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quick easy shredded chicken

Effortless Shredded Chicken

This versatile shredded chicken recipe transforms ordinary chicken into perfectly tender, uniform shreds in seconds using your stand mixer. Perfect for meal prep, this simple technique creates restaurant-quality shredded chicken that can be used in countless dishes from tacos to salads to pasta.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 220
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Boneless chicken thighs or breasts or a combination of both
  • to taste Salt and pepper optional, but recommended
  • Water or chicken broth for cooking
  • to taste Optional seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, or herbs

Equipment

  • Stand mixer with paddle attachment
  • Cooking pot or baking dish

Method
 

  1. Cook your boneless chicken breasts or thighs until thoroughly done. You can boil them in water or chicken broth, bake them in the oven, or use a pressure cooker or slow cooker. Ensure the chicken is completely cooked through but still juicy.
  2. While the chicken is still warm (this is essential), transfer the cooked pieces to your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
  3. Set your mixer to speed 4-6 and let it run for just 20 seconds. The paddle will effortlessly pull apart the chicken fibers, creating uniform, perfect shreds.
  4. If you've already refrigerated your cooked chicken, gently warm it up before attempting to shred it. Cold chicken is resistant to shredding and could potentially damage your mixer.
  5. After shredding, your chicken is ready to use immediately in your favorite recipes or can be stored for later use.

Notes

This shredded chicken is incredibly versatile - use it for tacos, salads, pasta dishes, casseroles, or stuffed into baked potatoes. For Mexican-inspired dishes, try adding cumin and chili powder during cooking. For Italian meals, dried oregano and basil work wonderfully.
Store leftover shredded chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze portions in freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months - perfect for quick meals on busy weeknights.
If you don't have a stand mixer, you can still shred the chicken using two forks, though it will require more effort and time.