How To Know When Boiled Chicken Breast Is Done?

Boiling chicken is the EASIEST way to cook chicken for quick weeknight meals! Great for making shredded or sliced chicken for easy soups, lunch salads, burrito bowls, and more.

I frequently make recipes that only call for a small amount of cooked chicken that has been shredded or thinly sliced, such as my go-to lunch salad, these BBQ burrito bowls, and a variety of quick weeknight soups.

I use leftover chicken from the refrigerator for these quick meals. Otherwise, whenever I need a few chicken breasts quickly cooked, I use this poaching technique!

How to Boil Chicken

Simply cover the chicken with an inch or so of water and bring it to a boil is how I cook chicken. Cover the pot, reduce the heat until the water is simmering, and allow the chicken to cook. Thats it!.

Boiled Chicken vs. Poached Chicken: What’s the Difference?

In this instance, the term “boiled” is somewhat misleading. You’re not completely boiling the chicken (this would produce tough, dry chicken!) You only boil it at first to get the liquid to the proper temperature, but you finish it in the simmering liquid.

Technically speaking, this technique is known as “poaching,” which simply refers to simmering ingredients in a little liquid.

All of this is to say that there isn’t much of a difference between poached chicken and boiled chicken for this recipe.

FAQ

How long does it take to boil a chicken breast?

Skinless, boneless chicken breast halves should be cooked for 12 to 15 minutes in a pot of water. (Accordingly, it would take 18 to 22 minutes to boil frozen chicken. (Cutting the chicken into 2-inch pieces and cooking it for eight to ten minutes will make the poached chicken even more quickly.

How do you know if boiled chicken breast is cooked?

When an instant read thermometer reads 165°F in the thickest part of the meat, the chicken is finished cooking. To check if the chicken is fully cooked, cut a piece open. In order to ensure that the chicken is cooked, keep cooking it while checking it roughly every minute.

Is boiled chicken done when its white?

When the meat occasionally has pink tinges in the white, it needs to be cooked a little bit longer. If the meat is white, then it is fully cooked. Checking your chicken will get easier and quicker with time and practice. When in doubt, remember the temperature of 165ºF.