• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hint of Healthy
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Collections
  • Cooking Skills
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Chicken Breast Mains

    Poached Chicken Breasts

    Posted: May 25, 2020 · Updated: May 25, 2020 by Tonje

    132 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    These easy poached chicken breasts are made in only a few minutes, and provide an excellent basic cooked chicken, perfect to use in a wide range of dishes.

    Poached chicken breasts on a plate.

    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🐓 Chicken
    • 💭 Top tips
    • 🥗 Serving suggestions
    • 🍲 Leftovers
    • 🍴 You might also like these recipes..
    • 📋 Frequently asked questions
    • Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.

    Okay, let's talk about poached chicken, or boiled chicken. For the longest time I was totally against the idea of cooking chicken in water. Although the chicken is juicy and tender, it's really bland and plain, and the lack of seasoning makes it sound unappetizing.

    However, I have very recently learned how amazing poached chicken actually is! First, it's a really quick and easy way to prepare plain chicken to use in dishes like chicken salads. It's also a great way to cook chicken for a family with various dietary requirements, since everyone can cover their chicken in whichever sauces they like. Lastly, it's a great way to prepare chicken for young children or people with sensitive stomachs.

    I love to poach chicken when I am making grape and chicken salad or similar dishes!

    Boiled chicken breast fillets on a plate.

    🥘 Ingredients

    This chicken breast recipe requires very few ingredients. All you need is chicken breast fillets, salt and water.

    If you wish, you can also season the cooking water by using chicken or vegetable stock, however this is completely optional and I find that the chicken is perfectly fine when it's just poached in water.

    🔪 Instructions

    Place the chicken breast fillets in a pot or sauce pan. Use a pot that is wide enough so that you can place the fillets side by side. Avoid stacking them on top of each other.

    Add a sprinkle of salt over the fillets, then add cold water until they are covered by an inch.

    Chicken in water in a pot.

    Bring the chicken to a simmer on medium heat, and leave it to simmer until the chicken has poached through. This typically takes 5-10 minutes depending on the size of the fillets. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the middle of the chicken fillets reach an internal temperature of 165 °F or 75 °C.

    Remove the poached chicken breasts from the water, and serve it hot or cold as required.

    🐓 Chicken

    Chicken breast fillets are definitely best for poached chicken. Avoid poaching any chicken with skin on, as the skin tends to get really rubbery.

    The chicken breasts need next to no preparation. No pan frying, no browning, no seasoning. Simply add them to the pot or skillet and use.

    Poached chicken breasts.

    💭 Top tips

    To successfully make the perfect poached chicken, you should follow these easy, but important tips:

    • Be careful not to overcook the chicken. They cook faster than you'd think, and only a few minutes are required.
    • Leave the water to simmer rather than fully boiling. This will keep the chicken juicy!
    • Lightly salt the water. This brings out more flavor from the chicken.

    🥗 Serving suggestions

    Here are some of my favorite ways to use poached chicken:

    Wraps, sandwiches or sliders: Use the poached chicken as your main protein in sandwiches, along with a sauce and other toppings.

    Salads: Add diced poached chicken to salads. It's perfect in sandwich style salads such as grape and chicken salad, or lunch salads like chicken and mango salad and keto Caesar salad with bacon.

    Casseroles: Add diced poached chicken to cauliflower rice and chicken casserole, or other similar dishes.

    Poached chicken on a plate with lemon slices.

    🍲 Leftovers

    Leftover poached chicken breasts can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 6 months.

    Use the chicken cold in wraps, salads or sandwiches, or reheat it before serving it.

    Poached chicken is perfect for meal prep. Poach a large amount of fillets, and dice, slice or shred the chicken. Store it in a large container, and use it in multiple meals through the week.

    🍴 You might also like these recipes..

    If you love healthy chicken breast recipes, you should try any of these recipes:

    • Honey mustard chicken in a casserole dish. on a marble table.
      Honey Mustard Chicken Breasts
    • Cilantro lime chicken on a plate.
      Cilantro Lime Chicken Breasts
    • lemon pepper chicken breasts.
      Lemon pepper chicken breast
    • Baked Salsa Chicken

    📋 Frequently asked questions

    Can I poach frozen chicken? - I always find that poaching frozen chicken results in a much dryer chicken breast. If you want to use frozen fillets, you should thaw them in the fridge overnight first.

    Can I use chicken thighs? - Yes. You can use the same method to poach chicken thigh fillets. I do not recommend poaching chicken thighs with skins on, as the skins will come out quite rubbery.

    Recipe

    Poached chicken breast fillets.

    Poached Chicken Breasts

    These easy poached chicken breasts are made in only a few minutes, and provide an excellent basic cooked chicken, perfect to use in a wide range of dishes.
    No ratings yet
    Created by: Tonje
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 6 minutes mins
    Course Dinner, lunch
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 129 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 chicken breast fillets
    • pinch of salt

    Instructions
     

    • Place the chicken breast fillets in a pot or sauce pan. Use a pot that is wide enough so that you can place the fillets side by side. Avoid stacking them on top of each other.
    • Add a sprinkle of salt over the fillets, then add cold water until they are covered by an inch.
    • Bring the chicken to a simmer on medium heat, and leave it to simmer until the chicken has poached through. This typically takes 5-10 minutes depending on the size of the fillets. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the middle of the chicken fillets reach an internal temperature of 165 °F or 75 °C.
    • Remove the chicken from the water, and serve it hot or cold as required.

    Notes

    Can I poach frozen chicken? – I always find that poaching frozen chicken results in a much dryer chicken breast. If you want to use frozen fillets, you should thaw them in the fridge overnight first.
    Can I use chicken thighs? – Yes. You can use the same method to poach chicken thigh fillets. I do not recommend poaching chicken thighs with skins on, as the skins will come out quite rubbery.

    Leftovers

    Leftover poached chicken breasts can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 6 months.
    Use the chicken cold in wraps, salads or sandwiches, or reheat it before serving it.
    Poached chicken is perfect for meal prep. Poach a large amount of fillets, and dice, slice or shred the chicken. Store it in a large container, and use it in multiple meals through the week.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 129kcalProtein: 24gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 131mgPotassium: 418mgVitamin A: 34IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword chicken breasts, dairy free, egg free, gluten free, nut free
    Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!

    More Healthy Chicken Breast Recipes

    • BBQ chicken flatbread.
      BBQ Chicken Flatbread
    • Teriyaki chicken skewers.
      Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
    • Salt and pepper chicken with rice.
      Salt and Pepper Chicken
    • Tandoori Hasselback Chicken

    Latest Recipes

    Swede mash in a bowl, garnished with parsley.

    Swede Mash (Rutabaga)

    Gammon joint in air fryer.

    Air Fryer Gammon

    Instant Pot Ham and Beans.

    Instant Pot Ham and Beans

    Sauteed sweet potatoes on a plate.

    Sauteed Sweet Potatoes

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tonje! I make easy and healthy everyday recipes that your family will love. Browse my recipe collection to discover new favorites, and make sure to let me know what you think!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Close up picture of air fried eggplant fries.
      Air Fryer Eggplant
    • Mediterranean Roast Vegetables
      Mediterranean Roast Vegetables
    • Two thin pancakes with walnuts on a plate.
      Crepes with Almond Milk
    • Sliced pork with crackling.
      Air Fryer Pork Roast
    • Slow Cooker Beef Stew.
      Slow Cooker Beef Stew
    • Air Fryer Tilapia.
      Air Fryer Tilapia

    As Seen In

    Hint of healthy as seen in

    Footer


    2022 © Hint of Healthy Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact About