Air fryer shredded chicken! Did you know that you can make the best and tastiest shredded chicken in your air fryer using just three ingredients in just 20 minutes?
This versatile chicken recipe can be used throughout the week for tacos, burritos, salads, sandwiches, soups, or even as a protein-packed snack.
Follow these simple steps to learn how to make shredded chicken in the air fryer. This shredded chicken is more flavorful and well-seasoned than the ones you make on the stovetop (boiled chicken), in an instant pot, or a slow cooker.
Say goodbye to bland chicken.
To season this chicken, you only need salt and pepper with a little olive oil before cooking it to an internal temperature of 165F (73C) in an air fryer. It can be customized to taste, but less is more for versatility. So, let's get cooking.
Why you will love to make shredded chicken in the air fryer
Great for meal prep: You can cook a big batch of chicken breasts in your air fryer at your convenience on weekends or evenings and store them in your fridge for easy meal prep throughout the week.
It is quick, easy, and air fryer beginner-friendly: With just 15-20 minutes of cooking time, depending on the thickness of your chicken breast, you can have perfectly cooked chicken you can cube, dice, or shred for your different menu needs.
It is versatile: Shredded chicken can be used in so many different dishes such as tacos, burritos, salads, sandwiches, protein in stir-fries, fried rice, soups, and more. This means that you can switch up your meals throughout the week without getting monotonous.
What you will need
4 Boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 Tablespoon olive oil: substitute with any flavorless cooking oil
Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
How to make air fryer shredded chicken
Preheat the air fryer to 400F/200 C for 3-5 minutes.
Pat the chicken breast dry with a kitchen paper towel. Drizzle and brush olive oil on both sides of the chicken breasts, then season with salt and black pepper.
Carefully place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F/73C, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and let it rest for at least 5 minutes so the juice can redistribute back into the meat.
Shred the chicken to your desired consistency using 2 forks, a food processor or a stand mixer.
Use as desired in your various dishes throughout the week.
Watch how to make it
How to store
Store any leftover shredded chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can reheat it in the air fryer or microwave for future meals.
Tips and variations
- Ensure the chicken breasts are similar in size for even cooking time. You can pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness with a mallet or use a meat tenderizer.
- Try different seasonings and marinades to add variety to your shredded chicken. However, this can limit the variety of meals you achieve with the chicken, so I recommend seasoning the chicken with just salt and black pepper.
- If you do not like chicken breasts, use boneless chicken thighs.
What to do with shredded chicken
Your options are endless. You can add shredded chicken to your soups, such as this chicken lentil soup or chicken soup with noodles. It is great for chicken enchiladas, taquitos, burritos, tacos, rice, salads, pasta salads, chicken pasta, chicken and gravy, and many more.
More air fryer recipes you will love
- Air fryer sea bass
- Cheesy meatballs in the air fryer
- Air fryer bang bang chicken
- Air fryer chicken breast
- Air fryer chicken shawarma
- Air fryer chicken thighs and potatoes
- Air fryer cubed chicken
- Air fryer parmesan chicken
Air Fryer Shredded Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F/200 C for 3-5 minutes.
- Pat the chicken breast dry with a kitchen paper towel. Drizzle and brush olive oil on both sides of the chicken breasts, then season with salt and black pepper.
- Carefully place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F/73C, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and let it rest for at least 5 minutes so the juice can redistribute back into the meat.
- Shred the chicken to your desired consistency using 2 forks, a food processor or a stand mixer. Use as desired in your various dishes throughout the week.
Notes
Store any leftover shredded chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
And there you have it, a simple and delicious air fryer chicken recipe you can make at home in no time. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 stars and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and Facebook and save it to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox.
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