Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

Beat the cooking dinner blues. Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken is an easy and tasty freezer meal starter!

There is nothing more satisfying when you are pressed for dinner than going to the freezer and seeing that some of the work has already been done. Having Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken in the freezer is a huge time-saver and makes getting dinner on the table easy.

This chicken is great for making appetizers too, like Buffalo Chicken Cheese Sliders.

I admit, it took me a good long while to get organized enough to make this happen. It’s not the process that is hard, it’s actually following thru. Have you ever bought ingredients to make something and then it sits in the fridge and you end up making something else with it, or throwing it away. No more.

How to make slow cooker shredded chicken

Making shredded chicken in the slow cooker could not be simpler.

First, choose what kind of chicken you want. I almost always use chicken breasts, but thighs work too. I find they are harder to shred, but that dark meat flavor makes it worth it. Or use a combination for both light and dark meat.

Next, put the chicken in the slow cooker. I like to cook 4 – 5 pounds at a time. Sprinkle on some salt and pepper, close the lid and turn it to HIGH for 3 – 4 hours.

The chicken is done when a meat thermometer reads at least 165°, and the chicken pulls apart easily with a fork.

Remove the chicken from the slow cooker, reserving the liquid. Let the chicken cool slightly. Shred the pieces with two forks into small pieces. Allow the shredded chicken to cool down in the refrigerator then package into labeled freezer bags or containers. Seal the bags, getting as much air out as you can, seal and put them in the freezer.

To keep the chicken from drying out when you reheat it, add a 1/4 cup of the slow cooker liquid to each bag or container after you fill it.

Shredding chicken can be hard on the hands. Two forks will do the trick, but a pair of Hero Star Bear Claws from Amazon really make the job quick and easy.

Is It Safe To Freeze Cooked Chicken

Yes, it is perfectly safe to freeze cooked chicken, as long as it was initially cooked by the use-by date on the package. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Once thawed, use the chicken within 24 hours.

How Do I Freeze Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken To Use Later

Before filling, grab a marker and label your freezer bags or containers with the date, contents and amount that it contains. I use the quart size freezer bags for shredded chicken and put 1 or 2 cups of chicken into each bag.

I love these Freezer Court Bags from Amazon. They are durable and budget-friendly! Honestly, most brands are pretty similar, but my grocery store doesn’t carry freezer bags in the quart size.