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How to Pre-Cook the Perfect Chicken for Any Recipe

Gently Poached Chicken for Any Recipe

Tender boneless chicken is gently poached with onion, garlic, bay leaf, and peppercorns, then shredded, diced, or sliced for your favorite dinner recipes. The method yields about 3 to 4 cups of moist cooked chicken.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 pounds Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Poaching Liquid and Aromatics
  • 6 cups Water or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
  • 1 small Small onion, quartered
  • 2 cloves Garlic cloves, lightly crushed
  • 1 leaf Bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon Whole black peppercorns
Optional Flavorings
  • As needed optional Parsley stems, celery pieces, carrot pieces, or dried herbs

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Place the chicken in a saucepan or Dutch oven in a single layer. Add the water or broth, kosher salt, onion, garlic, bay leaf, peppercorns, and any optional parsley stems, celery, carrot, or dried herbs.
  2. Set the pan over medium heat and bring the liquid just to a gentle simmer. Avoid a rapid boil, which can make the chicken firm and stringy.
  3. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and cook until the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F. Boneless breasts generally take 12 to 18 minutes, while boneless thighs usually take 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Remove the chicken from the poaching liquid and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain and reserve some of the liquid for moistening the meat, soups, sauces, or casseroles.
  5. Shred, dice, or slice the chicken according to the recipe you are preparing. For especially moist chicken, shred it while warm and toss it with a few tablespoons of the strained poaching liquid.

Notes

Use an instant-read thermometer rather than relying only on the clock. The exact cooking time depends more on chicken thickness than total weight. Refrigerate cooked chicken promptly in a covered container and use it within 3 to 4 days.