I love using this super simple poached chicken in a ton of different recipes from my classic chicken pot pie to creamy chicken salad! It's tender, juicy, and full of flavor! Best of all, the leftover poaching liquid can be used as a flavorful broth in any soup or even risotto!
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Ingredient Notes
You just need a few simple ingredients to make the most flavorful poached chicken breasts!
Chicken - I always use boneless chicken breasts but you can also do this with a whole chicken! It will just take longer for the chicken to fully cook through.
Water - It's easiest to use water but you can also poach chicken in chicken broth!
Aromatics - Onion, garlic, celery, etc. are essential for creating a broth that's full of flavor!
Herbs - I love using as many herbs as possible for the most flavorful poached chicken.
Lemon - This is optional, but I love adding lemon to brighten the broth.
The complete list of ingredients and amounts is located in the recipe card below.
How to Poach Chicken
Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot and bring to a simmer.
Reduce the temperature to low and poach the chicken for 10-15 minutes or until firm to the touch and an instant thermometer reads 165°F.
Remove the pot from the heat and let the chicken cool in the pot for about 10 minutes.
Remove the chicken from the poaching liquid and dice into 1 inch pieces or shred with a fork. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
If desired, strain the broth and store in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Recipes That Use Leftover Broth
You can use the leftover poaching liquid in any recipe that calls for chicken broth! I love using homemade broth as I find it to be much more flavorful than store-bought and you can control the salt content yourself!
Recipes That Use Poached Chicken
You can use this easy poached chicken in:
- Chicken salad
- Chicken pot pie
- Salads
- Chicken soups
- Sandwiches
- Tacos or enchiladas
- Pasta
- & more!!
Or just eat it plain with your favorite grains and veggies!
Recipe FAQ's
Poaching is when you cook something by submerging it in water and cooking it slowly at a low temperature.
Yes! But you want to let the chicken thaw completely to room temperature before poaching.
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Recipe Card
How to Make Easy Poached Chicken
Special Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 5 cups water
- 1 large yellow onion, quartered
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 stalks celery, halved
- ½ lemon, sliced
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 handful fresh parsley
- 1 sprig fresh sage
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce the temperature to low and poach the chicken for 10-15 minutes or until firm to the touch and an instant thermometer reads 165°F.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let the chicken cool in the pot for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the poaching liquid and dice into 1 inch pieces or shred with a fork.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If desired, strain the broth and store in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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