The Meal Prep “Secret Weapon”: The Easiest, Juiciest Shredded Chicken!

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a busy week, completely exhausted and with no idea what to make for a healthy and satisfying dinner? It’s a familiar struggle that can make evenings feel incredibly stressful. A little bit of smart planning can make all the difference in the world.

What if you could spend just a few minutes on the weekend to create a “secret weapon” that would set you up for a whole week of easy, delicious meals? Imagine having a container of perfectly cooked, juicy, and versatile protein ready to go in your fridge at all times. It is the ultimate key to a stress-free and healthy week.

Today, we are making the ultimate version of that secret weapon: The Perfect Shredded Chicken Tenders. This simple slow cooker method creates the most tender chicken that is perfect for countless quick meals. Get ready to conquer your week with this game-changing recipe.

The Ultimate Meal Prep Staple: Easy Shredded Chicken

This recipe for Easy Shredded Chicken is a true foundational recipe for any healthy and busy kitchen. The slow cooker does all of the hard work for you, gently cooking the chicken until it is unbelievably tender and easy to shred. It’s a completely foolproof method for creating a large batch of delicious, ready-to-use protein with the absolute minimum of effort.

A Perfect Healthy Chicken Recipe for Simple Meal Prep Ideas

You will find that this is a fantastic healthy chicken recipe. It uses naturally lean chicken tenderloins and a simple, low-fat cooking method that requires no added oils. This dish is also one of the absolute best simple meal prep ideas you can find, as having this ready in your fridge makes throwing together a healthy lunch or dinner an absolute breeze.

Your Guide: What is the Easiest Way to Shred Chicken?

For anyone wondering what is the easiest way to shred chicken, the absolute best and fastest secret is to do it while the chicken is still warm and to use an electric hand mixer. You simply place the warm, cooked chicken breasts or tenderloins in a large bowl and use the mixer on a low speed. In about 15 seconds, you will have perfectly and uniformly shredded chicken with almost no effort at all.

Why You’ll Love This Shredded Chicken

You are going to love this recipe because it is one of the absolute easiest meal prep hacks you will ever find, with only about five minutes of active prep time. The chicken is guaranteed to be incredibly moist, tender, and perfectly seasoned for a huge variety of uses. It’s an incredibly versatile recipe that will save you so much time and stress during your busy week.

Nutritional Benefits

This incredibly simple recipe is a fantastic way to prepare a clean and healthy protein for all of your weekly meals. Chicken tenderloins are naturally very low in fat and are absolutely packed with high-quality protein, which is essential for muscle health and for keeping you feeling full. The gentle poaching method used in the slow cooker requires no added oils or fats, making this a wonderfully clean and wholesome choice that you can feel amazing about eating.

Full Recipe

Are you ready to unlock the magic of your slow cooker and make your weeks so much easier and more delicious? This comprehensive guide will walk you through the unbelievably simple “set it and forget it” process for making the most tender and juicy shredded chicken. Get ready to master a foundational recipe that will transform your meal prep routine.

The ultimate healthy meal prep recipe. This simple slow cooker method creates the most tender, juicy, and flavourful shredded chicken tenderloins with just 5 minutes of prep. This is a perfect, versatile protein to use all week for quick lunches, dinners, salads, tacos, and wraps.

Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 3 hours (on low) | Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes | Yield: 6-8 servings (about 4 cups) | Category: Main Course, Meal Prep | Method: Slow Cooking | Cuisine: American | Diet: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Low-Carb, Keto

Essential Ingredients for Shredded Chicken

This incredibly easy meal prep recipe requires just a handful of basic pantry staples.

• Chicken: 2 lbs (about 1 kg) of chicken tenderloins
• Broth: 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• Seasoning:
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Ingredients Notes

A little more detail on our simple ingredients will ensure your chicken is perfectly seasoned and tender.

• The Chicken Tenderloins: Chicken tenderloins are the perfect cut for this recipe because they are naturally very tender and cook relatively quickly, even in a slow cooker. You can use either fresh or frozen tenderloins for this method. If you are using frozen tenderloins, there is no need to thaw them first, which makes this recipe even more convenient.
• The Broth: It is very important to use a flavourful liquid like chicken broth to cook the chicken in. The chicken will absorb the savory flavour of the broth as it cooks, seasoning the meat from the inside out. Using a low-sodium broth allows you to have complete control over the final saltiness of your chicken.
• The Seasoning: A simple, all-purpose seasoning blend of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper is perfect for creating a versatile chicken that can be used in a wide variety of dishes. The paprika also adds a lovely, subtle color to the chicken as it cooks. You can easily customize this blend with your other favorite spices.

