Shredded Crockpot Chicken
This Shredded Crockpot Chicken is a game-changer! With just a few simple ingredients, you’ll have juicy, tender chicken that can be used in tacos, burritos, salads, or rice bowls. The crockpot does all the work for you, leaving you with a hassle-free meal that’s full of flavor. Whether you’re serving it for a busy weeknight dinner or meal prepping for the week ahead, this recipe is easy, versatile, and absolutely delicious. The best part? You can customize it to fit your tastes, adding spices, veggies, or even making it spicy!
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (or thighs if you prefer a juicier, more flavorful cut)
- 1 cup chicken broth or use vegetable broth for a lighter option
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika smoked paprika adds extra flavor, if you’re into that
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground is best
- Optional: ½ teaspoon chili powder for a little heat
Key Substitutions:
- Chicken breasts vs. thighs: Thighs will give you a richer flavor but breasts are leaner and cook up a bit quicker.
- Chicken broth: You can swap it with vegetable broth or even water if you’re in a pinch, but the broth adds more flavor.
- Spices: Feel free to play around with the seasoning. Add a little more chili powder if you want a spicier kick or throw in some Italian seasoning for a different flavor twist.
Instructions
How to Cook:
Prep the Chicken
- No need for any fancy knife skills here. Just toss your chicken breasts (or thighs) into the crockpot. No need to worry about cutting them—this chicken will shred itself later, like magic.
Season It Up
- Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper all over the chicken. Use your hands to give it a little rubdown so it’s evenly coated. (Don’t be shy, get in there!)
Add the Liquid
- Pour that chicken broth right over the chicken. This will keep things nice and juicy as it cooks. Trust me, you want the broth to work its magic!
Set It and Forget It
- Cover the crockpot with the lid. Set it on low for 4-6 hours. (Perfect for when you want to go do literally anything else. You’ve got better things to do than stare at chicken.)
Shred the Chicken
- Once the cooking time’s up, grab a couple of forks. Shred the chicken right in the pot. It should fall apart easily—like butter, but, you know, chicken.
Optional Flavor Boost
- If you want, taste the chicken and add a little more salt or seasoning if you feel it needs it. If you want to get extra, toss in a little hot sauce or BBQ sauce for some fun flavor.
Serve and Enjoy
- Now you can use this shredded chicken for pretty much anything. Tacos, burritos, salads, sandwiches—heck, you can even eat it straight from the crockpot if you're feeling wild.
- And that’s it! Super easy, right? Minimal effort, maximum flavor. Now go ahead and impress yourself—and anyone lucky enough to taste this!
Notes
- Feel free to adjust seasoning to taste.
- You can use chicken thighs for a juicier result.
- Add extra veggies like onions or peppers for more flavor.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.