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Home / Healthy Recipes

All Purpose Braised Crockpot Shredded Chicken

4.59
/5
5 hours 5 minutes
15 Comments
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By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 07/17/2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This crockpot shredded chicken is made with chicken breasts, spices, broth and beer which makes for an ultra tender and flavorful shredded chicken. It’s all purpose flavor makes it great to use for tacos, baked potatoes, nachos, and more!

Shredded chicken in crockpot

When time is tight during the week we like to make a big batch of this beer braised crockpot shredded chicken and use it for several meals throughout the week!  At just 1 freestyle smart point per serving, you’re free to add sauces, salsas and other mix-ins to flavor this chicken up any way you’d like!

What’s the most common protein you cook in your house?  For us, it’s chicken.  Beef is probably a close second… but now that we’re eating a little healthier, it’s mostly chicken.  The only problem there is that we all tend to get into dinner ruts, where we make the same thing over and over again, right?

I know we do.  When the kids actually like a meal, we definitely make note of it and it goes in our permanent dinner rotation!  Between the dinner ruts and crazy hectic weeknights, dinner can be a hassle!

Chicken breasts in slow cooker

That’s why I love this all-purpose shredded chicken!  You can make a big batch and use the leftovers to make different meals throughout the week!

HOW LONG CAN YOU KEEP SHREDDED CHICKEN IN THE REFRIGERATOR

3-4 days is what I typically do.  On about day 2-3, any extra leftovers that I know I won’t eat in the next one to two days, I package into freezer ziploc bags and freeze.  Frozen shredded chicken is safe for 1-3 months.

WHAT KIND OF BEER SHOULD I USE

I like to use darker beers for this, as they tend to have a higher percentage of alcohol, which is what really tenderizes the chicken.  Plus I just like the taste with the hint of brown sugar in the seasoning mix.  But since you’re making this recipe for YOU… choose a beer that you know you love.  If you know you hate to drink IPA’s, then don’t use that here.  The beer flavor will intensify!

Shredded chicken with pan juices

WHAT OTHER MEALS CAN I MAKE WITH BEER BRAISED SHREDDED CHICKEN

The first night, we love this chicken on it’s own, with some vegetables as a side, or maybe over some egg noodles.  But for the rest of the week, we’ve used this chicken in just about everything!

  • To top a big green entree salad
  • As a topper for a baked potato
  • Mix in some corn, black beans, jalapeno, etc. and top some baked tortilla chips.  Add a sprinkle of cheese and broil for some tasty chicken nachos.
  • Add to quesadillas, burritos, tacos
  • Stir in some of your favorite bbq sauce and serve on whole wheat buns
  • Use in any casseroles that call for cooked shredded chicken
  • Use in any soups that call for cooked shredded chicken

The sky is the limit here!  The beer flavor isn’t SUPER prominent, so the shredded chicken can really blend into just about any meal you want to make.

CAN I MAKE THIS SHREDDED CHICKEN IN AN INSTANT POT

Yes!  The great thing about using an instant pot is that you can actually use frozen chicken breasts too, so if you didn’t have the time to defrost them, it’s okay.  Add all ingredients to the pot, lock the lid in place and set valve to “seal”.   Manually select high pressure and select 10 minutes.  When the chicken is finished cooking, do a natural pressure release for 10 minutes (then do a quick pressure release to get rid of any remaining pressure).  Shred the chicken and you’re good to go!  Fresh chicken breasts usually come to pressure in 10-15 minutes, but using frozen chicken breasts will make this take a little longer.  The actual 10 minute cook time is the same for both frozen and fresh though.

I hope you all give this healthy crockpot shredded chicken a try!

Forkful of crockpot shredded chicken

HELPFUL TOOLS:

  • Slow Cooker – I’m a huge fan of Hamilton Beach slow cookers, and I love the latch on this one so you can transport it!
  • Instant Pot – If you don’t have one, it’s really an invaluable kitchen tool!  I’m starting to use mine more and more!
  • Bear Paws – seriously the best thing ever when it comes to shredding meat!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

Easy all-purpose shredded chicken made in the crockpot with spices and beer.  Make a big batch and use it to make different meals all week long! | #chicken #shreddedchicken #pulledchicken #beer #braised #allpurpose #multipurpose #slowcooker #crockpot

All Purpose Crockpot Shredded Chicken

4.59 from 12 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 5 minutes
Calories: 155
Servings: 8 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
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This crockpot pulled chicken is made with chicken breasts, spices, broth and beer which makes for an ultra tender and flavorful shredded chicken.

