Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
Recipe courtesy of Amy Stevenson for Food Network Kitchen

Slow-Cooker Shredded Chicken

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  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 6 hr 10 min
  • Active: 10 min
  • Yield: about 6 cups shredded chicken
This simple recipe takes only a few minutes to get into the pot, cooks while you go about your day and will reward you with meals all week. Use the shredded chicken as is or in one of the flavorful variations below. Either way, it’s great for salads, sandwiches, pastas, quesadillas, tacos, soups or as a pizza or flatbread topping.

Ingredients

Directions

Special equipment:
a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker
  1. Lay the chicken breasts in an even layer in a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add the broth, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon peel and bay leaf if using. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
  2. Transfer the cooked chicken to a large bowl. Use 2 forks to pull it into shreds. Strain the cooking broth and drizzle about 1/2 cup over the chicken. Season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. If not using the chicken immediately, refrigerate it in an airtight container. Refrigerate the remaining cooking broth separately and use it to moisten the chicken when serving. Or add it to soups and sauces.  

VARIATIONS:

  1. Buffalo: Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter and whisk in 3 tablespoons Buffalo-style hot sauce. Drizzle over 2 cups shredded chicken and toss well.
  2. Lemon Herb: Drizzle 2 cups shredded chicken with 1/4 cup of the cooking broth and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon lemon zest and 1 teaspoon dried dill. Season with salt and pepper and toss well. 
  3. Barbecue: Warm 1/4 cup of the cooking broth in a small saucepan and whisk in 1/4 cup barbecue sauce. Pour over 2 cups shredded chicken and toss well.