Learn how long to boil chicken breasts to get perfectly tender, moist, and flavorful chicken every time. Grab our tips on how to quickly add flavor to boneless, skinless, chicken breasts while boiling to shred for recipes or serve as is.

If you are looking for a juicy and tender way to cook chicken breasts then look no further than this recipe for boiled chicken. Forget dry, tough, and chewy chicken breasts – this simple method ensures that doesn’t happen!

Boiled chicken is one of the best ways to cook a tender piece of chicken that is full of flavor.

Cooked chicken breasts being shown on a cutting board, one chopped and one shredded.

Over the years we’ve tried a variety of ways to cook chicken breasts – attempting to find the best cooking method. Boiled chicken is by far one of our favorite ways. No one complains about dry chicken and everyone loves recipes made whether this chicken is served plain or shredded. If we are not cooking frozen chicken breasts in the instant pot, then we are boiling chicken.

Raw chicken being shown in a pan with water, spices, seasonings and garlic cloves.

Boiled chicken can be enjoyed as is or shredded to add to your favorite recipes. You will be amazed at its versatility. As a dietitian and mom, I highly recommend boiling chicken for any future chicken dish – it saves you time, effort, doesn’t use any additional fat for cooking, and creates a meal the whole family will enjoy.

To get started, gather the equipment and ingredients then follow the step-by-step instructions to make juicy and flavorful chicken.

Equipment

large skillet
measuring spoons
tongs
liquid measuring cup
cutting board
chefs knife or 2 forks

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts
1 teaspoon coarse salt
3 large cloves garlic, smashed
1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
3 stalks parsley (optional)
water

How To Boil Chicken Breasts

Prepare the chicken breasts. Add chicken breasts to a large skillet. Season with salt. Add garlic, peppercorns, and parsley if using.
Add water and bring to a boil. The water should completely cover the chicken. Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer. Cook for about 12 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Shred or slice chicken to use in recipes or as is. If shredding, use two forks to pull apart the meat. Use in your favorite recipes or serve as is.

How long to boil boneless chicken breast?

Name: How To Boil Chicken Breasts
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts (✅); 1 teaspoon coarse salt; 3 large cloves garlic, smashed; 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns; 3 stalks parsley (optional ); water

Boiling boneless chicken breasts will take half the time of bone-in chicken breasts. Set the timer for boneless chicken breasts for 12 minutes then temp with a meat thermometer. If the internal temperature reaches 165°F, you are done boiling.

Cooked chicken being shown in a pan covered with water and seasoned with spices and garlic.

Tips For Success

Choose any liquid for boiling – water, broth, apple cider vinegar, dry white wine or beer.
Adjust the cooking time depending on the number and size of chicken breasts in the skillet.
Add vegetables to the skillet during boiling for an extra boost of flavor. Great way to use up any leftover vegetables (celery, carrots, onions) that are in the fridge.
Switch up the spices based on your preference. Peppercorns and parsley is just one of the many seasoning combinations.
Smash the garlic prior to adding to the skillet. This allows the oils from the garlic to infuse into the liquid and add even more flavor to the chicken.
If shredding, let the chicken rest for 8-10 minutes then shred – this helps to keep the chicken moist. Learn How To Shred Chicken In Kitchenaid.
Opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts (instead of bone-in) for a shorter cooking time.

Four chicken breasts shown on a wooden cutting board with two forks on the board all on top of a countertop.

FAQs:

How long to boil chicken breast?

The total cooking time will depend on the number of chicken breasts in the skillet. Four chicken breasts take approximately 12 minutes. We recommend adding 5-7 minutes to the cooking time for each chicken breast added.

How long to boil frozen chicken breast?

If boiling frozen chicken breasts, add 8-10 minutes to the total cooking time. Four frozen chicken breasts will take approximately 20-22 minutes. The best way to ensure frozen chicken breasts are done boiling is by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part – the internal temperature should reach 165°F.

When boiling chicken do you boil the water first?

When boiling chicken be sure to add the chicken and water at the same time. Adding chicken to boiling water will result in uneven cooking.

Way to use Shredded Chicken:

How To Store and Reheat Boiled Chicken

Refrigerator

Place cooked chicken into an air-tight container with a lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freezer

You can also freeze cooked chicken easily. We like using Ziplock bags, removing the extra air, then placing it into the freezer. Frozen chicken is great to have on hand to avoid the cooking step in many recipes. Chicken can safely be kept in the freezer for up to 4 months before the quality starts to decrease.

Reheating

You can reheat the cooked chicken in the microwave or place it into a skillet on medium-low heat. If you’re making something like soup, you can add the cold or frozen chicken right to the soup and let it heat while the soup cooks/heats.

How To Use Chicken Broth

Did you know you can save the cooking liquid when boiling chicken? It is packed with SO much flavor and can be used in future rice, pasta, soup or casserole recipes. If needed, strain the broth prior to storing.

For storage, simply place in a container, jar or ice cube tray to store in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

boiled chicken in bowl next to chicken stock

More Ways to Cook Chicken

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
How To Bake Thin Sliced Chicken Breasts
How To Boil Chicken Thighs
Baked Chicken Thighs
How To Boil Chicken Legs
How To Boil A Whole Chicken
Crockpot Chicken Legs

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

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