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A close-up of tender, saucy slow cooker shredded chicken being stirred with a wooden spoon in a crock pot.

Classic Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

This incredibly easy and versatile recipe yields tender, juicy shredded chicken that's perfect for meal prep, quick weeknight dinners, or adding to your favorite dishes like tacos, sandwiches, or salads.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 190
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts about 4-5 medium breasts
  • 1 cup chicken broth low sodium recommended
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper freshly ground preferred

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker (6-quart or larger)
  • Two Forks

Method
 

Prepare Ingredients
  1. Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of your 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker.
Season the Chicken
  1. Evenly sprinkle the onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper over the chicken breasts. Ensure all pieces are coated.
Add Liquid and Cook
  1. Pour the chicken broth over the seasoned chicken. Cover the slow cooker with its lid.
  2. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, or until the chicken is fork-tender and easily shreds.
Shred and Serve
  1. Carefully remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker and transfer them to a large cutting board or a shallow dish.
  2. Using two forks, shred the chicken into desired sized pieces. It should pull apart very easily.
  3. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker, stirring it into the flavorful cooking liquid. This keeps the chicken moist and infuses it with more flavor.
  4. Serve warm as desired. It's fantastic in tacos, sandwiches, wraps, salads, casseroles, or over rice and vegetables.

Notes

This recipe is incredibly flexible. Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your preference. For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. The shredded chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.