Easy Shredded Chicken
- PREP 20min
- COOK 40min
- TOTAL 1hrs
This is my favorite method for making shredded chicken. It’s quick and easy, and the chicken turns out tender, juicy, and flavorful. After cooking, we take one extra step and reduce the cooking liquid before spooning some over the shredded chicken. This easy step keeps our chicken moist and adds extra flavor. You’ll have some broth leftover, which I love turning into a soup (it’s really tasty!).
You Will Need
3 pounds boneless chicken thighs (1360g)
1 medium onion, peeled and sliced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Water
Directions
1Combine chicken, onion, garlic, bay leaf, salt, cumin, and pepper in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add just enough water to cover the chicken. Turn heat to high, bring to a boil, then remove any foam or scum that floats to the top.
2Adjust the heat so that the water simmers very gently around the chicken. Cook until the chicken is very tender, about 30 minutes.
3Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. When it is cool enough to handle, shred the meat with two forks or your fingers.
4While the chicken cools, boil the liquid left in the pot until it has reduced by one-third or until its flavor has concentrated.
5Spoon about 1 cup of the concentrated cooking liquid over the shredded chicken and toss to coat.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Storing: The chicken and broth will keep refrigerated up to 4 days and can be frozen for 3 months.
- Skin-on chicken: We have made this recipe using boneless, skinless chicken thighs and chicken thighs with skin still attached. Both work very well. If you use chicken with skin, simply remove and discard the skin before you shred the chicken. You may also find that you need to skim some of the fat from the cooking broth before spooning it over the chicken.
- Leftover cooking liquid: You will have cooking liquid leftover. It is quite delicious on its own as a light soup. You can also use it as broth for other recipes. Or, if you’re keeping the chicken more than a day, add a spoonful or two to add a little extra moisture.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.