One of our secrets for making nutritious and tasty dinners in a pinch: We keep cooked shredded chicken on hand! Sometimes it’s from chicken breasts or thighs that we cook ahead in our Instant Pots and crockpots with our favorite seasonings. And sometimes we just pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and shred it at home. Either way, having this premade protein ready to go has been a game changer in our kitchens.
Recipes With Shredded Chicken For Easy, High-Protein Lunches and Dinners
We find that shredded chicken is probably the lean protein that we use the most (right up there with ground beef in recipes). It’s easy to cook and super versatile, so it has become a culinary workhorse in our kitchens and recipe development.
We love that it can stand up to hearty sauces and salad dressings or be stuffed into wraps and sandwiches for easy high-protein lunches. It’s also great for meal-prep sessions and busy weeknight dinners, since it’s so easy to make – it just takes two forks to pull it apart.
King Ranch Casserole
Stacie developed this recipe because she knew there had to be a better way to make this popular Tex-Mex comfort food casserole without all the highly processed mix-ins, like canned soup. Ours is made with whole-food ingredients and takes just 40 minutes from start to finish.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free
Creamy Buffalo Chicken Casserole
Jess is a sucker for buffalo chicken flavors, which is why she created this recipe for a veggie-loaded casserole that has all the flavor of buffalo chicken dip in a healthy full-meal format. We love that it’s freezer-friendly and only takes 45 minutes to make!
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Whole30
Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
Frozen pot pies have always been a time saver for Jessie, but she wanted a healthier version of them to serve her kids on busy nights. That’s why she developed this chicken pot pie casserole that’s has become a comfort food favorite in all of our homes. It’s rich, creamy, loaded with veggies, and topped with no-fuss drop biscuits. You can use either shredded or raw chicken to make it.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free
Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole
We love enchilada recipes that don’t require rolling enchiladas, which is how this creamy enchilada sauce and chicken casserole came to be. You get a saucy cilantro chicken-and-veggie filling stacked between layers of corn tortillas for a naturally gluten-free casserole with Mexican influences.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free
Southwest Chicken Quinoa Casserole
We love to use quinoa to make healthy recipes like this one. Here we call for leftover shredded chicken, uncooked quinoa, veggies, spices, and chicken broth, which all cook to tender perfection in the oven.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free
Chipotle Quinoa Casserole with Chicken
We created this quinoa casserole to feature smoky chipotle flavors we love while packing tons of nutrients into every bite. Featuring chopped zucchini, jarred salsa, diced green chiles, and frozen corn, this casserole puts all your favorite chicken quesadilla fillings into one delicious dinner.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and rice combine in this cheesy and creamy chicken casserole. We call for raw chicken, but you could use pre-cooked chicken instead and stir it in after the casserole has been baking for 30 minutes.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free
Broccoli Cauliflower Cheddar Chicken Casserole
This oven baked dinner is reminiscent of chicken alfredo. But here, hearty veggies fill in for the noodles in this non-pasta dish. Using shredded cheese, pre-cut broccoli, and cooked shredded chicken helps it come together quickly for an Italian inspired weeknight meal.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
We told you Jess loves buffalo chicken flavors, which is what led her on a path to create one of our most popular recipes of all time. She combined tender, juicy chicken with fresh veggies and tangy buffalo sauce in this easy weeknight dinner that gets served inside roasted spaghetti squash halves.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Whole30
Loaded Sweet Potato Nachos
We had a craving for chicken nachos and wondered: How can we make them even better? We topped crispy sweet potato chips with shredded chicken, black beans, and cheese, and baked them until nice and hot. You can serve this recipe as an appetizer or a main dish, which is delicious with toppings of guacamole and sour cream.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free
Cheesy Chicken Skillet With Broccoli And Rice
We created this recipe to be a true 30-minute solution for the busiest nights! We call for convenient healthy ingredients, including cooked chicken, pre-shredded cheese, frozen broccoli florets, and cooked rice, so you’re getting a balanced and filling meal with minimal effort.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut-Free
Buffalo Chicken Bake with Spaghetti Squash
In this casserole, we combine strands of tender spaghetti squash with kale, bell pepper, ranch, mozzarella cheese, buffalo sauce, and precooked boneless skinless chicken breast. For Jessica, it has become one of those favorite recipes her whole family requests.
Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free
Chinese-Inspired Chicken Salad
This salad is worthy of a restaurant menu, but so easy to make at home. It’s refreshing, healthy, and filling in all the right ways. Packed with crisp-crunchy veggies, toasted nuts, tender chicken, sweet oranges, and a delicious Thai sesame-ginger sauce,
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Whole30
Our High Protein Jennifer Aniston Salad
This easy chicken salad is based on an Instagram post that Jennifer Aniston made in which she described the ingredients of her perfect salad: quinoa (or bulgur), shredded chicken, fresh mint and parsley, red onion, chickpeas, feta, and pistachios. We added more protein and boosted the flavor of the lemon dressing.
