Sous Vide Shredded Chicken and 12 Creative Ways to Use It

Sous vide shredded chicken is a set-and-forget way to guarantee your pulled chicken is perfect, juicy, and tender every time. 

Shredded chicken. It’s one of the most convenient proteins to have on hand. It’s essential but underrated, in my opinion. 

There are a few ways to make shredded chicken at home, and sous vide shredded chicken is versatile for countless dishes, such as tacos, salads, sandwiches, and soups. It maintains its tender goodness even when reheated, making it ideal for meal prep. Cook a large batch, refrigerate or freeze it, and it’ll still taste like it came out of the water bath.

Why Sous Vide Shredded Chicken

• You make the most juicy shredded chicken ever. With sous vide, you can cook chicken at the exact internal temperature you want it to reach, ensuring it is consistently tender and juicy.
• You set it and forget it. Sous vide offers hands-off cooking convenience. Set it, forget it, and be confident that your chicken will come out perfect. This method also excels in the cleanup department, as the sealed bags keep all those beautiful juices and flavors locked in.
• You can cook frozen chicken directly. Forget to defrost your chicken? No problem. Throw the frozen chicken in a bag and submerge it in a sous vide water bath. Just add 30 more minutes to the cooking time. 

Sous Vide Shredded Chicken Time and Temperature

To make shredded chicken sous vide, you can choose different chicken parts. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are super convenient, and chicken thighs are a good option if you prefer red meat. If your thighs come with bones and skins, they’ll be effortless to remove once cooked.  

For Shredded Chicken	Best Temperature	Cook Time	Cook Time from Frozen
Chicken Breasts	150°F (66°C)	1-4 hours	1.5-4 hours
Chicken Thighs	165°F (74°C)	4-8 hours	6-8 hours
Chicken Wings	160°F	2 hours	3-4 hours

What You’ll Need

For this recipe article, I used chicken breast. As mentioned, you can choose a different part for your sous vide shredded chicken. 

Essential Ingredients

• Skinless, boneless chicken breasts. The quantity is up to you because you can cook two breasts or eight with sous vide. 
• Salt and pepper, to taste. That’s honestly all you need to make your shredded chicken as versatile as possible. 

Essential Equipment

Having the right equipment is vital for successful sous vide cooking. Here’s your essential gear for sous vide perfection.

• A sous vide immersion circulator. I used an Anova Precision Cooker to make my shredded chicken.
• A large pot or a sous vide container. My go-to tank is an Anova sous vide cooking container, which holds up to 16L of water and has a removable lid and rack.
• Silicone sous vide bags. I used a half-gallon Stasher Platinum Silicone Food Grade Reusable Storage Bag to hold four medium-sized chicken breasts. You can also use zip-top or vacuum-sealer bags to make sous vide shredded chicken. To learn more about choosing the right bags for sous vide, read my in-depth guide, Sous Vide Bags 101, here.

How to Make Sous Vide Shredded Chicken Step by Step

1. Preheating: Preheat your sous vide immersion circulator to 150°F (66°C) for tender and juicy chicken.
2. Seasoning: Sprinkle the chicken breasts evenly with sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, and any optional seasonings you’d like to use.
3. Preparation: Place the seasoned chicken breasts in one or multiple silicone, zip-top, or vacuum-seal bags and arrange them in a single layer. 
4. Sealing:
   • Water Displacement Method: When using a silicone bag or zip-top bag, submerge the bag slowly into the water bath until most of the air has been pushed out, then seal the bag just above the waterline.
   • Vacuum Seal Method: Use a vacuum sealer to remove the air from the vacuum-sealed bag and seal it.
5. Cooking: Once the water bath reaches the desired temperature, submerge the sealed bag of chicken into the water. Cook for 1 hour up to 4 hours. If starting with frozen chicken, add an extra 30 minutes.
6. Shredding: Remove the bag from the water bath. Be careful—it will be hot! Put the chicken bag into an ice-water bath for a few minutes to cool. Remove the chicken from the bag and transfer it to a bowl. Shred the chicken using two forks or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment for quicker shredding.

