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.

air fryer shredded chicken recipe
Air Fryer Shredded Chicken Recipe

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.

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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.

Air Fryer 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?

air fryer shredded chicken step by step
  • 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.

Air Fryer Shredded Chicken For Meal Prep

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?

How To Cook Chicken So It Shreds

Listen To Air Fryer Shredded Chicken

Air Fryer Mini Podcasts

Want to learn more about our Podcast? Then click here and you can browse through past episodes and subscribe to the Magic With Gadgets Podcast.

More Whole Chicken Recipes You Can Use For Shredding

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.

air fryer shredded chicken
air fryer shredded chicken
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Shredded Chicken

Air Fryer Shredded Chicken. Introducing you to the best way to cook chicken for shredding, using your air fryer.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Air Fryer
Servings: 4
Calories: 444kcal

Ingredients

Kitchen Gadgets:

Air Fryer Shredded Chicken Ingredients:

Instructions

  • Prep the whole chicken. Tie up the chicken legs and then place it breast side up in the air fryer basket. Add half the oil on all visible skin and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning or mixed herbs.
    How To Cook Shredded Chicken In Air Fryer?
  • Air fry for 25 minutes at 180c/360f, then turn the chicken over so its breast side up, oil and season again in the same way. Then air fry for a further 20 minutes at the same temperature.
    How To Cook Shredded Chicken In Air Fryer?
  • Allow the chicken to cool and then use your hands to shred the chicken from the carcass. Being careful to remove all little bones from the shredded chicken.
    How To Cook Shredded Chicken In Air Fryer?
  • Load into containers for the fridge or freezer or use in a leftover rotisserie chicken recipe.
    How To Cook Shredded Chicken In Air Fryer?

Notes

Variation. You can mix and match your seasonings. I love Italian seasoning or mixed herbs, but any dried herb will work well.
Thanks for reading our air fryer shredded chicken recipe on Recipe This. We have many more air fryer recipes for you to check out next. Though if you would like to more chicken recipes, I recommend you try our air fryer frozen chicken breast recipe next.

Nutrition

Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 134mg | Potassium: 376mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 288IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition InfoPlease Note: Nutrition values are our best estimate based on the software we use at Recipe This and are meant as a guide. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
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shredded chicken air fryer
Recipe This

Hi! I am Sam and along with my chef hubby Dom we love sharing with you easy everyday recipes using kitchen gadgets. We are also the authors of The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook, an amazing air fryer cookbook filled with 140+ everyday air fryer recipes. Beyond the air fryer we also love the instant pot, slow cooker, soup maker, ninja foodi, pie marker and several other kitchen gadgets. CLICKING HERE →

2 thoughts on “Air Fryer Shredded Chicken”

  1. 5 stars
    Thanks for the recipe, i added some bbq sauce to mine and had it in a baked potato, so good and not dry at all, i am really loving learning my air fryer.

    Reply

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