How Long to Boil Bone-in Chicken

Chicken is an incredibly versatile source of protein that can be cooked in many ways. An especially beginner-friendly way to cook chicken is by boiling it using water or broth!

In this guide, we’ll cover how long to boil chicken breast and how long to boil chicken thigh (bone-in or boneless), along with other cuts of chicken.

Tips for Boiling Bone-in Chicken

1.   Use a Meat Thermometer

It’s important to make sure that your chicken is fully cooked to a safe temperature. After boiling the chicken, check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure it reads 165℉ in the center of the thickest part of the breast, thigh and leg.

2.   Skim the Water

While boiling chicken, you may notice some scum or debris float to the top–this is usually just chicken fat and juice being rendered and cooked. Keep a fine mesh strainer or a wooden spoon on hand to skim impurities from the top of the water while the chicken cooks.

3.   Cover the Chicken Completely

Make sure to cover the chicken with at least one inch of water to make sure the chicken will stay completely submerged throughout the cooking process. This ensures that the chicken will be cooked evenly and there won’t be any raw chicken parts left out of the boiling water.

How Long to Boil Whole Chicken

If you’re boiling a whole chicken, make sure to remove the bag of giblets before boiling for 45-90 minutes. Make sure that all of the different parts are cooked evenly before removing it from the boiling water.

How Long to Boil Boneless Chicken Breast

Boneless chicken breast can be boiled for 12-15 minutes. You may have to adjust the cooking time depending on the size of the chicken breast.

How Long to Boil Bone-in Chicken Breast

If you’re cooking bone-in chicken breast, aim to boil it for 25-30 minutes.

How Long to Boil Boneless Chicken Thighs

Boneless chicken thighs can be boiled for 10-15 minutes, with or without skin.

How Long to Boil Bone-in Chicken Thighs

Boil bone-in chicken thighs for 15-20 minutes.

How Long to Boil Whole Chicken Wings

Boiling whole chicken wings only takes 10-15 minutes! You may need to adjust the time, depending on the size of the chicken wings.

How Long to Boil Chicken Wing Drums

The drum part of chicken wings takes 10 minutes to boil before using in other dishes or eating as-is.

How Long to Boil Chicken Wing Flats

Chicken wing flats can be boiled for 10 minutes to cook them all the way through before eating.

Table: How Long to Boil Chicken

Cut of Chicken	How Long to Boil (in minutes)
Whole	45-90
Bone-in Breast	25-30
Boneless Breast	12-15
Bone-in Thigh	15-20
Boneless Thigh	10-15
Whole Wing	10-15
Wing Drum	10
Wing Flat	10