Air Fryer Shredded Chicken

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Air Fryer Shredded Chicken. Introducing you to the best way to cook chicken for shredding, using your air fryer.

You will love how to you can create air fryer crispy shredded chicken with very little effort and perfect for those recipes that call for leftover rotisserie chicken.

We originally shared with you how to cook shredded chicken in air fryer back in 2018 and wanted to update it today for you with new photos and extra ideas.

Shredded Chicken In Air Fryer

Yesterday we updated our post showing you how to cook an air fryer whole chicken and today is kind of like part 2. What to do with your chicken leftovers and how amazing shredded chicken in air fryer is.

It brings me back to why I originally showed you how to cook air fryer shredded chicken in 2018 and that was my hatred for leftover rotisserie chicken on the ingredients list.

You see the words “leftover rotisserie chicken” or “shredded chicken” as ingredients and you’re gutted because you have a raw whole chicken in your fridge and don’t have the time to go out and buy a rotisserie chicken, just for the sake of this shredded chicken recipe.

That is why I decided it was about time that I put together a shredded chicken recipe for the air fryer, that is low prep and perfect for when you want chicken tacos, chicken egg rolls, or even crispy shredded chicken to add to wraps.

You could even use our shredded chicken air fryer recipe for meal prep.

Plus, as well as our free newsletter, we also have a free air fryer mini course. It is ideal for air fryer beginners or those that want to get more confident with their air fryer. The free course runs for 5 days with a new lesson delivered each day to your inbox.

Can You Make Shredded Chicken In An Air Fryer?

Yes, you can. Though I have found you get the BEST results shredding a whole chicken compared to shredded chicken breasts or shredded chicken thighs.

Just think each time you make shredded chicken its normally from an old rotisserie chicken you bought and didn’t finish. Well the air fryer whole chicken recipes are very similar in texture to a shop bought rotisserie chicken and that’s why it works so good for the air fryer.

Best Way To Cook Chicken For Shredding?

The best way to cook chicken for shredding is with the air fryer.

You can follow our air fryer whole chicken recipe or our Ninja Foodi whole chicken and then when the chicken is cool you can shred it. Then if you are really creative you can use the chicken carcass to make our instant pot chicken stock recipe.

Air Fryer Crispy Shredded Chicken

Then if you would like the air fryer to make crispy shredded chicken, you can shred the chicken, then load back into the air fryer with a little extra oil and then air fry for 3 minutes and it will make it super crispy for you, without drying it out.

Air Fryer Pulled Chicken

This air fryer shredded chicken recipe can also double up as an air fryer pulled chicken recipe. Simply shred the chicken, load it with your favourite sauce and mix and you have pulled chicken in air fryer.

I look at this portion of shredded chicken that has been cooked in the air fryer and the texture is similar to my slow cooker pulled chicken.

Then you can simply add barbecue sauce and you have your own bbq pulled chicken air fryer recipe!

Shredded Chicken Air Fryer Ingredients

Chicken – The main ingredient you need is your whole chicken. Focus on a small or medium so that it will fit in your air fryer. And then it will produce a decent amount of chicken for shredding or for air fryer pulled chicken.

Oil – I recommend some extra virgin olive oil for the skin of your chicken. This is essential for a moist whole chicken. You can also use some extra oil on your shredded chicken and air fry it a little while to make the shredded chicken crispy.

Seasoning – I recommend seasoning your chicken with a seasoning you would like once shredded. For example, if you are making tacos why not using Mexican seasoning along with some salt and pepper.

Then for the kitchen gadgets that we have used in this shredded chicken air fryer recipe, it has just been our Air Fryer. We have this one and its wonderful for many types of air fryer recipes and perfect for shredded chicken.

How To Cook Shredded Chicken In Air Fryer?

• Prepare. Start by prepping your whole chicken for the air fryer. Tie up the chicken legs, season, and oil the chicken. Then cook the chicken breast side down for 25 minutes and then breast side up for the final 20 minutes.  
• Cool. Then allow your chicken to cool on a clean chopping board.
• Shred. Once cool shred the chicken, remove from the carcass and then load the shredded chicken into a container ready for the fridge, freezer, or for using in a recipe straight away.

Air Fryer Shredded Chicken For Meal Prep

You can also cook shredded chicken in the air fryer and use it for meal prep. This is one of our small whole chickens that Dominic has shredded and then I have loaded into one of my favourite meal prep dishes.

How To Cook Chicken So It Shreds?

You now know how to cook shredded chicken in an air fryer, but I am sure you are looking for some other ideas.

I also love to make slow cooker shredded chicken or instant pot shredded chicken. Another idea is to cook instant pot frozen whole chicken and then once cooked and cool, shred it.

Then for serving suggestions I recommend our air fryer chicken taquitos the most as they are amazing, plus you can freeze them and then cook our air fryer frozen taquitos.

Or how about chef Dom’s idea of loading them into sandwiches for supper?

Listen To Air Fryer Shredded Chicken

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More Whole Chicken Recipes You Can Use For Shredding

• Ninja Foodi Whole Chicken
• Instant Pot Whole Chicken
• Instant Pot Frozen Whole Chicken
• Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

And also if you want to make KFC chicken or similar recipes, do check out our how to cut up a whole chicken guide as its fantastic for the air fryer.

Can’t make it now? Then pin it for later!