Ingredients

  • 2-3 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts , trimmed of excess fat
  • 1 medium yellow onion , sliced (optional)
  • 1 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried minced onion
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 8 oz. Guinness draught beer (or your favorite beer)
  • 6 oz. fat free chicken broth (reduced sodium if available)

Instructions

  • If using onion, add to bottom of slow cooker. Top with chicken, then all seasonings. Rub seasonings into the chicken.
  • Pour beer and chicken broth into the slow cooker, cover, and cook on LOW 5-6 hours, until chicken is tender and shreds easily with a fork. Chicken can also be cooked on HIGH for 2-3 hours.
  • Shred chicken with two forks and serve with extra juice on the side if desired. Store leftovers in the refrigerator, sealed, for 3-4 days (only reheating the portion you want to eat). Alternately, place shredded chicken into freezer ziploc bags and freeze for several months (make sure they're well sealed).

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

If your chicken broth isn't reduced sodium, reduce salt amount down to 1/2 tsp.
For a stronger beer flavor, add up to 12 oz of beer.

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Calories: 155 | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 24 | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 510mg | Potassium: 460mg | Sugar: 2g | Fiber: 0g | Vitamin A: 1.9% | Vitamin C: 3.4% | Calcium: 1.2% | Iron: 3.1%

I’m not a nutritionist, and nutritional values here on my recipes should be used for general information purposes only.  This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new diet and fitness regimen.

 

Easy all-purpose shredded chicken made in the crockpot with spices and beer.  Make a big batch and use it to make different meals all week long! | #chicken #shreddedchicken #pulledchicken #beer #braised #allpurpose #multipurpose #slowcooker #crockpot

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Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

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Recipe Rating




  1. Becky says

    Posted on 1/31 at 9:44 am

    I top mine with beer cheese sauce on a pretzel bun. Sooo good. 

    Reply
  2. Jenna says

    Posted on 2/19 at 12:33 pm

    I make mine with no chicken broth and only beer. It is amazing. Very flavorful and moist. 

    Reply
  3. CO says

    Posted on 1/5 at 2:06 pm

    Excellent for shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches, shredded chicken tacos or enchiladas! Used some recently for the best Buffalo Chicken Dip ever! No leftovers, very flavorful!!

    Reply
  4. Jen B says

    Posted on 11/8 at 10:38 am

    How much of this recipe is one serving? Thanks!

    Overall delicious, I made it the other day and have loved how versatile it is! I used less beer and more stock as I’m not a big fan of beer. I used a Summer Shandy thinking it’d give a little lemon chicken flavor, but I think I’d use a different beer the next time I make it. Definitely making again though, yum!

    Reply
  5. Rizwan says

    Posted on 10/30 at 2:21 am

    i know beer is a main component of this but what alcohol free alternative do you suggest ? same amount of stock?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 10/30 at 8:29 am

      I’ve only tested the recipe as written, so I can’t say for certain that the flavors won’t be altered too much… but yes, I would use the same amount of stock.

      Reply
  6. Stacey Corona says

    Posted on 8/15 at 6:21 pm

    Can you use drumsticks instead for this recipe?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 8/15 at 9:05 pm

      I think that would work just fine 🙂

      Reply
  7. Gina says

    Posted on 7/21 at 10:37 am

    This looks so good and easy. As I don’t want alcohol in it I was wondering would white grape juice or ginger ale work? Is it used for just flavor or for tenderness? Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    Posted on 7/20 at 5:42 am

    This needs to happen at my house very soon!!

    Reply
  9. Anna says

    Posted on 7/19 at 12:47 pm

    This chicken is so tasty! I love it for meal prep for a whole week!

    Reply
  10. Krista says

    Posted on 7/19 at 11:07 am

    This looks so good! I love how juicy it looks!

    Reply
  11. Des says

    Posted on 7/19 at 10:04 am

    I love how versatile this chicken is. I would love this in tacos, over rice, or just straight out of the crock pot 😉

    Reply
  12. Jacque Hastert says

    Posted on 7/19 at 8:21 am

    This chicken is so versatile! I could use it with soooo mnay dishes.

    Reply
  13. Jamielyn says

    Posted on 7/19 at 7:34 am

    Yum! So easy and versatile!

    Reply

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Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

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