How Long To Boil Chicken: Complete Guide

Boiling is one of the simplest, most foolproof ways to cook any cut of chicken you can find. The most important aspect of the process is knowing exactly how long to boil chicken. Read through this guide for information on boiling all kinds of chicken and chicken parts, including how long to boil bone-in, boneless, and frozen cuts of chicken as well as whole chicken and chicken livers.

How Long to Boil Whole Chicken

Before you start boiling a whole chicken, inspect the body for leftover feathers and remove the bag of giblets. Then, boil the chicken for 45-90 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check that the legs, thighs, and breasts are all cooked to an internal temperature of 165℉.

How Long to Boil Chicken Breast

You can boil chicken breast (without rib bones) for around 12-15 minutes. Depending on the weight of the chicken breast, you may have to add extra cooking time to ensure it’s cooked through.

How Long to Boil Chicken Legs

How Long Does it Take to Boil Chicken Drumsticks?

To cook them completely, boil chicken drumsticks for 25 minutes, making sure the juices run clear and the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

How Long Does it Take to Boil Chicken Leg Quarters?

Whole chicken leg quarters include both the drumstick and the thigh, attached at the joint. Boil leg quarters for 25-30 minutes.

How Long to Boil Chicken Tenders

Chicken tenders (the tenderloin beneath the chicken breast, located closest to the rib bones) boil much faster than chicken breasts. Boil them for 8-10 minutes, or until they are fully opaque and no longer pink.

How Long to Boil Chicken Thighs

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be boiled for approximately 12-15 minutes. As long as the chicken thighs are boneless, the cooking time isn’t affected whether the skin is still intact or has been removed. Less than 15 minutes is all you need to boil boneless chicken thighs!

How Long to Boil Chicken Wings

Chicken wings can be sold whole or in separate pieces, usually labeled as drums and flats. Drums are the shoulder of the chicken, attached above the wing’s main joint. They look like miniature leg drumsticks. Flats are the part below the joint, closest to the wing tip. Flats contain two parallel bones, giving the cut of chicken a wide, flat shape.

How Long to Boil Whole Chicken Wings

You only need 10-15 minutes to boil whole chicken wings! Small wings will take close to 10 minutes, but jumbo wings will take 15 minutes or longer to fully boil.

How Long to Boil Chicken Wing Drums

Chicken wing drums only take 10 minutes to boil. Once boiled, use in other dishes, coat in sauce, or season them and eat them boiled.

How Long to Boil Chicken Wing Flats

If you’re boiling chicken wing flats, make sure to boil them for at least 10 minutes before removing them from the hot water and draining excess fluid.

How Long to Boil Chicken Livers

Chicken livers should be boiled over low heat for 4-8 minutes, depending on the size of the livers. Like other cuts of chicken, livers should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165℉ for safety reasons.

How Long to Boil Bone-in Chicken

Many different cuts of chicken can contain bones. Both the breast and thigh are often sold with bones left in the cut. Cuts of chicken containing bones often take longer to cook than their boneless counterparts.

How Long to Boil Bone-in Chicken Breast

Chicken breasts with bones included should be boiled for 25-30 minutes.

How Long to Boil Bone-in Chicken Thighs

Bone-in chicken thighs should be boiled for 15-20 minutes, depending on the weight of the thighs.

How Long to Boil Frozen Chicken

How Long to Boil Frozen Chicken Breast

Frozen chicken breasts that weigh between 4-8 ounces can be boiled for approximately 12-15 minutes until cooked through.

How Long to Boil Frozen Chicken Thighs

If the chicken thighs you’re using have been frozen, boil them for 10-15 minutes.

How Long to Boil Frozen Whole Chicken

Boiling a whole frozen chicken requires a little patience: it takes 90-105 minutes to thoroughly boil a frozen chicken (roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes).

Table: How Long to Boil Chicken By Type

Type/Cut of Chicken	How Long to Boil (in minutes)
Whole Chicken	45-90 minutes
Chicken Breasts	12-15 minutes
Chicken Legs (drumsticks)	25 minutes
Chicken Legs (quarters)	25-30 minutes
Chicken Tenders	8-10 minutes
Chicken Thighs (boneless)	12-15 minutes
Chicken Wings (whole)	10-15 minutes
Chicken Wings (drums)	10 minutes
Chicken Wings (flats)	10 minutes
Chicken Livers	4-8 minutes
Bone-in Chicken Breast	25-30 minutes
Bone-in Chicken Thighs	15–20 minutes
Frozen Chicken Breast	12-15 minutes
Frozen Chicken Thighs	10-15 minutes
Frozen Whole Chicken	90-105 minutes

How Long to Boil Chicken for Broth

Chicken broth can be made by placing chicken and aromatics in a pot filled with water or a slow cooker. Boil the chicken for at least 5 hours on the stove top. If you’re using a slow cooker to make chicken broth, cook it on low for 12-24 hours.

How Long to Boil Chicken to Shred

You can make shredded chicken using a whole chicken or various parts.

How Long to Boil Whole Chicken to Shred

You can boil a whole chicken and shred the meat for use in various dishes. Whole chickens should be boiled for around 60 minutes before shredding.

How Long to Boil Chicken Breast to Shred

Chicken breast is a popular cut for making shredded chicken. Boil chicken breasts for 10-15 minutes, allow them to cool, and then shred the meat.

How Long to Boil Chicken Thighs to Shred

Chicken thighs can be boiled for 6-10 minutes to prepare them to be shredded.

Table: How Long to Boil Chicken By Application

Application of the Cooked Chicken	How Long to Boil
Chicken Broth	5 hours
Shredded Chicken Breast	10-15 minutes
Shredded Chicken Thighs	6-10 minutes