Easy recipe guide with step by step photos on how long to boil chicken thighs so they are delicious, including boneless and frozen chicken thighs and how to make them soft for shredding.
Boiled chicken thighs are a great way to have a healthy weekday dinner or meal prep. It is super easy, just place the chicken and seasonings into a stockpot and wait.
It is also a great way to make soft chicken if you have a baby or for next day sandwiches.
We actually don't boil the chicken the whole time, but first boil and then simmer so the chicken thighs become flavorsome and soft. So you actually get some shredded chicken.
Why we love it:
- easy way to make lots of chicken for meal planning
- great for baby, toddler and kids because it is so soft
- great for baby-led weaning as you can make it without salt
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Ingredients
- Chicken thighs - you can use either boneless chicken thighs or bone in chicken thighs
- Salt
- Onion - peel and halve an onion for flavor
- Optional - you can add carrots, celery, thyme, kale leaf, parsnip or anything else you feel like you want. I actually prefer to boil chicken thighs or chicken halves with soup vegetables and then we have clear chicken soup and chicken thighs for shredding.
Step-by-step instructions
- Place the chicken thighs in a large stockpot and cover the chicken with water so the water is a few inches above the chicken. Add the seasonings - salt and onion and anything else you want and bring to a boil.
- Boil for about 5 minutes and then turn the heat down to medium low, cover the pot and simmer for about 40-50 minutes.
- The chicken is cooked when it has an internal temperature of 165°F. You can save the cooking liquid as chicken stock for other recipes.
- Optional oven bake or sear - you can now use a silicone brush and season then with some olive oil, salt, ground red pepper mixture or bbq sauce and place them on the grill, broil or fry for about 3-5 minutes.
How long to boil chicken thighs?
- boiling boneless chicken thighs - it will take about 15 minutes for 2lb (1kg) of chicken thighs. You can always simmer for longer and you will get tender chicken for shredding.
- how long to boil bone in chicken thighs - it will take about 20 minutes for 2lb (1kg). As with boneless you can simmer for longer and have tender thighs to shred.
- how long to boil frozen chicken thighs - add about 10-15 minutes of additional time - so about 30 minutes for frozen boneless chicken thighs and 35 minutes for frozen bone in chicken thighs.
- boiling chicken thighs for soup - this could take only an hour but to have flavorful clear chicken soup you want it to simmer as long as possible. I find that about 2-3 hours is perfect. If you are boiling the chicken for soup you need to remove the impurities that come to the top of the water when boiling. You can either do this with a strainer or spoon.
How to store and reheat?
- store in airtight container in the fridge for 3 days
- store in airtight container in freezer for 3 months
- reheat in microwave
- reheat in oven at 160°C / 380 °F for 10 minutes
Tips
- boneless chicken thighs are the fastest to cook, followed by bone-in chicken thighs, then frozen
- to defrost chicken thighs place them the night before in the fridge or place them in a cold water for an hour before boiling
Variations
- chicken soup flavor - use celery, carrots, onion, kale leaf and parsnip
- curry flavor - use curry powder, onion and garlic
- herby flavor - use thyme and peppercorns.
FAQ
There are different ways to know when the chicken thighs are done boiling - either when the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F; when the juices run clear if you put a butter knife through, or when the meat is shredding.
The longer the boil the better and softer they are. Anything over an hour should give you super soft chicken thighs for shredding.
The slower you simmer the chicken the more tender it will be.
Yes you can boil chicken thighs in a pressure cooker or instant pot. For boneless thighs pressure cook on high for 8 minutes and for bone-in thighs pressure cook for 10 minutes. If you are using frozen increase by 5 minutes the cooking time.
If you are worried the chicken is undercooked you can check the internal temperature and the chicken is cooked once it reaches reaches 165 F.
Chicken can turn our rubbery if you have overcooked it or boiled it for too long on a high heat. Make sure you turn the heat down to medium low after it boils for 5 minutes and you should have delicious soft shreddable chicken.
Yes, do not add salt if making this recipe for your baby.
How to use boiled chicken?
Boiled chicken can be used in a variety of ways. You can season it, oven bake it as described in the recipe below and serve it with some vegetables, sweet potato fries, mashed potato.
You can shred it and use it in chicken salads, bagels, wraps, sandwiches.
You can use the cooking liquid as stock for other recipes like cooking rice, quinoa, lentil soup or other types of soup.
More recipes
If you've tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, then please rate it and leave us a comment below!
Boiled Chicken Thighs Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 1 onion peeled and halved
- 1 tbsp salt
Instructions
- Place the chicken thighs in a large stockpot and cover the chicken with water so the water is a few inches above the chicken. Add the seasonings - salt and onion and anything else you want and bring to a boil.
- Boil for about 5 minutes and then turn the heat down to medium low, cover the pot and simmer for about 40-50 minutes.
- The chicken is cooked when it has an internal temperature of 165°F. You can save the cooking liquid as chicken stock for other recipes.
- Optional oven bake or sear - you can now use a silicone brush and season then with some olive oil, salt, ground red pepper mixture or bbq sauce and place them on the grill, broil or fry for about 3-5 minutes.
Notes
-
- boiling boneless chicken thighs - it will take about 15 minutes for 2lb (1kg) of chicken thighs.
-
- how long to boil bone in chicken thighs - it will take about 20 minutes for 2lb (1kg).
-
- how long to boil frozen chicken thighs - add about 10-15 minutes of additional time - so about 30 minutes for frozen boneless chicken thighs and 35 minutes for frozen bone in chicken thighs.
-
- boiling chicken thighs for soup - this could take only an hour but to have flavorful clear chicken soup you want it to simmer as long as possible, 2-3 hours.
Meli
I thought babies couldn’t process salt when they are little. Should I prep this without salt for my 7mo?
Ana
Hi Meli,
Yes, you just make it without salt if you are making for a baby.
Christine
I'm having chicken thighs for Father's day but want to cut down on the grilling time, how long do you think I should boil before grilling?
Ana
Hi Christine, same length, and then just place it on the grill when it's fully heated to finish them off and then it should just take a few minutes. Oil them before putting them on the grill.
MH Gautreaux
l use boiled and shredded chicken thighs (boneless & skinless) for making chicken enchiladas. Works great!
Ana
That is a great idea!