How to shred chicken in a stand mixer… like magic
6 minutes read
03 July 2024
Shredded chicken, and other cooked meats are your secret to succulent dishes like tacos, chicken chilli, pulled pork or shredded beef enchiladas. When you look at shredded meat recipes, remember that you can use your stand mixer to achieve them. Yes, that versatile mixer is useful for far more than mixing, whisking and baking challenges. Your included beater is the ideal tool for quickly shredding meat into a mouthwatering bowlful. Let’s look at how it’s done, as well as some tips and shredded meat recipe ideas.
How to shred chicken in a stand mixer… like magic
Easy steps to shred chicken in a mixer
Beautifully shredded chicken is just 3 steps away with your KitchenAid stand mixer. Choose your preferred method to cook the meat, whether it’s pan poaching, baking or grilling — you can read more about the methods of cooking meat for shredding further down the page. You’ll want cooked, boneless and skinless chicken. For best results, shred the chicken while it’s still warm, so that it’s soft (warm in the stove or microwave if necessary).
Follow these simple steps to make delicious, cooked chicken ready for your chosen meal:
Ingredients: Cooked, boneless and skinless chicken Seasonings and spices (optional)
Tools: KitchenAid mixer (with flat beater or pastry beater accessory)
Time: About 3 minutes
Yield: Approximately 450 g of chicken will give you 4 servings per main course meal.
Step 1. Prepare your mixer - Put your flat beater or pastry beater (also called a paddle) on your KitchenAid mixer shaft.
Step 2. Add chicken - Place your warm, boneless and skinless chicken into the mixing bowl. Separate into several batches if you are doing it in bulk.
Step 3. Mix at low speed - Set your stand mixer on a low power setting and mix for 30 seconds to 1 minute - depending on the quantity.
That’s it! Now it’s time to enjoy your shredded chicken or add it to your favourite recipe. If you’ve made more shredded chicken than you and your guests can possibly eat during one sitting, you can cover and store the shredded chicken in the fridge to enjoy later.
Ingredients for making shredded chicken
Some chefs add a dash of broth into the bowl when shredding in the mixer. Adding your favourite seasonings, spices, and other ingredients can also give your shredded chicken extra oomph for the final dish.
Herbs: Thyme, basil, chives, rosemary, oregano, coriander
Spices: Smoked or sweet paprika, cumin, cajun seasoning, turmeric
Others: Mayonnaise, chopped nuts, stir-fried garlic, lemon, spring onions
Which part of the chicken is best for shredding?
Legs, breast or wings… we all have our favourite parts of a cooked chicken. But you may be wondering which part of the chicken is best for shredding. Boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs tend to be more common cuts of chicken to shred in a mixer. Thighs have a rich flavour and are packed with juices, while breasts are leaner and more fibrous. However, you can use any part of the chicken as long as you remove the skin and bones.
Shred pork or beef in your stand mixer too
Perhaps all this talk of shredding has got you craving a pork shoulder. Or perhaps you’re making ravioli and need a pile of juicy shreds of beef. This simple way to shred chicken in a mixer can equally be used to shred other cooked meats too. Just pop the skinless and boneless pieces of warm meat in the mixer bowl and put it on a low speed to shred into the perfect texture. No manual work and no forks needed. It’s a cinch.
Recipe ideas with shredded meat
Shredding meat in a stand mixer is remarkably satisfying. You’ll soon be looking for all sorts of clever ways to incorporate shredding cooked meats into your meal planning. Have a go at:
You’ll have grins all round when you feed your crew spicy shredded chicken and chunky guacamole. This vibrant Mexican dish can be piled as high as you like.
Next time it’s Taco Tuesday at your place, give this shredded chicken recipe a whirl. It’s sweet and oh-so-smoky. Bursting with flavours.
If pulled pork and jalapeños are involved, then it’s a resounding ‘yes please’ at the table. This juicy pork recipe is spiced with paprika and cumin, and served over nachos.
It’s not a taco and it’s not a burrito; it’s a taquito! And it’s fabulous with homemade shredded beef made in the stand mixer. Top with pickled red onion and sour cream.
Best way to cook for shredded meat
When you imagine shredded meat, you think of that juicy, tender bite. Beautiful! You want it to fall apart. That means the meat has been cooked low and slow, without being allowed to dry out. Poaching in a pan, slow cooking or roasting in a casserole dish are all good methods. The trick is to take your time and savour the process of cooking meat so that it breaks down. Go for it in your next cooking session and enjoy shredding cooked meat in a mixer like magic.
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