Learning how to boil a whole chicken is a great skill to have in your back pocket, especially if you’re trying to eat clean or meal-prep! This boiled chicken is flavorful, juicy and can easily be transformed into a one-pot meal.
Cooking a whole chicken by boiling is one of the easiest, most foolproof ways to prepare this versatile ingredient. With just a pot, some water or broth, and a few seasonings, you can have tender, delicious chicken ready to use in under an hour.
But to get the best results when boiling a whole chicken, there are some key tips to follow. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to perfectly boil a whole chicken every time.
Why Choose Boiling?
There are several advantages to boiling chicken rather than roasting, baking, or grilling it:
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It’s quick and easy – no need for fancy equipment. Just a large pot with a lid.
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You can use frozen chicken without thawing first.
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It infuses the meat with lots of flavor from the cooking liquid
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You get nutritious homemade broth as a bonus.
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Very little added fat is needed compared to frying or oven methods
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When done properly, the meat turns out juicy and tender
With minimal hands-on time, boiling chicken delivers tasty, versatile meat for sandwiches, salads, casseroles, soups, and more!
Picking the Right Chicken
While any whole chicken can be boiled, opting for a smaller bird (3-4 pounds) will shorten the cooking time. You want one that will fit comfortably in your pot with room to spare.
Farm-raised, free-range, or organic chickens have the best flavor. Frozen chickens work just as well as fresh.
For the most tender meat, choose chickens with the skin and bones intact. The bones help retain moisture, while the skin prevents the meat from drying out.
Prep Steps
Before you boil the chicken, make sure you take out the giblets from inside the bird and either throw them away or save them for another use, like making broth or gravy. Clean the chicken with cold water and dry it with paper towels. Trim off any excess fat.
Rubbing the skin with a little oil helps keep the skin from sticking to the pot. Season the cavity generously with salt and pepper. Stuffing lemon wedges and herbs like thyme, sage, or rosemary inside further boosts the flavor.
Choosing Your Liquid
The cooking liquid is key for infusing flavor into the meat as it boils. Water is sufficient, but chicken or vegetable broth will make it even tastier. Here are some tips:
- Use low-sodium broth and add salt to control seasoning.
- Add whole garlic cloves, quartered onions, celery, and halved carrots.
- Fresh herbs like parsley, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, or basil complement the chicken.
- Whole peppercorns, allspice berries, or fennel seeds also add interest.
Step-By-Step Boiling Process
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Place the seasoned chicken in a large pot. A 6-8 quart size is ideal. Cover the chicken by one to two inches of your choice of cooking liquid.
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Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Let the pot reach a full rolling boil. Skim and discard any foam that rises to the top.
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Reduce heat, cover, and simmer. Lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. The liquid should bubble slightly.
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Cook for 30-45 minutes. Exact time depends on size. Check doneness at 30 minutes.
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Verify doneness. Put an instant-read thermometer in the thigh where it is deepest. It should read 165°F when done.
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Remove from heat and transfer to a platter. Use tongs for easy lifting. Tent foil to keep warm.
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Allow to rest for 10 minutes before carving or shredding. This allows juices to redistribute.
Always wash hands, utensils, cutting boards, and counters after handling raw chicken to avoid cross-contamination.
Ensuring Tender, Moist Meat
With the simple boiling method, overcooking dry, rubbery chicken is always a risk. Here are some useful tips:
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Maintain a gentle simmer — don’t actually boil the chicken.
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Use a thermometer and don’t rely only on timing.
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For boneless chicken, cut down boiling time by 5-10 minutes.
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Let it rest before slicing for juices to reabsorb.
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Serve with pan sauces for extra moisture.
Using the Leftover Broth
One bonus of boiling chicken is you’re left with tasty homemade broth. Here are some ways to use it:
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Store in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for later.
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Use as the base for chicken noodle soup or chicken rice soup.
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Cook rice, quinoa or veggies in it for extra flavor.
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Use for sauces or gravies that call for chicken broth.
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Turn it into a delicious soup with veggies, noodles and seasonings.
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Let it reduce to make rich chicken demi-glace.
Serving and Storage Tips
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Carve or shred the chicken and serve it warm right away with sides like rice, beans, or steamed veggies.