12 Creative Uses for Shredded Chicken

Depending on the seasonings, shredded chicken adapts well to various cuisines and dietary preferences. This recipe uses a base seasoning of salt and pepper for versatility, but you can infuse it with specific flavors based on the dish. For example:

• Italian seasoning for pasta and salads.
• Cajun seasoning for a spicy twist suitable for gumbo or jambalaya.
• Taco seasoning for Mexican-inspired dishes such as chicken burrito bowls and three-cheese chicken nachos. 

The possibilities are endless, and the real fun starts post-sous vide. Shredded chicken bathed in BBQ sauce for tangy tacos or tossed in herb-infused olive oil for a light salad—the choice is yours. Here are 12 creative ways to use shredded chicken. 

1. Chicken Tacos

Incorporate your seasoned shredded chicken into a taco night. Serve on warm corn or flour tortillas and top with fresh salsa, guacamole, shredded cheese, and a squeeze of lime. You can switch up the flavors using taco seasoning during the sous vide process.

2. Salads

Transform a basic salad into a hearty meal by adding sous vide shredded chicken. Consider these options:

• Chicken Caesar Salad: Romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, croutons, and creamy Caesar or tahini dressing.
• Greek Salad: Mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar.
• Asian-inspired Salad: Purple cabbage, carrots, green onions, celery, almonds, and a sesame ginger dressing like this Rainbow Chicken Salad. 

3. Soups

Shredded chicken shines in various soup recipes:

• Chicken Noodle Soup: Classic comfort food with egg noodles, carrots, celery, and savory broth.
• Tortilla Soup: Add a spicy tomato base with black beans and corn, and top with crispy tortilla strips.
• Minestrone: A mix of vegetables, beans, and pasta in a tomato-based broth with shredded chicken for extra protein.

4. Chicken Quesadillas

Layer your shredded chicken with cheese between tortillas, and cook until crispy. Serve with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole on the side. Changing up the seasoning to Mexican spices adds an exciting twist.

5. Chicken Enchiladas

Roll your shredded chicken in tortillas, cover with enchilada sauce and cheese, then bake until bubbly. This dish is hearty and flavorful, perfect for feeding a crowd.

6. Pasta Dishes

Incorporate shredded chicken into your pasta recipes:

• Chicken Alfredo: Toss with fettuccine and a rich, creamy Alfredo sauce.
• Pesto Chicken Pasta: Mix with your choice of pasta and a vibrant basil pesto sauce.
• Chicken Parmesan: Layer with marinara sauce and mozzarella, then bake until golden.

7. Rice Bowls

Create nutrient-packed rice bowls:

• Teriyaki Chicken Bowls: Include steamed rice, sautéed vegetables, and teriyaki sauce.
• Picnic Chicken Bowls: Use quinoa or brown rice, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and a cilantro lime dressing.
• Mediterranean Bowls: With couscous, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, red onion, and a dollop of tzatziki.

8. Wraps and Sandwiches

Wrap your shredded chicken in a tortilla or large lettuce leaf with your favorite fillings, such as:

• Buffalo Chicken Wrap: Add buffalo sauce, romaine lettuce, shredded cheddar, and a drizzle of ranch dressing.
• Mediterranean Wrap: Include hummus, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and feta.
• Club Sandwich: Layer with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on toasted bread.

9. Chicken Fried Rice

Stir fry your shredded chicken with rice, vegetables, soy sauce, and a touch of sesame oil for an easy weeknight meal packed with flavor.

10. Stuffed Veggies

Shredded chicken can stuff vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, or eggplant. Top with marinara sauce and a sprinkle of cheese, then bake until tender.

11. Shredded Chicken Pizza

Toss your shredded chicken with BBQ sauce or pesto and add it to your homemade pizza. Mix mozzarella and your favorite toppings for a delicious twist on traditional pizza.

12. Casseroles

Shredded chicken can be added to casseroles, such as chicken crescent bake or chicken and broccoli. This adds protein and makes the dish more filling and nutritious.

Here you have it–everything you need to know about making sous vide shredded chicken and different ways to use your perfect shredded chicken. How do you enjoy your shredded chicken? Leave a comment below and let me know.

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