How Long to Boil Frozen Chicken: A Quick Comprehensive Guide

Oh no! You forgot to thaw the chicken you were planning to cook for dinner. What will you do? Fortunately, you can boil it frozen; the chicken will still be tender and juicy. That’s why it helps to know how long to boil frozen chicken. This quick guide covers that and more.

How Long to Boil Frozen Chicken Step by Step

Before we answer the question, “How long does frozen chicken take to boil?” you need to gather a few things. To start, decide on the chicken you want to cook. This can be whole chicken, boneless skinless breasts, cubed chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks. Next, you’ll need a pot large enough to accommodate the chicken and the water required to boil the chicken. When selecting, keep water displacement in mind and ensure enough room is at the top for the water to boil without boiling over. You also want to gather seasonings and aromatics, including:

• Salt and pepper: Basic seasonings that make anything taste good. You can also use bouillon.
• Citrus: Juice, zest, and halves are great. Citrus, especially lemon and lime, significantly improves the flavor of poultry.
• Herbs: Fresh or dried will work.
• Aromatics: Onion, garlic, celery, etc.

Once you have everything you need, move on to boiling the chicken. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Rinse the frozen chicken under cold water to remove any ice/ice crystals.
2. Place the chicken in the pot with any seasonings and aromatics you like.
3. Pour enough water to cover the chicken by 1-1 ½ inches.
4. Bring to a boil over high heat.
5. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Boiling Frozen Chicken Cook Times

You’ll notice the steps above don’t include cooking times. They were omitted intentionally because how long to boil a whole frozen chicken differs from cubed or bone-in pieces like thighs. Furthermore, weight significantly impacts total time. Refer to the table below for the answers to the questions “How long does frozen chicken take to boil?”, “How long to boil frozen chicken thighs?” and more.

Now that you know how long to boil frozen chicken, you never have to worry about thawing again. Just ensure you cook it to 165°F and reserve the leftover liquid in the pot. It’s homemade chicken broth, after all!