If you've ever caught yourself in need of a rotisserie chicken but didn't have one, then knowing how to boil chicken will be your saving grace. With no time (or energy) to run to the store, boiling chicken is the perfect way to get to tender, juicy chicken that's easy to shred. Perfect for pulled chicken sandwiches or chicken salad sandwiches (my fav), you can dress it up any way you like. It doesn't have to be bland or boring as the name suggests. Plus, boiling is faster and less work than cooking in a skillet. It's as easy as bringing a pot of water to a boil and — when done correctly — boiling can provide a perfectly tender piece of chicken.1. Pick your liquid.
Sure, you could boil your chicken in water but that seems kind of boring, right? Boil your chicken in chicken broth is how to instantly up the flavor.
2. Season it.
Place your chicken breasts in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid and add enough liquid to cover the chicken. Season your liquid well with salt and pepper — this is very crucial. It's really no different than boiling a pot of pasta. If you have some carrots, onions, or fresh herbs you can add them to the pot as well. All of your flavor is going to come from what you put in the pot so the more the merrier.
3. Bring it to a boil.
Once you have all of your flavors added, bring your water to a boil. Cover the pot and lower the heat slightly so it stays at a pretty rapid simmer. Depending on the size of your chicken breasts, they should simmer for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes remove one piece from the pot and check. The internal temperature should be 165°. If they need more time check every 5 minutes. Don't let them overcook or they will become rubbery.
4. Shred it up.
After removing your chicken from the pot let it rest about 10 minutes. This will make them cool enough to shred and help keep some of the moisture in so that they don't dry out. Use two forks to shred your chicken or slice it up.
Tried this yet? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
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