These satisfying Slow Cooker Shredded Turkey Sandwiches are easy to throw together and the perfect way to feed a crowd.
Fun fact: You can actually eat turkey outside the month of November! Who knew?!? Worried that the guardian of Thanksgiving would come crashing through my kitchen wall like a turkey-crazed Kool-Aid man, I tepidly tested a turkey recipe this week. Turns out I havent been haunted by any Pilgrims of Thanksgivings past and my family enjoyed the Shredded Turkey Sandwiches. So why dont we make turkey more often?
As a home cook and food blogger, I’m always looking for new and creative ways to use ingredients. Leftover turkey is abundant after the holidays, so I decided to experiment with shredding turkey to add to various dishes. I did some research to find out if you can shred turkey, and how to do it properly for maximum flavor and texture.
What Does It Mean to Shred Turkey?
Shredding turkey means pulling cooked turkey meat apart into long, thin strands using forks or claws. The process separates the muscle fibers to yield tender, soft shreds of turkey that you can then incorporate into soups, sandwiches, tacos, and casseroles.
Shredding allows you to repurpose leftover turkey in many appetizing ways You can season and sauce the turkey shreds to add excitement back into the typically bland leftover meat. Kids and adults alike will enjoy these tasty turkey creations!
Can You Shred Both Light and Dark Turkey Meat?
Yes, you can shred both white and dark turkey meat once it is fully cooked. The process will work whether you are shredding:
- Turkey breast (white meat)
- Turkey legs or thighs (dark meat)
- A mix of light and dark meat
Both types of meat will shred up nicely. White turkey meat results in drier slightly stringy shreds, while dark meat shreds are more moist and tender.
Many people prefer to shred just one or the other But mixing white and dark meat shreds creates a pleasant contrast of textures
What Tools Work Best for Shredding Turkey?
You don’t need any fancy kitchen gadgets to shred turkey. Two basic tools will get the job done:
-
Forks – Using two forks is the classic and low-tech way to shred turkey. Simply pull the tines of the forks in opposite directions across the turkey to break it apart.
-
Claws – Meat shredding claws offer an easier, more efficient shredding process. The bear claw-like design effortlessly tears turkey meat into long thin shreds.
You can also use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer on low speed to shred turkey meat. Just work in small batches to avoid overmixing.
Step-by-Step Guide to Shredding Turkey
Follow these simple steps for perfectly shredded turkey meat:
-
Cook the turkey – Shred cooled, cooked turkey. Bake, grill, roast, or smoke an entire turkey or just breast, thighs or legs. Cook until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
-
Rest and cool – Allow the cooked turkey to rest 10-15 minutes before handling to let juices redistribute. Chilling it further in the fridge makes shredding easier.
-
Remove from bones – Pull all turkey meat off the bones in large chunks. Discard skin, excess fat, and bones.
-
Shred the meat – Using forks or claws, tear turkey chunks into long thin shreds by pulling the tools in opposite directions.
-
Season – Add salt, pepper, spices, herbs, sauce, etc. to flavor the shredded meat.
-
Use as desired – Incorporate the seasoned turkey shreds into your favorite soups, salads, sandwiches and bakes.
With this simple process, you can quickly transform leftover turkey into shredded masterpieces!
Shredded Turkey Inspiration: Creative Ways to Use It
Shredded turkey is incredibly versatile. Here are just a few ways to enjoy turkey shreds in tasty recipes:
-
Sandwiches – Pile turkey on bread or rolls for hearty sandwiches and subs.
-
Tacos – Mix with salsa and fill corn tortillas for easy turkey tacos.
-
Salads – Toss with lettuce, veggies and dressing for nutritious turkey salads.
-
Casseroles – Combine turkey with veggies, cheese and rice in a delicious casserole.
-
Stuffed peppers – Fill bell peppers with spicy shredded turkey for a satisfying meal.
-
Pizza – Top pizza crust with shredded turkey, sauce, cheese and veggies.
-
Soup – Simmer turkey shreds in broth with veggies for a hearty winter soup.
With a little creativity, the possibilities for shredded turkey are endless! It makes leftover turkey exciting and delicious.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shredding Turkey
Here are answers to some common questions about shredding turkey:
How long does cooked turkey last in the fridge before shredding?
Cooked turkey will stay fresh in the fridge for 3-4 days. Shred it anytime during that window.
Should you shred turkey when it’s hot or cold?
Shredding cooled or cold turkey is best. Warm turkey will shred more easily, but chilling firms it up for better shreds.
How long does shredded turkey last in the fridge or freezer?
Properly stored, shredded turkey will last 3-4 days in the fridge or 2-3 months in the freezer.
Can you use a food processor or blender to shred turkey?
Yes, just pulse it in small batches to avoid over-processing into a mushy paste.
What’s the best way to reheat shredded turkey?
Gently reheat shredded turkey in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven while adding a little liquid to moisten.
Shred,Season and Enjoy Turkey Anyway You Like
As you can see, shredding leftover turkey opens up a whole new culinary world of possibilities. All you need are basic tools like forks or claws and cooked turkey meat. Simply tear the turkey into long thin strands, flavor it, and incorporate into recipes. Kids and adults will love these tasty shredded turkey meals. With a little creativity, you can give leftover turkey an exciting new life. I know I’ll be shredding turkey on a regular basis after discovering how fun, easy, and delicious it is!
Slow Cooker Shredded Turkey Sandwiches
The ingredients needed for these Slow Cooker Shredded Turkey Sandwiches are fairly minimal: turkey breasts, beer, butter, and onion soup mix. The onion soup mix brings the flavor and salt needed for the recipe. If you are not a fan of beer, you can substitute low sodium chicken broth instead.
This recipe can be placed in the slow cooker on high or low, depending on your time constraints. Plan on roughly 4 hours on high, or 8 hours on low. You will know it is done when the turkey is easily shredded with a fork. If it isnt easily shredded, just let it cook longer. Easy peasy, right?
Fresh turkey breasts can be difficult to find outside of November. Using frozen works just fine, you dont even have to thaw them out when cooking in the slow cooker, but plan on the cooking time taking two extra hours, or so. Alternatively, you can substitute any other turkey meat you wish and the recipe will still turn out great.
Simple Turkey Sandwich Recipe
An easy way to make turkey is just throwing it in the slow cooker. This recipe is exceptionally simple because there is no prep work to do. All of the ingredients go straight into the slow cooker and you forget about it as you go about your day. This recipe fits nicely in my 6-quart Crock Pot (affiliate link).