The great thing about shredded chicken is that it’s so versatile. You can use it in just about anything, from chili, pizza, and barbecue to chicken pot pie, tacos, and enchiladas. It’s delicious, easy-to-work-with food that doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. Just in case you’ve never experienced the delights of shredded chicken, I started this article out with a quick guide to making it. After that, though, we’ll jump right into the good stuff. Let’s get to it!
20 Easy Recipes with Shredded Chicken
1. How to Make Shredded Chicken
As with most dishes, there are plenty of ways to make shredded chicken. While no single way is “the right way,” the how-to guide in this link is my favorite way to make it. Start with boneless, skinless chicken – thighs or breasts work best – then use some olive oil to saute the chicken, adding salt and pepper to the side that’s not facedown in the pan. Once you’ve successfully sauteed the bottom, flip the chicken, add the chicken broth, and place the lid on the pot. Doing so allows the chicken to half-poach, which is perfect for retaining moisture. Once the chicken is fully cooked, shred it using two forks or a stand mixer. Voila! You’ll have flavorful, moist shredded chicken in under 20 minutes.
2. Mexican Shredded Chicken
Okay, so I wanted to add one more recipe for making shredded chicken. With this one, you can make shredded chicken with a somewhat Mexican flair. It’s spicy, well-seasoned, and has an authentic Tex-Mex/south-of-the-border flavor that tastes great in tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and other traditional Mexican recipes.
3. BBQ Chicken Sandwich
There’s no better chicken for barbecue than shredded chicken, and most of the work in this recipe comes from the marinade/bbq sauce. After you get that done, just stir in the chicken, bring the mixture to a boil, and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. It’s so quick and easy, not to mention delicious.
4. Chicken Chili
I love white chicken chili. It’s just as hearty and filling as traditional red chili, but it’s less heavy on your stomach. It’s also packed just as full of flavor. That’s primarily thanks to the garlic, chilies, onions, peppers, and all the other seasonings. If you enjoy a thicker chili, try using three cups of chicken broth instead of four.
5. Chicken Noodle Soup
Sometimes 100% made-from-scratch recipes can often be intimidating, but this chicken noodle soup is so incredibly easy. You can make the whole thing in a single pot, and it only takes 10 minutes of prep work. It’s warm, comforting, and has a great flavor that combines chicken, homemade chicken broth, and an impressive serving of veggies.
6. Vietnamese Shredded Chicken Salad
If you’re looking for something cool, fresh, and just a bit ethnic, try this Vietnamese shredded chicken salad. The ingredients are common veggies and pantry staples, and it takes almost no time to whip up, especially if you make the dressing and shredded chicken beforehand.
7. BBQ Chicken Pizza
BBQ chicken pizza isn’t one of my all-time favorite pizza varieties, but I know it’s popular with many people, so I decided to add it to the list. This six-ingredient recipe is simple and takes only 25 minutes from start to finish. It’s cheesy and features the rich, smoky taste of barbecue, so if that’s your thing, you’ll love this pizza.
8. Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Baked Potatoes
These potatoes may look like they have a lot going on – and they do! – but they’re surprisingly simple to make. You just need to microwave the potatoes, scoop out their insides, and fill them with the deliciously cheesy buffalo sauce mixture. They take 15 minutes to make and are super yummy.
9. Shredded Chicken Nachos
I don’t care how old and prone to heartburn I get; I will never turn down a tantalizing plate of loaded nachos. These are incredible and take less than an hour to prepare. The chips are crispy, and the cheese is gooey. Plus, you can pile them high with so many other toppings, including shredded chicken, tomatoes, black olives, salsa, avocado, and more. And that lime yogurt drizzle? Yeah. It’s so good; you’ll want to put it on practically everything.
10. Classic Chicken Salad
Using shredded chicken to make classic chicken salad is so easy, it should be criminal. It takes 10 minutes and requires no cooking, assuming you already have the chicken ready to go.
11. Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas
Anyone who knows me can tell you how much I adore Mexican food, and this recipe for chipotle chicken quesadillas is one of my favorites. They’re unbelievably good. Full of melted cheddar cheese, smoky and spicy chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, onions, garlic, tomatoes, honey, scallions, and so much more, these will make your mouth water. Put a dollop of sour cream and some lime juice on each one, and you’ll have a real crowd-pleaser.
12. Chicken Tacos
The perfectly seasoned chicken in these tacos tastes excellent, and the homemade cilantro sauce provides the perfect amount of tangy flavor. However, the real star of the show is the pineapple salsa. Diced pineapple, red bell peppers, red onions, lime juice, salt, and cilantro are six simple ingredients that have no right to taste as amazing as they do. It’s the ideal addition to the tacos.
13. Chicken Empanadas
I never had empanadas as a child, but even so, they’re a 100% comfort food for me. I think it’s the warm, buttery, pastry-like crust, and the phenomenal caramelized onions. Whatever it is, though, there’s nothing I love better than coming home after a hard day to the smell of these fantastic things cooking.
14. Chicken Tortellini Alfredo
This filling, garlic-y, and oh-so-creamy pasta is another fragrant, yummy meal that will put a smile on your face after a long day. It takes less than 30 minutes to make and is every cheese lover’s dream come true. Best of all, other than the tortellini and the chicken, you probably have everything you need to make it in your kitchen already.
15. Chicken Pot Pie
I had never considered using shredded chicken in a pot pie. I’d always used big chunks of chicken until I found this recipe. It tastes just the same as any other creamy, scrumptious pot pie I’ve ever made, but it seems to take a little less time to cook.
16. Buffalo Chicken Wraps
These 5-minute buffalo chicken wraps are the stuff! Of course, I like anything I can make in 5 minutes or less, but these really are incredible. They taste great; they’re filling, and they’re pretty healthy, too.
17. Chicken and Dumplings
When it comes to chicken and dumplings recipes, it’s hard to beat this copycat recipe from Cracker Barrel. The chicken is tender, and the dumplings are light and fluffy. The broth is thick and has a wonderfully bold taste. It’s the perfect way to make chicken and dumplings.
18. Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
What is it about cheese and rice that just tastes so spectacular together? It doesn’t even seem to matter what else is in the recipe. As long as you have cheese and rice, you’ll have something tasty. This flavorful dish also contains shredded chicken, garlic, thyme, and plenty of other herbs and seasonings. It’s gooey, sticky, and full of flavor. It’s practically an entire meal in and of itself, though you may want to serve it with a side salad or a couple of green veggies for a more balanced dinner. Often, I add chopped broccoli and/or asparagus right into the dish itself. It doesn’t change the flavor all that much, but it does give you a few more servings of vegetables without having to cook a bunch of sides.
19. Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
This recipe is so easy and so cheesy. There are some tender chicken and crispy tater tots in the dish, as well, but it’s really all about the cheese in this one. (Isn’t it always all about the cheese, though?) Best of all, you’ll only need a few ingredients. It’s made with shredded chicken, frozen mixed veggies, condensed cream soup, cheddar cheese, pepper, tater tots, and paprika and takes around half an hour to make. It’s another one of those all-in-one meals that the whole family can enjoy, and this one even comes with its own built-in veggie serving.
20. Shredded Chicken Enchiladas
For the last shredded chicken meal, I’ve decided to share one of my favorite recipes for chicken enchiladas. These combine everything you could possibly want in enchiladas, and the homemade enchilada sauce is drool-worthy. Each one is messy and full of cheese, tomato, and garlic but that’s just fine with me. Anything that tastes this good can be as messy it pleases. Click on a star to rate it!
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