60+ Easy Shredded Chicken Recipes

January 30, 2020
Photo: Greg DuPree; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Make dinner tonight a breeze with one of our favorite shredded chicken recipes. Whether you're searching for simple soups (like our Shredded Chicken Tortilla Soup or Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup), flavorful salads (this Chicken Tortellini Salad is a winner), or an easy appetizer (look no further than our incredibly tasty Buffalo Chicken-Stuffed Celery) we've got your whole meal covered. 
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Shredded Chicken Tortilla Soup

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Shredded Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Use Chicken and Mushroom Stroganoff ingredients to prepare this tortilla soup topped with homemade tortilla strips, avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges. 

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mr-Cheesy Chicken and Pinto Bean Taco Skillet

Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Kay Clark; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners 
mr-Cheesy Chicken and Pinto Bean Taco Skillet Recipe
If you’re in need of a simple, tasty dish that works for a weeknight meal, consider that need fulfilled. This skillet dish is effortless to throw together and super customizable—you can use black beans or kidney beans instead of pinto. If you’re not in the mood for chicken, try shredded pulled pork from your favorite BBQ place.

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Greek Chicken Nachos

Photo: Jennifer Causey
Greek Chicken Nachos Recipe

Dinner doesn't get much easier, or more fun, than sheet pan nachos. Toast the chips in 2 batches first; then combine the chips, pile high with toppings, and return to the oven to heat everything through. The dish takes a detour to Greece with pita chips, a shredded Greek salad, and crumbled feta.

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Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Photo: Caroline Arcangeli; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Julia Levym
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash Recipe
For a family-friendly weeknight dinner that feels comforting but loads in the good stuff, Buffalo chicken spaghetti squash is where it’s at. Featuring shredded chicken, carrots, celery, blue cheese, Buffalo sauce, and a drizzle of ranch (for good measure), these heart spaghetti squash boats deliver the best of a Buffalo chicken experience.

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Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Chicken Parmesan Casserole Recipe

This gooey, cheesy, ultra-comforting Chicken Parmesan Casserole is easy enough to throw together after work and is a surefire family favorite. Plus, the leftovers hold great—just be sure to cover while reheating to retain moisture. For the most flavorful Chicken Parmesan Casserole, our test kitchen recommends using Rao’s marinara sauce.

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Pastry-Topped Chicken Potpie

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr
Pastry-Topped Chicken Potpie Recipe

In Pastry-Topped Chicken Potpie, the crisp, flaky pastry topping serves as a perfect contrast to the tender chicken and veggies.

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Caprese Wraps with Chicken

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Mindi Shapiro
Caprese Wraps with Chicken Recipe

Pick up a rotisserie chicken and assemble this hearty sandwich for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

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White Bean and Chicken Chili

Jen Causey; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford
White Bean and Chicken Chili Recipe
One of those “killer” recipes that is sure to wow any crowd (especially when they find out how simple it is), this nine-ingredient slow cooker chili relies largely on pantry staples such as canned white beans, chicken broth, and canned roasted green chilies.

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Chicken and Rice Casserole

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Mindi Shapiro
Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe

Although the yellow and green squash give this chicken and rice casserole a colorful appearance, you can use one or the other, if you prefer.

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Chicken Tamale Casserole

Photo: Lee Harrelson
Chicken Tamale Casserole Recipe

A simple cornbread base is the secret to getting a hearty (usually time-consuming) Mexican dish on the dinner table in no time. This Chicken Tamale casserole is a quick and easy swap for more traditional tamales - but just as delicious!

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Air-Fried Chile Chicken Chimichanga

Meredith Food Studios 
Air-Fried Chile Chicken Chimichanga Recipe
This lightened take on chimichangas only tastes indulgent. Perfect for lunch or dinner, the golden, toasted tortilla gives way to a creamy, rich, and chewy interior. For an even crispier exterior, feel free to rotate the burrito more than once. We used Ole Extreme High Fiber, Low Carb wheat wraps—you can find similar wraps at the grocery store.

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Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti Squash

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Adam Hickman
Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti Squash Recipe
This family friendly spaghetti squash dinner is a delicious (and low-carb) twist on an old favorite: chicken Parmesan. Loads of melty cheese will make this dish an easy sell for the kids, and the veggie vessel means you’re packing in plenty of nutrients too.
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Chicken and Dumpling Casserole

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro
Chicken and Dumpling Casserole Recipe
Don't stir! This beauty of this super easy Chicken and Dumplings casserole is in its three perfectly separated layers. Whip this up when you're craving simple comfort.

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Chicken Tetrazzini

Jennifer Causey
Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe

 

If you’d like to make this comforting dish ahead of time, you can freeze the unbaked casserole up to three months. Let it thaw completely; top with Parmesan and panko, then bake at 350°F until browned and bubbly, about 45 minutes.

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Kung Pao Chicken Salad

Aaron Kirk; Food Styling: Ivy Odom; Prop Styling: Christina Daley
Kung Pao Chicken Salad Recipe
Creamy chicken salad gets a major punch of personality with this wow-worthy, kung pao makeover. Featuring all of the flavors you know and love about kung pao chicken, the incredible savory-sweet dressing only gets tastier as it sits, so feel free to prep your chicken salad in advance and allow it some time to chill in the refrigerator.
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Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Celery

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Karen Rankin  
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Celery Recipe
We can’t decide what we love more about these Buffalo celery bites—the fact that they require zero cooking, come together in about 15 minutes, and are roughly the easiest appetizer ever OR the sheer magnitude of how delicious they are.

