I love a meal prep moment and this easy Mexican Shredded Chicken is one of my favorite weekly staples! Well that and this Chipotle Salsa (which goes great with this recipe).
Move over pulled pork, there's a new shredded chicken in town and it's easy to make! This Mexican shredded chicken is perfect for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or just served on its own with rice and beans. Best of all, it only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish! So what are you waiting for?
Mexican Shredded Chicken can be made in a slow cooker or a heavy bottom dutch oven! Both recipes are listed below - but the Dutch Oven takes only 20-30 minutes total so when I'm in a rush, that's my preferred method. Once it's done you can use this on just about everything (which, as you know, is one of my favorite perks of certain recipes) But wait! Looking for more easy recipes like this one? Enter my epic Mexican Lasagna and Chicken Chili Verde. Trust me, you're going to want to make this!
I'll mix this into some cooked quinoa and top it with some guacamole. Or I'll fold it into some cheese and make chicken enchiladas or flautas. It would be equally as delicious tossed with some pasta and veggies. Or even thrown onto a pizza. Basically any way you mix it, it's going to work. That's what's so wonderful about something like this. In less than 30 minutes you're going to have a perfectly cooked protein that you can use for just about anything!
And feel free to use any variety of my salsas! You can mix and match them up and your chicken will just take on the flavor of whatever type of salsa you choose!
What is in Mexican Shredded Chicken?
Four ingredients, thats it. Don't you just love a simple recipe?
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Kosher Salt and Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
- Olive Oil
- Chipotle Salsa or your favorite store bought salsa
Is Mexican Shredded Chicken Spicy?
The beauty with this recipe is that the spice comes from the salsa you decided to cook the chicken in. If you want to go hot I would suggest a habanero or Jalapeño based salsa. If you want to go mild, I would opt for a chipotle salsa or any mild salsa you can find in the grocery store. I love this one from Trader Joes.
If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today
Easy Shredded Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Kosher Salt and Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 cup Chipotle Salsa or your favorite store bought salsa
Instructions
For a slow cooker (5-6 hours)
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Add the chicken into a slow cooker along with the olive oil and salsa. Turn to high heat and cook for 5-6 hours until the chicken is falling apart. Using 2 forks, shred the chicken while still in the slow cooker and let it rest in the salsa before serving.
For a Dutch Oven (30 minutes)
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Place a large skillet with olive oil over high heat and let the oil heat for a moment. Using a pair of tongs, add the chicken to the skillet and sear the chicken on both sides for 3 minutes each so that each side is golden brown.
- Add the salsas to the skillet and cover the skillet with a tight fitting lid. Reduce the heat to medium and let the chicken cook for 25-30 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, using a pair of tongs, flip the chicken over to the over side and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Turn the heat off and using 2 forks, shred the chicken and then use as needed.
For an Instant Pot
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Turn an instant pot onto the saute setting. Add the olive oil and let the oil heat for a moment. Using a pair of tongs, add the chicken to the instant pot and sear the chicken on both sides for 3 minutes each so that each side is golden brown. Add the salsa on top, close the lid and make sure it's sealed, and set the instant pot to poultry. Let the chicken cook and remove once the instant pot is done. Shred with 2 forks and serve as needed.
Hi Gaby!
I've made this recipe so many times and it has become a staple!! I was going to make it tonight but realized I only have chicken breasts and not thighs. I know that thighs are more flavorful and bestter for this dish but have you tried with chicken breasts? Wondering about how much longer they will need to cook as opposed to the thighs! Thanks so much!!!
Emily
not entirely sure since I haven't done it with breasts - but I'd keep an eye on it. Breasts actually can cook faster!
I saw your snap video and the Dutch Oven looked super convenient especially for this recipe! Do you recommend a certain kind/brand?
I used an All Clad TK Dutch Oven in my snap - but I also use a le creuset!!
This is a favourite recipe of mine, so straightforward and quick to make.. I love the way it can be altered by using different salsas, I've used a basic tomato salsa I've made, shop bought tomatillo salsa, etc.. I usually buy skin on bone in thighs as they're cheaper, the skin comes off very easily and the bones come out at the shredding stage and may well add a little more flavour. So far I've mainly used it to make a burrito bowl with your fabulous quick refried beans recipe. I usually make it once or twice a month. Which reminds me, I must make this next week.
Wonderful idea to use salsa to finish the thighs..
I've been making chicken enchiladas by poaching chicken breasts in an easy enchilada sauce, shredding and putting together enchiladas using the poaching sauce..
Your recipe presents many ways to utilize the flavored chicken other than just enchiladas..
AND... a 'well, duh' moment... I've never used thighs for an application such as this... I much prefer the thighs..
Great, simple post... Thank you... :O)
This is my kind of meal. I love your salsas!
You have no idea what a lifesaver you are. I was tasked with coordinating dinner for 30 people for our camping trip this weekend. Nomnompaleo's kalua pork was on the menu. To make enough, I had two crockpots and a dutch oven going. About 6 1/2 hours of cooking time in, I discovered the one of the slow cookers wasn't working. I made the heartwrenching decision to throw away the very expensive pastured pork from that batch which left me short on meat, and no time to start another pork shoulder. Michelle at nomnompaleo pointed me to this recipe. I made it in the dutch oven, and made it even quicker by using a combo of Trader Joe's Chipotle Salsa and Hatch Valley Fire Roasted green chile pepper salsa. So incredibly easy and delicious. Thank you!!
Made this chicken last night and used 8 chicken thighs with green and red salsa. Used some for my dinner and made my lunch for today. It is very good and super easy!!! It's almost gone. LOL. I should probably double or triple the recipe next time. 🙂
Super easy & delicious! My fiancé said: please add this to the list of 'loves' 🙂 I used 4 large chicken breast instead of thighs so I added a 1/4 cup of each salsa . When they were finished I moved the chicken and about 1/4 cup of the salsa poaching liquid into mixer bowl. I used my kitchen aid with beater attachment on low to shred (also seen on Pinterest). Heated tortillas with Greek yogurt, avocado, cheese and drizzled poaching liquid was DELISH! Thanks so much!
yay!! love hearing that 🙂 so glad you enjoyed it!
This was an awesome recipe because it was very detailed in how to cook the chicken. I have never cooked chicken thighs successfully until I cooked this recipe today. The chicken was perfect! I only added a can of Rotel because it was all I had, and some Adobo seasoning. Thank you, thank you!!!!
I made this last night (doubled the recipe) and it was a big hit with John and the boys. We made burritos and tacos with it. Thanks for a new dinner for the rotation.
I only had chicken fillets at home and I was a bit vary if it would work but since mine were big chunky ones i gave it a go. I've never ever made pulled anything but this was amazing!! And really easy and affordable too, definitely going to make this when i go back to uni! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I made this last night, using basic tomato salsa as I haven't been able to find tomatillos so far. It was SO good in the burrito bowls, looking forward to eating the rest of it later in the week. If I made it in the slow cooker, how long would I cook it for?
Hi Gabby! Just wanted to let you know I made this and it was awesome! I folded in some shredded Mexican blend cheese then served it on Hawaiian sweet rolls with lettuce, tomato, and avocado. I fed a hungry boy after a long day at work and his report was "better than a restaurant!"
So yeah, great recipe!!! Thanks so much for sharing : )
this chicken I could being used for many other recipes. Thanks for sharing and I hope you had a great time in Ethiopia 🙂
What a great, easy, delicious meal idea! Thanks Gaby!