regular stock, the salt in the recipe may need to be adjusted.
Chilli powder: Along with cumin, chilli powder is what gives the most flavour to this dish.
Cumin: Used in many Mexican dishes, this spice provides an earthy, nutty flavour to the chicken.
Garlic powder: Granulated garlic is my go-to, but regular garlic powder can be used.
Onion powder: Provides the flavour of onions without having to cut onions and cook them.
Paprika: Not only does this spice add flavour, it also provides colour to the chicken.
Salt: We use fine sea salt for our recipes.
Freshly ground pepper: If you don’t have a pepper grinder, ground pepper works just as well in this chicken dish.

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Ingredients Substitutions For Easy Shredded Chicken Recipe

To save time, premade taco seasoning can be used in place of all the spices in the recipe. It can be store-bought or homemade taco seasoning.

Garlic cloves can also be minced and used in place of garlic powder.

A diced onion can be used in place of the onion powder.

Smoked paprika is a nice addition in place of regular paprika. It adds a touch of smokiness to the chicken.

Additions That Can Be Added

Add diced jalapenos for some spiciness. Other types of peppers can also be added to level up the spiciness of the dish.

Adding hot sauce is also a good option to spice up the flavour of the chicken.

Diced yellow, red, or orange peppers also add flavour as well as colour to this dish.

How To Cook Easy Shredded Chicken

This dish can be cooked in a few different ways. The recipe instructions are to cook in the oven. There are other ways to use this chicken dish.

During summer, we use the BBQ to make this dish, to avoid heating the house. Usually, we will make a double or triple batch to have on hand for the week. Once shredded, add the chicken to pasta salads for lunches and keep some chicken shredded in an airtight container in the fridge to make sandwiches for quick lunches.

Ways to Use Easy Shredded Chicken

Although tacos are one of our favourite ways to serve this chicken, we have come up with a few more. There are many ways to serve Easy Shredded Chicken.

Sandwich: Serve this chicken on a toasted bun with lettuce and tomato slices.
Sloppy Joe Style: On a fresh bun, add chicken and taco sauce to create a chicken sloppy joe.
Nachos: This chicken is perfect for topping nachos. Add salsa, shredded cheese, pickled jalapenos, olives, or whatever your favourite nacho toppings are.
Burritos: Spread some refried beans on a tortilla, and top with easy shredded chicken, shredded cheese, and rice. Fold and heat before serving.
Salad: Top a salad with chicken for an easy lunch.
On Rice: Serve chicken on top of Mexican-spiced or Spanish-style rice.
Lettuce Wrap: Serve this chicken with a sprinkle of shredded cheese in a lettuce leaf for a lower-calorie lunch.

Storing Leftovers

Leftover Shredded Chicken can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave when ready to use.

This chicken recipe can also be frozen. Store leftover chicken in a freezer bag or air-tight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

Reheating Easy Shredded Chicken

To reheat this chicken, there are a few ways to do it:

In the microwave on medium power until heated through
In a pot on the stove, stirring until heated through. Additional chicken stock may be needed to avoid sticking to the pot and to keep it from drying out.
Oven: Preheat oven to 300ºF. Bake chicken in a covered casserole dish in the oven until heated through.
On a flat top griddle. We use our Blackstone to quickly heat the chicken for wraps and tacos. Simply heat the Blackstone and add the chicken, using a spatula to stir it until heated.

For another great chicken recipe, check out our Pulled Buffalo Chicken.

Have you made this recipe? Leave a comment below to let us know.