How to Poach Chicken
This recipe for How to Poach Chicken produces delicious tender chicken that is ideal for shredding for hearty soups, adding to healthy chicken salads, or using as a tasty sandwich filling.
HOW TO POACH CHICKEN
Poached chicken is perfect for chicken salads and with the warmer weather coming I am all about lighter meal salads for dinner or lunch.
This post shows how to poach chicken for chicken salad!
Poaching is cooking the chicken in water along with ingredients like garlic, onion, and lemon that infuse flavor into the meat. So if you are wondering if the poached chicken is the same as boiled, essentially, yes.
This recipe is useful as you can use fresh or frozen chicken. If you want another great ‘cook from frozen’ chicken option and you have an air fryer, this awesome air fryer frozen chicken breasts recipe is a winner.
WHAT YOU NEED TO POACH CHICKEN:
- chicken breasts
- lemon
- green onions
- peppercorns
- garlic cloves
- filtered water
Place chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of a saucepan.
Add the lemons slices, green onions, peppercorns, sea salt, and crushed garlic cloves. Pour enough filtered water over the chicken to cover them by about an inch.
How do you know when poached chicken is done? You can slice into the thickest part to see if the juices run clear and no pink remains, or use a thermometer and ensure it reads at 170.
How long should it take to poach chicken breasts? It takes less than thirty minutes and is fairly hands-off, so it is a simple task.
It’s super easy and awesome for meal prep! I like to cook up a batch so I have some handy in the fridge when I want to throw something together.
HEALTHY RECIPES USING COOKED CHICKEN
- Lemon Basil Chicken Salad
- Spicy Chicken Soup with Peppers
- Chicken Cauliflower Casserole
- Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad
- Thai Curry Coconut Chicken Soup
- Chicken Broccoli Bake
FAQ’S, TIPS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
- What’s the healthiest way to cook chicken breast? It has to be poaching! With zero cooking oils it simply the lightest and healthiest method to cook chicken breasts.
- How do you serve poached chicken? You can serve it up warm with a nice gravy and roasted vegetables like these sweet potatoes, or use it in a chicken salad! Poached chicken is perfect for salad as it is super tender and light.
- TIP! Wait for the chicken to cool a bit before slicing if you want a clean cut. Chicken tends to get a little ragged on the edges if sliced while hot.
- There are a ton of substitution ideas for poached chicken: add fresh ginger, cloves, and star anise for a warm and spicy flavour. How about limes, parsley, and cilantro for a more citrusy herbal taste? Yum! That’s the beauty of a poaching liquid – you can choose and customize your favourite flavours.
Love a good “how to” post? Check out this great article for how to clean cast iron or this fave How to Thicken Chili. They are super useful and informative!
If you’ve tried this How to Poach Chicken, please rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!
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How to Poach Chicken
Ingredients
- ½ lb chicken breasts – I use 3 small breasts
- ½ lemon, thinly sliced
- 2 green onions
- 10-15 whole peppercorns
- 1-2 crushed garlic cloves
- filtered water
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of a saucepan.
- Add the lemons slices, green onions, peppercorns, sea salt, and crushed garlic cloves.
- Pour enough filtered water over the chicken to cover them by about an inch.
- Bring the pot to a simmer over medium heat. Once it starts to bubble and blurp, turn the heat down to low.
- Cook for 8-10 more minutes at a low simmer until cooked through. The thickest part should read 170 on a thermometer.
- Using tongs, remove the chicken from the poaching liquid and transfer to a cutting board. Enjoy immediately warm with side dishes. If you are using this chicken for prep for chicken salad, wait for it to cool before slicing for a clean cut.
- Store cooled chicken in a covered container in the fridge for up to three days.
Never knew how to poach chicken before. I will have to try it soon as it looks so delicious and healthy!
Super healthy and great for meal prep! Thanks Erin 🙂
I will have to give this method a try. I love chicken and sometimes don’t know how else to make it.
I get that! It’s nice to have some variety. Hope you enjoy!
Your chicken looks so juicy! If I would have attempted this, it would have been dry, no doubt!
It is super tender! Perfect for prepping for chicken salads. 🙂 Thanks Kita!
When I imagined about poached chicken, I never knew it could look this nice. I will surely love this dipped in a soy sauce with squeezed lemon
Sounds like a great meal idea! Thanks Ryan 🙂
We have been eating a lot of chicken lately but I have never made it poached before. I need to try this – thank you!
It’s so good for salads! 🙂
These are some great tips and such. I’ll have to give this a try too. I really do love chicken.
So good for prepping chicken!!
This chicken looks so moist. I will have to cook my chicken this way.
Give it a try!! It is super tender. 🙂
I’m going to try poaching chicken the next time I make it. We love chicken, and this sounds like a great way to use it.
It’s great for prep!
That sounds like a great way to cook chicken. I’ve actually never tried poaching it before.
It is so good for meal prepping for chicken salads. 🙂 Thanks, Brianne!
Those chicken breasts look amazing and my son loves it for the protein it provides. I will try and poach some chicken for him at least once a week or two.
Protein is key! Thanks Melissa 🙂