Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my crockpot shredded chicken tough? ›

Aside from accidentally overcooking the meals, the most common reason we see for tough, rubbery, or overdone chicken is customers using a Crockpot that is far too big.

There is no difference between shredded chicken and pulled chicken; both terms can be used interchangeably. Both refer to meat cooked until tender, then “pulled” or “shredded” along the meat's grain. Shredded and pulled chicken are popular in sandwiches, soups, pizzas, tacos, enchiladas, and casseroles.

Cover and cook until the chicken is tender and registers an internal temperature of 165°F, 4 to 5 hours on the LOW setting, or 2 to 3 hours on the HIGH setting.

Don't shoot the messenger. But, do not cook boneless, skinless chicken breasts on HIGH unless you like overcooked, dried out, tough meat. Always cook on LOW.

That is why tough meats become “fork tender” in the slow cooker. Chicken breasts have very little connective tissue; that means they can be cooked quickly because the long cooking time needed to soften connective tissue isn't necessary. They also have little fat, which means they can become dry if cooked too long.

Try placing the chicken in a covered dish with some broth or sauce, then bake or microwave it. Alternatively, slicing or shredding the chicken and incorporating it into a dish with a sauce or gravy can help add moisture and improve tenderness.

Overcooking might play a role in your chicken's tire-like texture. Leaving chicken in a pan, oven, or grill for just a little too long can suck the moisture right out and leave you with a dry, rubbery bird. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

Avoid shredding the chicken too finely. The finer the shreds, the less succulent the chicken will be, and the more quickly it will dry out. Refrigerate shredded chicken in an airtight container with a half-cup of the poaching liquid (if available) to keep it moist and juicy for up to three days.

Chicken shreds best when it's still a little warm, but be sure to let the chicken rest at least 10 minutes after it finishes cooking before you begin. If you're shredding the chicken with your hands or with forks, you'll likely need to wait a bit longer until the chicken is cool enough to handle.

You can overcook chicken in a slow cooker. If the chicken is cooked too long, it will become dry and tough. Check your chicken for doneness early, especially if it is one of your first times making it.

How do you know when chicken is done in a slow cooker? ›

Push a fork or knife into a thick part of the chicken. Cooked chicken will have clear juices rush to the surface. If the juices are pink or bloody, return the chicken to the slow cooker and cook for a further 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

A general rule of thumb from Luis Sanchez, senior category manager for the appliance manufacturer Breville: To go from "High" to "Low" (or vice versa), multiply (or divide) the original time by 1.5 to 2.5 hours. And as with the cooking times for specific ingredients, these times are approximate.

Change cooking times depending on your schedule. One hour on HIGH generally equals two hours on LOW.

Cover your crock pot and cook chicken breasts on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Chicken is done when the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. Use chicken in your favorite recipes. Perfect for shredding!

Chicken becomes rubbery/chewy when it's overcooked. So in general, including in a slow cooker, don't cook as long. There are lots of recipes online, they can give you a good place to start.

Add Just Enough Liquid

This doesn't mean the meat should be submerged; a cup or two of liquid will be enough, since the cooker is covered and liquids stay trapped inside. If you want the dish to be saucy, or you're making a beef stew, add enough liquid to come about 1/3 of the way up on the meats in the slow cooker.

It's easy to throw in an Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup or shred it in Healthy Chicken Enchiladas. Rubbery chicken is usually an indicator of overcooked chicken. The longer the chicken cooks, the more moisture it loses, and without moisture, the protein fibers become elastic, AKA rubbery.