How to Boil Chicken Breasts

Name: How To Boil Chicken Breast
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

Learning how to boil chicken breasts are a simple and effective way to cook chicken, whether you’re planning to shred it for recipes or serve it as is. This method ensures that the chicken stays moist and tender, and it’s perfect for adding to salads, soups, and casseroles.

In this recipe, we’ll show you how long to boil chicken breasts to get perfectly flavorful and juicy results every time. Plus, we’ll share some tips on how to add extra flavor to your chicken while it cooks. Let’s get started!

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. If you’re interested in boiling chicken thighs, check out this link: how to boil chicken.

Ingredients

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

How To Make

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. Cover the pot and bring it to a boil, then turn it down to a simmer. Boil 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.

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

How long to boil chicken breasts?

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.

Tips and Tricks

Flavor Enhancements: You can enhance the flavor of the boiled chicken by adding additional seasonings such as herbs (rosemary, thyme), citrus (lemon, lime), or even a splash of chicken broth for added depth.
Poaching vs. Boiling: Instead of a vigorous boil, aim for a gentle simmer. This will prevent the chicken from becoming tough and overcooked. The high heat of a rolling boil can cause the proteins in the chicken to seize up, resulting in a tougher texture.
Use a Thermometer: Cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) is essential to ensure it’s safe to eat. Use a digital meat thermometer to accurately gauge the temperature. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken without touching the bone.
Size Consistency: If your chicken breasts are of varying sizes, consider pounding them slightly to achieve a more uniform thickness. This will help ensure even cooking.
Resting Period: Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes after boiling. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a juicier and more flavorful outcome.
Shredding Techniques: If you’re shredding the chicken, let it cool slightly before using forks to pull the meat apart. Alternatively, you can also use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment for quicker shredding.
Cooking Liquid: The water you use to boil the chicken can be enhanced with additional flavors. You can add sliced onions, carrots, celery, bay leaves, or other aromatics to the water for a more flavorful broth.
Reuse Cooking Liquid: Don’t throw away the cooking liquid! It can be used as a base for chicken noodle soup, stews, or sauces, adding extra chicken flavor to your dishes.
Storage: If you’re not using the boiled chicken immediately, store it properly. Allow the chicken to cool to room temperature before refrigerating or freezing it. Store in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.
Recipe Variations: Boiled chicken can be used in a variety of dishes such as meal prep, chicken salad, sandwiches, soups, casseroles, and more. Experiment with different seasonings and sauces to create new flavors.
Choose any liquid for boiling – water, broth, apple cider vinegar, dry white wine or beer.
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.
Opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts (instead of bone-in) for a shorter cooking time.

Remember that while boiling is a simple method, it might not impart as much flavor as other cooking techniques like grilling or roasting. However, it’s an excellent option for when you need juicy chicken quickly or for recipes where the chicken will absorb additional flavors later on.

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.

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

How To Store and Reheat Boiled Chicken

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

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.

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 The 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

Way to use Shredded Chicken:

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
Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Breast

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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How To Boil Chicken Breast

Learning how to boil chicken breast is a simple and effective way to cook chicken, whether you're planning to shred it for recipes or serve it as is. This method ensures that the chicken stays moist and tender, and it's perfect for adding to salads, soups, and casseroles.

Pin Recipe Print Recipe

4.34 from 18 votes

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 12

Servings 4

Equipment

Ingredients

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

Instructions

Prepare the chicken breasts. Add chicken breasts to a large skillet. Season with salt. Add garlic, peppercorns, and parsley if using.
4 chicken breasts, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, 3 large cloves garlic, smashed, 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns, 3 stalks parsley
⭐️Add water and bring to a boil. Add enough water to 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.
water
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.

Video

Notes

CCK 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.