Egg Free | Gluten Free
Dill Pickle Chicken Salad
This one’s for the pickle lovers! It’s easy and healthy with a pop of flavor from chopped dill pickles and pickle juice. We love this chicken salad for meal prep and a flavorful way to use leftover shredded rotisserie chicken.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Whole30
Strawberry Spinach Salad
We love this stunning salad for bringing to potlucks, and it’s also wonderful as a main dish salad for summer. You get so many flavors and textures when tender shredded chicken combines with veggies like spinach, red onion, and scallions, plus avocado, goat cheese, and sliced almonds.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free
Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
Jess says that this easy pesto chicken salad is a game-changer when life gets busy. She loves that her kids clean their plates, even though they don’t love vegetables. And then Jess happily packs any leftovers for her lunches. Make it with precooked cubed or shredded chicken.
Egg Free | Gluten Free Option
Chicken Waldorf Salad
This is one of our favorite meal-prep recipes! It comes together in less than 10 minutes with omega-3 rich walnuts, sweet grapes, fresh basil, red onion, celery, and tender chicken chunks that’s held together with a creamy, avocado oil mayo dressing.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Whole30
Creamy BBQ Chicken Salad
With this recipe you get all the fun of a southern BBQ, but in a bowl! This perfect summer salad is made with tender chicken, smoked almonds, juicy grape tomatoes, sweet corn kernels, curly kale, and onion toasted together with mayonnaise and BBQ sauce.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free
Curry Chicken Salad
This recipe is probably our most-made chicken salad! It’s made with antioxidant-rich curry powder, crispy vegetables, and crunchy cashews, this Indian-inspired is one salad you’ll want to make again and again. You can eat it on its own, as a sandwich, or on a bed of greens.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Whole30
Cranberry Chicken Salad with Apples
Take your leftover chicken to new levels with this high-protein lunch recipe that’s sweet, salty, savory, and crunchy, too. The protein and healthy fats keep you full while the apples and dried cranberries add great texture.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain-Free | Whole30
Summer Pasta Salad with Chicken and Berries
Stacie was craving a big fresh salad that was both sweet and savory and provided a good amount of protein. So she combined bow tie pasta, tender chicken, sweet berries, fresh herbs, toasted almonds, and spinach. Then she tossed it all in a creamy honey poppyseed dressing. Mission accomplished!
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free
Mango Chicken Salad with Avocado
Bright summer flavors come together in this easy chicken salad, where you can use cooked and sliced or shredded chicken. We toss the ingredients in a simple lemon-lime vinaigrette so we’re getting healthy fats, veggies, and delicious flavors all in one.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Whole30
BLT Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
We took everything that’s great about a BLT and boosted it with even more protein from the addition of shredded chicken. Serve the filling inside crispy lettuce leaves for an easy recipe that requires minimal prep time (great for summer meal-prep sessions).
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Whole30
Avocado Chicken Waldorf Salad
We’ve replaced the mayo in a classic waldorf salad with avocado instead. So you get all the familiar flavors you love, as well as a boost of healthy monounsaturated fats. Serve it on its own, over greens, or inside of a wrap for a fast, easy, and tasty lunch.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Whole30
Berry Protein Salad Bowl
This no-cook meal is made by assembling fresh ingredients that taste great together. You can make these bowls with cooked and chopped chicken or shredded chicken and any favorite toppings. It’s a great way to clear out the fridge and use up all those ingredients you have on hand!
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Whole30
Blueberry Chicken Salad with Rosemary
We love this chicken salad because you get the sweetness of blueberries, the saltiness of the chicken, the crunch of celery and walnuts, and the surprise earthiness of rosemary. This recipe is both simple for easy lunches and elevated enough to serve at special occasions. Stacie even took this recipe to a friends’ bridal shower.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Whole30
Asian Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
If you’re in your lettuce wrap era (we’ve been there!), then don’t miss this flavorful recipe. This lunchtime salad features crunchy vegetables and Asian-inspired dressing. Serve it wrapped in lettuce or over a bed of greens with a generous squeeze of lime or a dash of hot sauce for extra heat.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Whole30
Chicken Dumpling Soup
Think of this like chicken noodle soup, but homemade dumplings stand in for the noodles. You can use already cooked, shredded chicken thighs or breast to make this recipe even faster. To do so, sauté the onion. Then, add the cooked chicken, seasonings, and broth. Bring this mixture just to a light simmer and then skip ahead to step 5 and proceed from there.
Egg Free | Gluten Free Option | Nut Free
Buffalo Chicken Egg Muffins
Banish boring breakfasts with these protein- and veggie-packed egg muffins. We love to prep these on the weekends for easy make-ahead breakfasts and packed lunches throughout the week.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Whole30
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use precooked shredded chicken to make skillet chicken recipes, chicken casseroles, chicken salad, and even a chicken pot pie bake. Or use the chicken to top nachos, tacos, burritos, pizza crust, or to stir into a quick soup.
Nothing, they mean the same thing. Both shredded chicken and pulled chicken mean chicken that has been fully cooked until tender and then shredded or pulled apart into bite size pieces.
It is easier to shred chicken when it’s still hot or warm. That way it’ll still be super moist and will pull apart with barely any effort. You can still shred chicken when it’s cooled, it will just take a little more effort.
For ultimate success, we highly recommend reading the tips in the full blog post above. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish a recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words. Link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you!
I love these shredded chicken recipes but do you them in a cookbook that I can purchase?
Hi Ellie, we don’t have all of these shredded chicken recipes together in a cookbook. We’re so glad you’re loving them!