While pre shredded rotisserie chicken is convenient, it also comes at a premium price. Learn how to shred a rotisserie chicken to save a bundle!
Jump to:
- Use A Rotisserie Chicken
- How To Shred A Rotisserie Chicken
- Start With A Still Warm Chicken
- Break The Chicken Down Into Parts
- Clean Up With The Chicken Container
- Easy Clean Up With Container
- Ways To Shred Rotisserie Chicken
- Freezing Shredded Rotisserie Chicken
- How Many Cups Of Shredded Chicken?
- More Shredded Rotisserie Chicken Recipes
- Printable Recipe ↓
Use A Rotisserie Chicken
Much like salmon, rotisserie chickens were never a part of our family dinners when I was young. In fact, I was fully 30 years old the first time I impulsively tossed a Costco rotisserie chicken into my overflowing shopping cart.
To say the least, it was a life-changing moment! I quickly learned that these fully cooked whole chickens are quite literally the easiest ever weeknight meal. Pair it with a bagged salad plus some fresh fruit, and dinner is served. Easy-peasy!
For under $10, I might add... Flavorful, juicy, already cooked, AND inexpensive? What's not to love?!
At that point I hadn't even considered the most magical aspect of these birds. They're not just a quick, budget-friendly meal option - they're a time-saving meal starter extraordinaire.
Shredded rotisserie chicken is my all-time #1 kitchen hack!
- Want to make a quick chicken noodle soup? Use a rotisserie chicken.
- Cheesy chicken and rice casserole in a hurry? Use a rotisserie chicken.
- Craving chicken salad for lunch? Use a rotisserie chicken.
- The best "homemade" chicken and dumplings? Yep, you guessed it.
Oh, and I can't leave out one of my favorite rotisserie chicken uses... Making homemade chicken stock using the leftover carcass!
How To Shred A Rotisserie Chicken
These days, I almost never leave the grocery store without grabbing a roast chicken - even if we've already eaten dinner! Because I know that the ten or so minutes I'll spend breaking it down when I get home will save me HOURS of meal prep time another evening.
Since I've become somewhat of an expert on shredding rotisserie chicken, I thought I'd share my best tips for making the process really simple and way less messy. But first let me give you a quick overview!
Break It Down: The Basics
Start While Warm
Plan to set aside 10 minutes to break down a rotisserie chicken when you get home from the grocery store. By the time you unload and put away your groceries, it should still be warm but cool enough to work with.
Cut Into Parts
Cut away any elastic bands or strings with kitchen scissors. Remove skin and scrape away excess fat. Use a large knife to cut the wings and legs at the joints; set aside. Run the knife down either side of the breast bone. Separate the breasts and tenderloins. Flip chicken over and remove the back meat.
Shred Chicken
Use your favorite method to pull and shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces (more detail below). Transfer the shredded chicken to an airtight container for storage in the fridge or freezer.
My main advice on breaking down a chicken: don't stress about it!
There's no wrong or right way to cut up a rotisserie chicken. And there's no best way to pull or shred it. Chances are your bird will be so tender and juicy that it pretty much falls apart by itself.
Start With A Still Warm Chicken
Trust me - a cold-from-the-fridge bird just makes every step infinitely harder! And honestly, I find it a little unappetizing, thanks to the gelatinous goo that collects in the bottom of the container.
Just plan for 10 minutes of processing time when you get home from the grocery store. The chicken will be HOT when you leave the store. But by the time you unload and put away the rest of your groceries, it will be plenty cool enough to work with.
Break The Chicken Down Into Parts
Start by cutting off any elastic bands or strings with a pair of kitchen scissors. Remove the skin and scrape away any excess fat. These can all be discarded.
Now remove the legs and wings from the body. Often, the joints are soft enough to just be pulled apart. But occasionally, you may need to use a large chef's knife to separate them. Just place the blade in the center of the joint and push down firmly to cut through.
Next run the knife down either side of the breast bone to detach the breast meat. Be sure to remove any bits of the tenderloins that don't come away cleanly with the breasts.
Finally, flip the chicken over and remove the meat from the back of the chicken. At this point, you can discard the bones if you're not planning to use them for stock.
TARA'S TIP
Clean Up With The Chicken Container
Many rotisserie chickens come in a container that has a top and bottom. These make excellent trays for separating the chicken meat from the skin and bones!
After
TARA'S TIP
Easy Clean Up With Container
Many rotisserie chickens come in a container that has individual top and bottom pieces. These make excellent trays for separating the chicken meat from the skin and bones!
After you transfer the meat for shredding, close it up with any discarded bits inside and place it in the trash.
Ways To Shred Rotisserie Chicken
There are several methods for shredding the pulled chicken. They all get the job done reasonably well, but there are some pros and cons to each. Choose the option that works best for your needs!
- Manual Labor: The old-fashioned way! Simply use two forks to shred and pull the meat apart. With this method, no specialty equipment is necessary. However, the tradeoff is it's a little more time consuming and tedious.
