Like my shred beef recipe, this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken is a meal homework and meal plan super-star raw material in our firm and for indeed many of my clients. Of course if you don ’ metric ton have an Instant Pot or pressure cooker, you can besides easily make this in the slow cooker, I included those directions below. I personally find the Instant Pot brings the best results, the kernel is always damp ( yuck, I hate that password ) and ready in a blink of an eye. You can even make your Instant Pot Shredded Chicken from wimp thighs, or a desegregate of chicken thighs and chicken breasts.
See all my tips and recipe suggestions below, to make this a hebdomadally basic food you can always have on hand. Cook once and eat LOTS – a big way to stay planned out, to feel less overwhelmed at mealtime and ultimately successful with your health goals .
Breasts or Thighs. Or Both.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts ( I personally prefer high-quality organic and free compass, local when possible ) are perfect using this method. Since I prefer dark meat to whiten kernel, often we will use boneless skinless wimp thigh, excessively. You can besides use a combination of the two cuts, whatever you prefer .
Frozen Chicken?
If you are stuck in that bind where you forgot to defrost a protein and you need something promptly and elementary, toss the frigid wimp into your Instant Pot, breaking apart the breasts ( or thigh ) as best you can if they are grouped together, to ensure even cooking, and set the cook clock time for 20-25 minutes for 4-5lbs. You ’ ll have to adjust the cook time for less kernel, 2-3 pound will be more like 15-20 minutes .
Forget the Forks. For Easy Shredding – Your Hand Mixer or Stand Up Mixer work GREAT!
If you don ’ triiodothyronine want to futz with the two forks method, cut the chicken breasts into slightly smaller pieces, add the chicken and a little of the cook liquid to the bowl of your digest up sociable, or a large desegregate bowl. Using the flatcar beater attachment, start at a broken mix rush, then gradually increase the travel rapidly up to a low-medium set ( normally on speed 2 or 3 ). Keep the sociable running for about 30 seconds to a hour and tantalum district attorney, you ’ re done ! If you don ’ thyroxine have access to a standing sociable, you can use a hand sociable to shred wimp in a similar way .
NOTE: Whether you are shredding with two forks or a mixer, shred while the chicken is still hot. As the chicken cools, the muscleman fibers will begin to tighten up and this will make it a bit more challenging to shred. You can shred cool chicken, but it will take extra attempt and the kernel tends to pull apart in larger chunks quite than thin, wispy shreds .
No Instant Pot? No Problem. Here’s Your Slow Cooker Instructions:
For the dense cooker, I suggest that you include 1/2 cup sprout or water for every pound of wimp. Add all of the ingredients to your 4-quart or larger boring cooker. Place the lid on. Set on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-4 hours. Chicken is done when it reads an internal temperature of 165°F. Shred chicken and enjoy !
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Recipe Variations
Shredded Salsa Chicken – great for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, taco salads and bowls, nachos, wraps, etc.
Replace the body of water or broth with 1 cup of your darling salsa, standard hot tomato, salsa verde, roasted chipotle, pico de gallo, etc. Once you remove the wimp, if the liquid is excessively watery, you can reduce the salsa by setting the Instant Pot to “ saute ” then imperativeness “ adjust ” until the light over “ less ” is lit. Cook until the sauce is thickened, a few minutes. Stir frequently to prevent the sauce from burning or sticking. Remove the toilet from the pressure cooker and set away on a blistering pad or trivet. Add back the shred chicken .
BBQ Pulled Chicken – great on your favorite salad, sandwich or wrap.
Swap the water for 1 cup of your darling BBQ sauce plus 2 tablespoons of body of water or broth. Add 2 minced garlic cloves or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder. At the end, remove the chicken and on the Instant Pot, hit “ saute ” then press “ adjust ” until the unhorse over “ less ” is illuminated. ) cook until the BBQ sauce thickens, a few minutes. Stir frequently to prevent the sauce from burning or sticking. Remove the pot from the imperativeness cooker and set aside on a hot diggings or trivet. Add back the shred chicken .