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Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
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Use in casseroles, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and soups throughout the week.
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Slice or dice and freeze portions in freezer bags for up to 3 months.
So that covers everything you need to know to master boiling whole chickens! Follow this simple, foolproof process for tender and flavorful meat every time. Let us know how it turns out!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Healthy: Boiled chicken is tasty, healthy, and juicy, and you can use it in a lot of different ways. You can put it in my crack chicken casserole or shredded chicken tacos.
- Uses: The tender chicken and tasty broth can be used in more than one recipe. You can use this easy recipe to make a lot of different things.
Ingredients You Will Need
Along with the whole chicken and spices, you can add any vegetables you have in the fridge. They taste so much better when cooked in the chicken’s chicken broth. For exact measurements, check out the recipe card below.
- Whole Chicken with Bones: The chicken I used weighed about 6 pounds. The cooking time might need to be changed a bit based on the size of the chicken you use.
- Yellow Onions: Any hearty dish needs chopped yellow onions.
- Whole Carrots: Cut into 2-inch pieces. There is nothing better than cooked carrots in broth that have been chopped up. They are so tender and tasty!
- Celery Stalks: These also become nice and tender when cooked. The best way to get your daily fiber is to eat stews and roasts.
- Whole Garlic Cloves: For a punch of savory flavor.
- Fresh Herbs: Adding fresh herbs is a no-brainer. They make the food taste and smell great! I used fresh rosemary, parsley, and thyme.
- Salt: Help to boost the flavors of the boiled chicken.
- Whole peppercorns: These are another great way to make the chicken taste better.
WHOLE BOILED CHICKEN | CHICKEN BASICS
FAQ
How long do you boil a whole chicken?
You only need to boil a whole chicken for about one hour and fifteen minutes. A lack of seasoning can make the chicken taste bland. So, don’t forget to add salt, pepper, and other spices to your chicken. Boiling on high heat can cause the water to evaporate too quickly, which may burn the chicken.
Should you boil chicken?
It may sound boring to boil chicken, but the beauty of it lies in how simple it is: simmering (or boiling) chicken makes it perfectly tender, and you can use it in a lot of different weeknight dinners. My foolproof guide for boiling chicken will be the saving grace of meal-preppers everywhere: It makes it easy to get tender, juicy, shreddable chicken.
What is boiled whole chicken?
Not even a beginner cook can mess up this recipe for boiled whole chicken. It’s easy, quick, and so simple. The whole chicken is boiled in flavorful juice to produce moist, juicy, tender, and delicious meat. This is an inexpensive and budget-friendly method of cooking whole chicken. It is simple and minimal prep is required to make it.
How long does it take to boil a frozen chicken?
1 1/2 hours to boil a 3 – 4 lb defrosted whole chicken. Larger than 4 pounds, add an additional 15 minutes per pounds. How to boil a frozen whole chicken add 15 minutes to the total cooking time as well. It is done when you pull on the leg bone and it slides right out.
How long does it take to cook a whole chicken?
When it is cooked, take the chicken out of the broth. Leave it to rest for 10 minutes before serving it. You can go ahead and bake, broil or grill the chicken. To boil whole chicken that is 1. 2 – 1. 5kg, it will take 45 minutes. If you will be shredding the chicken, you can add additional 5 minutes so it’s very tender and quick to shred.
How do you know if boiled chicken is done?
How to check doneness: If you’re in doubt, you can always insert an instant-read thermometer into the middle of the meat. As soon as it reads 165 ° F, the chicken is done. Rubbery chicken is a sign of overcooking. Here are a few tips to keep boiled chicken tender: Temperature: Don’t allow chicken to boil over high heat.
How long does it take to boil a whole chicken?
A whole chicken typically needs to boil for 60 to 90 minutes, depending on its size.
How long does it take to boil chicken thoroughly?
Thinner chicken breast cutlets are ready in about 8 minutes. Larger chicken breasts can take up to 15 minutes. Large bone-in chicken breasts will take about 20 minutes.
Can you overcook chicken when boiling?
Leave your chicken to simmer in the pot until the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit (this can be checked with a meat thermometer). If your chicken seems to need more time, check every 5 minutes and avoid overcooking so the chicken doesn’t become rubbery, according to Delish. Sep 7, 2023.