- Rotisserie Chicken Shredder: This inexpensive gadget quickly shreds chicken, pork, and beef. Simply add the meat chunks to the shredder bowl, place the spiked lid on top, and then twist it back and forth to shred. Compact and dishwasher safe, this is a good middle-of-the road option.
- Hand or Stand Mixer: Add the chunks of warm, deboned chicken to a deep bowl or your stand mixer bowl. When using a hand mixer, shred the meat on low then switch to high speed, until it's shredded to your liking. For a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment on low-to-high speed for just a few seconds. Both are super quick and easy options, but the extra dishes may be a deal breaker.
You also may have seen the viral Ziploc bag method online. This involves putting the entire bird in a ziptop bag, sealing it tight, and then massaging the chicken with the bag to break down the whole thing at once.
While it sounds good in theory, I'm personally not a fan. You end up spending a lot of time picking out bits of skin and bone fragments. And since you're not scraping away the excess fat, I found the resulting shredded chicken to have a very greasy texture.
Freezing Shredded Rotisserie Chicken
Freezing shredded rotisserie chicken is the best option for long-term storage. When properly prepared, it freezes well for 2-3 months.
- Cool completely - Allow the meat to cool completely to room temperature before portioning.
- Portion the chicken - Divide the chicken into meal-sized portions, about 1-2 cups each. Transfer each portion into a freezer-safe plastic storage bag.
- Add some liquid - Adding moisture will keep your meat tender and help prevent freezer burn. 1-2 tablespoons of leftover juices, chicken broth, or water is plenty.
- Seal tightly - Press out as much air as possible, and seal the freezer bag well. Press out flat and place bags in the freezer.
To Use: Thaw the chicken overnight in refrigerator before warming or adding to your favorites recipes. Reheat over medium-low heat, adding 1-2 tablespoons of additional liquid to keep it moist.
How Many Cups Of Shredded Chicken?
My average-sized rotisserie chicken yielded roughly 1.5 pounds of meat, which measured out to 5 cups of chicken. Given a store bought whole roasted chicken runs between $4.99-$5.99, this works out to $3.30-$4.00 per pound of shredded chicken.
Many stores have started selling packaged pre shredded rotisserie chicken in the deli area. While very tempting in terms of added convenience, the premium is steep. Expect to pay in the vicinity of $7 per pound for this option.
Worth it? Only you and your budget can make that call!
More Shredded Rotisserie Chicken Recipes
These rotisserie chicken sliders are another of out favorite easy meals! Simply mix the shredded chicken with a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce. Warm it over medium-low heat in a large skillet until heated through, and it's ready to serve!
A few more recipes that can be made with shredded chicken:
- Lightened Up Chicken and Spinach Alfredo
- Easy Peanut Butter Chicken
- Mini Chicken Pot Pies With Biscuits
- Copycat Wendy's Pecan Apple Salad
All these are perfect for getting dinner on the table in a hurry!
Printable Recipe ↓
How To Shred Rotisserie Chicken
Ingredients
Instructions
- Starting with a still warm rotisserie chicken, cut off any elastic bands or strings with a pair of kitchen scissors. Remove the skin and scrape off any excess fat. Discard all.
- Pull off the wings and legs and set aside. If they don't pull apart easily, use a large chef's knife to separate them at the joints. Place the blade in the center of the joint and push down firmly to cut through.
- Run the knife down either side of the breast bone to separate the breast meat. Make sure to remove any of the tenderloin meat that doesn't come away cleanly with the chicken breasts.
- Flip the chicken over and remove the meat from the back of the chicken. Discard the bones if you're not planning to use them for chicken stock.
- Using two forks, pull and shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Alternatively, use a hand mixer, a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or a chicken shredder gadget for shredding.
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Did you make this recipe?
I'd love to see how you're using your shredded rotisserie chicken... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!
Anne says
Well, you can teach an old lady new tricks. Just tried using the KitchenAid mixer to shred the chicken. How quick and easy!! I've just started buying rotisserie chicken in the last few years and love it for a quick meal and yummy leftovers. Love making chicken enchiladas from it.
Kristy says
My kids would LOVE this! Thanks so much for sharing!
marye audet says
What a great idea! You save so much time that way. :)
J-Man and MillerBug says
Yum! These look so amazing and I can't believe how easy they were to make. We eat a lot of chicken in our home and I love the fast and delicious way to mix it up and make it tasty!
Kat Jeter says
Yum, this looks so good! I buy rotisserie chicken all the time to spare myself a little time in the kitchen on weeknights. I haven't tried adding Stubb's to it though. I'm going to make this next week!
The Chunky Chef . says
We LOVE using rotisserie chickens here... quick meals are the best! Love that you paired Stubbs BBQ sauce with the pickles and onions on the sliders :)
Cindy Dickerson says
Well being I am your mama, I have to say I don't even remember seeing a rotisserie chicken in the store when you were little. But it is true, I would not of bought it anyway. I was a cook from scratch mama and that is why you are such a good cook. You know what good food tastes like! If you say these rotisserie chicken sandwiches are good, then this mama is going to have to try one of these chickens and the Stubb's BBQ sauce because I know if you made it, it has to be great!!
Flour On My Face says
What an easy way to make bbq chicken sliders!