Buffalo-Style Shredded Chicken – great on your favorite salad, sandwich or wrap.
Swap the water or broth for 1/2 cup Frank ’ s Red Hot Original Hot Sauce ( more or less to taste, precisely add body of water or broth to get to 1/2 cup ), add 1/4 teaspoon garlic gunpowder or two cloves finely minced garlic and little pat of butter or ghee ( if you can tolerate dairy ), if you ’ d like. once chopped add the chicken rear to the liquid. Blue cheese optional, paleo ranch trim is capital with the Buffalo Chicken .
Hawaiian Kalua Chicken – delicious with shredded cabbage, over cauliflower rice, a salad or veggies
To the Instant Pot add 1 tablespoon fluid smoke and consumption hawaiian Salt rather of standard ocean salt .
Options for Serving your Instant Pot Shredded Chicken:
Add shredded chicken to your front-runner salads topped with your choice of easy homemade dressing to change up the flavors much. Add to tacos, wraps or burritos, vegetable bowling ball, arouse fries, soups, stews, sandwiches, omelettes or scrambles, etc. An endless list of possibilities .
You can besides make a simple, classical wimp salad by adding homemade mayonnaise, paleo ranch dressing, greens goddess dress or green tahini to your chilled shred chicken. Add in veggies or fruit, herb and spices as you ’ d like to mix it up .
Your Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Would Also be a Great Addition to Any of the Following Recipes:
Paleo Cauliflower Fried Rice
Z ucchini Noodle Pad Thai
Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potato Sliders
Cauliflower Rice Risotto Bake
Mini Frittata Egg Bites
Filling for Veggie-Loaded Enchiladas
Buffalo-Style Loaded Sweet Potato Fries
Topping on a Cauliflower Pizza Crust ( The Buffalo-stye and BBQ Pulled Chicken particularly )
Tortilla Soup
Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Grain-free Drop Biscuits
Comforting Mushroom Soup
Super Quick Coconut Red Curry Soup
Creamy Tomato Tikka Masala Soup
Hot & Sour Soup
Kale and Quinoa Winter Chopped Salad
Burrito Bowls
Baby Kale and Quinoa Salad
Beans and Greens Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
blue Southwest Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Breakfast Burrito Bowl ( in addition to or in identify of eggs )
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Instant Pot Shredded Chicken { with Recipe Ideas & Slow Cooker Variation } SavePrint Prep time 5 mins cook time 15 mins full time 20 mins gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, keto, broken carb, AIP, Low FODMAP, Whole30 Ingredients
- 4 lbs boneless skinless organic, free range chicken breasts (and/or thighs)
- ½ cup water or broth
- any other spices, flavors, sauces or salsas you want to add (see above for diff options)
- sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add all of your ingredients to your Instant Pot.
- Secure the lid, and be sure to close the pressure valve. Set for 15 minutes at high pressure.
- When done, let the pressure naturally release for at least 5 minutes. After that, you can turn the valve to “vent” for quick release if you’re in a hurry, or continue natural release for the most tender texture. You can also do a quick release right away, if you are in a rush.
- Be careful not to overcook your chicken, it can get tough, if overcooked in the Instant Pot.
- Shred with two forks or using a mixer (see above instructions).
- Store the shredded chicken in the fridge in an air-tight container with the liquid to help keep the meat moist. You can also freeze the shredded chicken.
Notes If chicken is fresh ( not frozen ) – use these cooking times as a steer :
5 pound 17 minutes
4 pound 15 mins
3 pound 12 mins
2 pound 10 mins
note : Cook times can vary slightly based on chicken breast size, for larger breasts add a hour or two
– If only making 2 pound of wimp, consumption half as much liquid.
– If using frozen wimp, see above notes on extra cook time.
– Chicken should reach an internal temperature 165ºF.
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Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Instructions:
- Add all of the ingredients to your 4-quart or larger slow cooker. (I suggest 1/2 cup liquid for every 1 pound of chicken) Place the lid on.
- Set on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-4 hours.
- Chicken is done when it reads an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Shred chicken and enjoy!
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