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Creamy Chicken Ravioli Lasagna 

Meredith Food Studios 
Creamy Chicken Ravioli Lasagna  Recipe

Rich, savory, and indulgent, this shortcut ravioli-lasagna hybrid is creamy and full of flavor. The pesto slightly cuts through the Alfredo sauce, and the combination tastes homemade. For more flavor, try using spinach ravioli. Nobody will ever know it’s made with convenience products like rotisserie chicken and jarred sauce. 

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Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings

Greg DuPree
Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings Recipe
The most famous chicken dish in the South is probably fried chicken, but a good case can also be made for chicken and dumplings. Fried chicken celebrates the poultry in abundance, when everyone can get a piece or two. Chicken and dumplings makes the most of chicken in scarcity, when a single bird must feed a multitude.
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Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Leeks and Mushrooms

Victor Protasio
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Leeks and Mushrooms Recipe
We’ve combined one of our favorite comfort foods with our favorite kitchen staple: a skillet. This Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Leeks and Mushrooms is creamy and flavorful. The chicken starts out in the slow cooker allowing it to develop rich flavors.

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Chicken and Peach Flatbreads

Kelsey Hansen
Chicken and Peach Flatbreads Recipe

Premade pizza crusts are a lifesaver for the busy weeknight cook. Here they provide a filling base for these outside-the-box pizzas. To make your own balsamic glaze, simmer down 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar until thick and syrupy, about 5 minutes.

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Chicken Tortellini Salad

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Chicken Tortellini Salad Recipe
This pasta salad with chicken and fresh vegetables makes a quick and delicious summer dinner and an even better lunch for the next day. Get a jump on meal planning and prep this recipe a day in advance. Make and refrigerate the basil vinaigrette (shake it well before dressing the salad).
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Slow-Cooker Chicken Stew with Pumpkin and Wild Rice

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Slow-Cooker Chicken Stew with Pumpkin and Wild Rice Recipe

This savory fall stew is filled with tender cubes of pumpkin, shredded chicken, and nutty wild rice in a creamy sauce. When choosing a pumpkin, look for a sugar or cheese pumpkin. Field pumpkins, which are larger in size, have watery, stringy flesh and are best used for decoration. Or substitute a butternut squash.

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Easy Chicken Spaghetti

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Easy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Give your traditional chicken casserole a break and serve this bright and lively chicken spaghetti. You only need a Dutch oven and a 9-x-13 baking dish to create this delicious meal, meaning there is less clean-up afterwards. Cook and shred your chicken in advance to save time.

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Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry Recipe
Treat the family to a classic dish reinvented in a skillet. A pretty patchwork pastry top gives this chicken pot pie a new look. To make the pastry squares, roll out one puff pastry sheet into a 12-inch square, then using a paring knife or kitchen shears to cut it into 16 3-inch squares.
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Avocado Chicken Salad

Photo: José Picayo
Avocado Chicken Salad Recipe

Salsa, avocado, and cilantro give this chicken salad its addictive, south-of-the-border flavors. Serve over greens of your choice for a light and fresh dinner.

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Chicken and Herb Crêpes

Greg DuPree
Chicken and Herb Crêpes Recipe

This is the perfect finale to a three-meal big-batch feast. Making French Onion Roast Chicken on one night will give you plenty of leftovers for Thai Chicken Pizza the night after, and this recipe the night after that. And the dishes are so varied in flavor your family won't get tired of them! 

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The Best Chicken Salad Recipe Ever

Photo: Emma Crist; Styling: Emma Crist
The Best Chicken Salad Recipe Ever Recipe
This 20-minute chicken salad recipe is creamy, flavorful, and packed full of healthy veggies and protein-rich meat. To make our easy chicken salad recipe, we lightened up the typical mayonnaise base by adding in 1/2 cup of low-fat, plain Greek yogurt, but you can use one full cup of mayonnaise if you'd like.
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Instant Pot Keto Chicken Fajita Bowls 

Meredith Food Studios 
Instant Pot Keto Chicken Fajita Bowls  Recipe

This keto-approved take on fajitas is a super satisfying low-carb meal. The chicken shreds off the bone easily, while the veggies have a slight crunch and the broth is light and flavorful. It feels indulgent, but you’re not breaking any rules. 

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20-Minute Chicken Enchiladas

Caitlin Bensel
20-Minute Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

Quick tip: While the sauce cooks, shred the chicken. For a spicy kick, top with chopped jalapeños.

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Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos
Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe
A little heavy cream adds body and richness to classic chicken and rice soup, and collard greens make it heartier and more nutritious. If you're looking for a tasty side, we recommend this Buttermilk Drop Biscuits Recipe that gets extra flavor from chives and whole-grain mustard.
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Grilled Pizza with Summer Veggies and Smoked Chicken

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely
Grilled Pizza with Summer Veggies and Smoked Chicken Recipe
Make a grilled pizza just once, and you will fall in love with the ease and versatility of this easy dinner choice. Whether you have leftover baked chicken, a little bit of last night’s shredded bbq pork, or a surplus of garden vegetables, with a little imagination you can create a fabulous grilled pizza.

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Greek Chicken Salad Wedges

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos
Greek Chicken Salad Wedges Recipe
This simple salad packs in big flavor in under 25 minutes. For a creamier texture to this Greek Chicken Salad Wedge, stir the crumbled feta into the chicken salad mixture instead of sprinkling it over the finished wedge. This recipe calls for just two cups of white meat from a deli-chicken.

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