How to Make The Perfect Shredded Chicken Tenders

Let’s walk through the laughably simple “set it and forget it” process for this meal prep superstar.

• Step 1: Place Ingredients in the Slow Cooker. Arrange your fresh or frozen chicken tenderloins in a single, even layer in the bottom of your slow cooker. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle this seasoning blend evenly over the chicken.
• Step 2: Add Liquid and Cook. Pour the chicken broth over the seasoned chicken.
• Step 3: Let the Slow Cooker Work Its Magic. Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on the LOW setting for 2.5-3.5 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and very tender.
• Step 4: Shred the Chicken. Once the chicken is cooked, it will be so tender that it will shred with the slightest pressure from a fork. You can easily shred the chicken directly in the pot using two forks.
• Step 5: Use or Store. Give the shredded chicken a good stir to let it soak up all the flavourful broth at the bottom of the pot. Your delicious, tender chicken is now ready to be used in your favorite recipes for the week.

Storage Options

This crockpot chicken is the ultimate meal prep recipe, and it stores beautifully. Once the chicken has been shredded and has cooled completely, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator along with a little bit of the cooking liquid to keep it moist. It will stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days, ready for you to create quick and easy meals all week long.

This cooked chicken also freezes exceptionally well. Simply portion the cooled, shredded chicken into freezer-safe zip-top bags, removing as much air as possible, and it will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Variations and Substitutions

This simple recipe creates a perfect “blank canvas” of pulled chicken that you can easily customize with different flavour profiles right in the slow cooker. For a Mexican-inspired version, you can substitute the broth with a jar of salsa and the seasoning with a packet of taco seasoning. For an Italian flavour, you could add some dried oregano and a bay leaf to the pot as it cooks. You can also easily use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs instead of tenderloins, though they may require a slightly longer cooking time.

Practical & Valuable Tips

For the most even cooking, try to arrange your chicken tenderloins in a single layer in the bottom of the slow cooker if possible. To keep the chicken as tender as possible, it is always best to use the LOW setting on your slow cooker, as the gentle heat is more forgiving. Finally, for the fastest shredding imaginable, you can remove the warm, cooked tenderloins to a bowl and use an electric hand mixer on low speed for about 15 seconds to get perfectly shredded chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use chicken breasts or thighs instead of tenderloins? Yes, absolutely! Chicken breasts or thighs work wonderfully with this method. You will just need to adjust the cooking time slightly; breasts may take closer to 3 to 4 hours on low, while thighs may take 4 to 5 hours to become fall-apart tender.
2. Do I have to use chicken broth, or can I just use water? While you can use water, your final chicken will be much less flavourful. The chicken broth is a key ingredient that infuses the meat with a savory flavour as it cooks, and it creates a delicious base for any sauce you might make with the chicken later.
3. Can I cook this recipe on the HIGH setting to make it faster? You can, but it is not the recommended method for the most tender result. If you are very short on time, you can cook the tenderloins on HIGH for about 1.5 to 2 hours. Just be sure to watch them closely to prevent them from becoming dry.
4. How do I know for sure when the chicken is done? The chicken is done when it is very tender and easily shreds with a fork, and the meat is opaque with no pink remaining. The most reliable method is to use an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure the chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).
5. What are the best ways to use this shredded chicken? The possibilities are truly endless! You can use it for quick chicken tacos or quesadillas, as the protein for a chicken salad sandwich, on top of a big healthy salad, or stirred into a simple soup or pasta dish. It’s the perfect versatile ingredient to have on hand for a week of easy meals.

Conclusion

This recipe for The Perfect Shredded Chicken Tenders is the ultimate secret weapon for smart and simple meal prepping. It’s a dish that proves you can create a delicious, healthy, and incredibly versatile protein with just five minutes of effort. It is a true game-changer that will save you an immense amount of time and stress during your busy weeks. This is a Healthy Meal Prep recipe you will use forever. If you love this easy and delicious kitchen hack, don’t forget to share it and save it to your favorite meal prep board on Pinterest!