• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Laura Fuentes
  • Healthy Eating
  • Cookbooks
  • Recipes
  • About
  • #MOMLIFE
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Eat Healthy
  • Fasting
  • Meet Laura
  • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Eat Healthy
  • Fasting
  • Meet Laura
  • Contact
×

How Many Chicken Breasts is 2 Cups of Chicken

If recipes that call for ‘2 cups of shredded chicken’ leave you confused about how many chicken breasts you’ll need, I’ve got your answer!

Knowing just how much chicken to make is a total meal saver. This post includes a chart plus additional tips for making perfectly shredded or cubed chicken. Let’s get started!

bowl of chicken that has been shredded with two forks

How Much Chicken is 2 Cups Shredded

To yield 2 cups of shredded chicken, you’ll need approximately 12 ounces of cooked chicken or 1 pound raw. In terms of cooked meat, this looks like 2 chicken breasts, 4 chicken thighs, or the meat from half of a rotisserie chicken. 

So, if your recipe calls for 2 cups of shredded chicken, make sure you grab the right amount, whether cooked or raw; this way, there’s plenty to go around. 

Why do you need more raw chicken to yield the same amount of shredded meat as cooked chicken? Great question! As chicken cooks, water evaporates from the surface and causes the meat to shrink, so 1 pound of raw chicken will weigh less when cooked. 

How Many Chicken Breasts by Cup

The following chart is based on cooked chicken breast weight (ounces and pounds). An average raw chicken breast at the grocery store is 6-8 ounces, which will cool down to 4 to 6 ounces. 

Shredded Chicken by Cups Yield Chart

Chicken breastsAmount Shredded
6oz breast
(approx 1)
1 cup
8oz breast
(approx 1)
1 ⅓ cup
12oz breast
(approx 2)
2 cups
16oz breast
(approx 2-3)
3 cups
24oz breast
(approx 3-4)
4 cups
Exact measurements vary based on the size of the chicken breasts

Preparing Shredded Chicken to Measure

Poaching is a great way to prepare chicken you want to shred. Not only is it the most hands-free way to cook chicken, but it retains moisture and creates a black canvas for whichever sauce or dressing you plan to toss it with. 

Best of all, shredding poached chicken is easy if you use one of these three methods. 

side by side photos of chicken breasts being poached in a large pot

How Many Chicken Breasts is 2 Cups of Cubed Chicken

For 2 cups of cubed chicken, you’ll need about 2 cooked chicken breasts, depending on how many ounces each chicken breast weighs. Just like with shredded chicken, every 6 ounces of cooked chicken breast will yield approx. 1 cup of cubed chicken.

Preparing Chicken Cubes or Pieces

Properly cutting raw or cooked chicken is crucial to keep it as juicy as possible. 

To cube raw chicken, you’ll want to butterfly the fillet first, then slice the meat against the grain to create long strips. Cut each strip into 3-4 pieces, and voila! 

For cooked chicken, same thing. Allow the chicken to cool down for 10 minutes (if it’s just been cooked), then use your knife to slice the meat against the grain, followed by that last cut. 

how to butterfly a chicken breast to stuff it

Recipes Using Shredded Chicken

Got your freshly measured 2 cups of shredded chicken? Here are a few recipes to put them to good use!

  • Chicken Taco Soup
  • Thai Chicken Lettuce Cups
  • Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta
  • Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

More Kitchen Skills

  • How Many Deviled Eggs Per Person?
  • How to Poach Chicken
  • a collage with three smoothies and three blenders
    Best Cheap Blenders for Smoothies
  • image collage of chicken thighs before and after freezing
    What to Do About Freezer Burn Chicken

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I'm Laura.
I inspire moms to live a healthy lifestyle while juggling their family and work with fresh recipes and practical advice.

More about me →

Let's Be Social!

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram YouTube
Download The Busy Mom's Guide to a Healthier Life

Fresh Favorites

  • Best-Ever Bacon Deviled Eggs
  • stack of chocolate chip pancakes with bananas on a plate cut
    Fluffy Chocolate Chip Pancakes
  • low carb lunches in glass lunch containers
    20+ Low Carb Lunch Ideas
  • large baking dish of pesto chicken thighs
    Baked Pesto Chicken Thighs

Trending Now

  • two pieces of fried catfish with lemon slices
    New Orleans Fried Catfish Recipe
  • 35 Healthy Dessert Recipes
  • a collage with three smoothies and three blenders
    Best Cheap Blenders for Smoothies
  • list of real foods for intermittent fasting
    Intermittent Fasting Food List

Footer

^ back to top

Browse

  • Recipe Index
  • Weekly Meal Plan
  • Clean Eating Program

Download the Busy Mom's Guide to a Healthy Life

laura holding meal plan guide in front of prepped food

Useful Links

  • Contact
  • Permissions
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

COPYRIGHT © 2023 LAURA FUENTES · DESIGN BY FUENTES MEDIA