How Long Does It Take to Poach a Chicken Breast in the Oven?
Poaching chicken breast in the oven is a healthy, foolproof way to cook up juicy, flavorful chicken for meals throughout the week. But exactly how long does it take to poach chicken breasts in the oven to perfection? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to poach chicken breasts in the oven like a pro, including ideal cook times, tips for seasoning and flavor, and how to tell when they’re done.
What is Oven Poaching?
Oven poaching chicken involves cooking the chicken breast gently surrounded by liquid in a low oven temperature. Typically, the chicken is placed in a baking dish and fully submerged in a poaching liquid like broth, wine, water, or juice. Herbs and aromatics can be added to the liquid to infuse the chicken with extra flavor. Then, the entire dish goes into a low, constant oven until the chicken is cooked through.
Benefits of Oven Poaching Chicken
There are several reasons why oven poaching is a smart choice compared to other cooking methods:
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Tender and juicy The gentle heat helps retain moisture. Chicken poached in the oven comes out incredibly tender and juicy.
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Adds flavor: The poaching liquid seasons the chicken as it cooks, infusing it with extra taste.
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Healthy: Poaching requires no added fats or oils. It’s a light yet flavorful way to cook.
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Easy: Simple ingredients and hands-off cooking make oven poaching fuss-free.
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Versatile: Poached chicken can be used in sandwiches, salads, pastas, and more!
Ideal Oven Temperature for Poaching
Between 300°F and 325°F is the best range of temperatures for poaching chicken breasts. The chicken cooks slowly over this low, steady heat without drying it out. It should bubble just slightly, not a full rolling boil. Have an oven thermometer ready in case you’re not sure if your oven is hot or cold.
How Long to Poach Chicken Breasts
Time to cook can be anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes, depending on how big and thick the breasts are. A general rule of thumb:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: 25-35 minutes
- Bone-in chicken breasts: 30-40 minutes
- Large, thick breasts: Up to 45 minutes
To ensure doneness, use a meat thermometer to test for an internal temperature of 165°F. The chicken should not show any pink when pierced at the thickest part. Allow thicker breasts to cook longer, testing periodically with a thermometer until cooked through.
Tips for Poaching Chicken Breasts
Follow these simple tips for foolproof poached chicken every time:
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Brine first: Soaking chicken in a salty brine ensures extra moist, well-seasoned meat.
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Use meat with the bones still in it. The bones add flavor and keep the meat moist. Opt for bone-in breasts when possible.
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Pound to even thickness: This encourages even cooking so no part is over or underdone.
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Submerge fully: The chicken should be completely covered in liquid while cooking.
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Rest before serving: Letting it sit for 5-10 minutes allows juices to redistribute.
Seasoning and Flavoring Poached Chicken
One benefit of poaching is it provides the perfect opportunity to add flavor. Try these tasty options:
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Herbs: Thyme, rosemary, parsley all add aromatic flavor.
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Spices: Black pepper, garlic, paprika, coriander.
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Citrus: Lemon, lime, orange zest or juice.
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Aromatics: Onion, shallot, garlic, ginger.
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Veggies: Carrot, celery, fennel, leek.
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Broths: Chicken, vegetable, bone broth, wine.
Get creative mixing and matching to find your favorite poaching liquid that infuses the chicken with delicious flavor.
Serving Poached Chicken Breasts
The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving up moist, flavorful oven-poached chicken. Slice it up for sandwiches or salads, dice and add to pastas or stir-fries, shred for casseroles or tacos. It also makes fantastic meal prep since poached chicken keeps well for 3-4 days refrigerated.
Here are just a few serving ideas:
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Chicken salad sandwiches or wraps
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Chicken caesar salad
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Quesadillas or fajitas
-Chicken noodle soup
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Flatbread pizza with chicken
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Chicken alfredo pasta
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Chicken pot pie or casserole
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Chicken tacos with slaw
Poaching chicken in the oven is an easy, healthy hands-off cooking method that can be adapted with different seasonings for a flavor boost. In about 25-45 minutes, you can have a versatile protein ready to use in all kinds of delicious ways. Give this foolproof technique a try for your next weeknight dinner or meal prep!
Can You Use the Leftover Chicken Poaching Liquid?
Absolutely! Although it’s thinner and less rich than your regular chicken stock, this is still liquid gold. It’s perfect for adding to cooked rice, stir fried veggies, savory sauces, or used as a light soup base.
Just strain out the solid bits and store it away in the fridge in a glass storage container for up to 5 days. Or freeze it for about 2 months. You can store it perfectly in an ice cube tray or Souper Cubes.
How To Properly Store It
You can store poached chicken in sealed containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. But if you’re meal prepping the chicken for a future date, I suggest dicing, shredding, or slicing into pieces beforehand. Then you can freeze it for up to 2 months.
How to Poach Chicken Breasts | How to Cook Chicken by MOMables
FAQ
How long does poached chicken take to cook?
It typically takes about 25-30 minutes to poach chicken in the oven at 350°F. However, the exact cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts. What can I use the poached chicken for? Poached chicken is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes.
Can You poach chicken breast in the oven?
Poaching chicken breast in the oven is a great option. It’s a cooking method that involves simmering the chicken in liquid until it’s tender and juicy. This method not only cooks chicken without adding fat, but it also lets you add tasty flavors to the meat. Here’s how you can easily poach chicken breast in the oven:
Why do you poach chicken breast in the oven?
Poaching chicken breast in the oven helps to retain moisture and flavor, resulting in tender and juicy meat. It’s also a healthier cooking method as it doesn’t require added fats or oils. How long does it take to poach chicken breast in the oven?.
How long does it take to cook chicken in the oven?
Just be sure to adjust the cooking time to account for the larger pieces of meat. How long does it take to poach chicken in the oven? It typically takes about 25-30 minutes to poach chicken in the oven at 350°F. However, the exact cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts.
How do you reheat poached chicken?
The best way to reheat poached chicken is to cook it slowly so that it doesn’t dry out. You can cover it and heat it over low heat until it’s warm in a pan with a little chicken broth. Does poaching chicken in the oven result in dry meat? No, poaching chicken in the oven results in tender and moist meat.
Is poaching a good way to cook a chicken breast?
Poaching a chicken breast is a great method for cooking chicken. This technique is simple, ensures your chicken turns out juicy and tender, and allows you to infuse your chicken with subtle, aromatic flavors without adding extra calories or fat.
How long to poach a chicken breast in the oven?
This should take about 20 minutes for a bone-in breast (boneless should take about 10 minutes) and though you’ll want to raise the heat and rush things…don’t.Jun 24, 2021
How long does it take for chicken to be poached?
This will usually take about 5–10 minutes, but it all depends on the size of the chicken breasts. (The total cook time will range from 10–20 minutes.)Jan 17, 2024
What is the best temperature for poaching?
To poach flawlessly, you will want to make sure your liquid temperature is somewhere between 160 degrees and 170 degrees. To eyeball that temp, without having to resort to thermometers, look at the water (or wine or broth). The liquid should look like it is JUST about to break into a simmer, but not quite.
Do you poach chicken with the lid on or off?
Keep pan tightly covered with a lid during cooking. This creates steam to help cook ingredients that are sitting above the liquid, and helps stop liquid evaporating. Once liquid has boiled, reduce heat to a simmer. Do not boil during cooking, as this will make the chicken tough.